Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class vs Tesla Model S: Specs Compared

Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class burns about $600 of fuel annually against $600 for the Tesla Model S. That $0 yearly gap compounds to roughly $0 over five years and $0 over eight — often more than the price difference between two trims of the same vehicle, and the single largest running-cost line item separating these two.

City versus highway split: the Tesla Model S is the stronger commuter at 132 mpg city, while the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class pulls ahead on the interstate at 124 mpg highway. If most of your driving is stop-and-go traffic the city figure is the one to weigh; for long-distance highway mileage the reverse is true, and the two vehicles effectively swap places depending on how you drive.

Powertrain choice: the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class is recorded with 3 distinct engine configurations (SIDI; Mild Hybrid, SIDI, SIDI; FFV), the Tesla Model S with no. Across 55 recorded Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class configurations and 62 for the Tesla Model S, the wider the engine spread the more the real-world fuel efficiency depends on which version you actually buy, so check the specific model year and drivetrain rather than the headline number.

Drivetrain and class: the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class is offered with All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive, the Tesla Model S with All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive. All-wheel drive typically costs one to two mpg combined against the same vehicle in front- or rear-wheel drive, which is worth remembering when the gap between these two is small. The EPA classes them as Compact Cars and Large Cars respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.