[AutoGuide.com]

Go ahead, complain. We get it; this is an unlikely comparison. Highfalutin’ buyers interested in the Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG are probably unwilling to consider the plebian Subaru WRX STI. Likewise, Scooby enthusiasts are almost certainly disinterested in anything graced with a gigantic chicken-foot logo in the middle of its grille.

Pricing is another area where these two vehicles diverge. The Mercedes kicks off at $48,375; the STI is considerably more affordable, wearing a base MSRP of $35,290.

On the surface they may seem as different as chalk and cheese, as dissimilar as foundry coke and non-dairy whipped topping. But consider for a moment their similarities. Both the Benz and the Subaru feature potent turbocharged four-cylinder engines; in each car power is routed to all four corners through a cutting-edge all-wheel-drive system; and finally they both benefit from the latest go-fast technology. Perhaps they’re a closer match than meets the eye.

Read the complete Mercedes CLA45 AMG vs Subaru WRX STI comparison at AutoGuide.com