Trunk comparison: Mercedes Benz CLA Shooting Brake vs VW Taigo

Key Differences

The most noticeable differences concern the length and opening of the trunk. With the seats folded down, the trunk of the Mercedes‑Benz CLA Shooting Brake is 8.7 in (+14%) longer than that of the VW Taigo. With the first row of seats upright, the CLA Shooting Brake even offers +9.4 in (+29%) more length.

In contrast, the VW Taigo has a significantly larger loading opening: the opening height is +3.5 in (+13%) higher and the width of the trunk opening is +4.7 in (+14%) wider than the CLA Shooting Brake.

Smaller differences (e.g., depth +0.8 in/10% for the CLA, narrowest interior width +2.4 in/6%) as well as the same loading edge height exist but hardly affect the overall assessment.

Impact on Usability

The longer cargo areas of the CLA Shooting Brake (especially with the rear seats upright) make it better suited for long items such as skis, slats, longer furniture parts, or when transporting building materials without fully folding down the seats.

More usable length increases flexibility when transporting bulky, longitudinally placed loads.

The VW Taigo scores points with bulky, tall, or wide loads: the higher loading opening makes it easier to store tall boxes or furniture pieces and reduces bending when loading. The larger opening width makes sliding in wide items significantly easier and avoids adjusting the load.

Conclusion

For users who regularly transport long items or need a lot of cargo space with the rear seats upright, the Mercedes‑Benz CLA Shooting Brake is more advantageous. Those who frequently load and unload tall or wide cargo benefit more from the VW Taigo due to the larger loading opening.

Smaller differences in depth and interior width are practically secondary; the equally high loading edge provides similar ease of use when loading and unloading for both models.