Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class vs Nissan Maxima: Specs Compared

Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class burns about $2,900 of fuel annually against $3,050 for the Nissan Maxima. That $150 yearly gap compounds to roughly $750 over five years and $1,200 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 and highway economy: the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class leads in both cycles — 24 mpg city and 31 mpg highway against 22 and 30 mpg — so its fuel-efficiency advantage holds whether you commute in traffic or cover long highway miles.

Powertrain choice: the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class is recorded with 2 distinct engine configurations (SIDI; Mild Hybrid, SIDI), the Nissan Maxima with 1 (3.5). Across 27 recorded Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class configurations and 8 for the Nissan Maxima, 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 CLS-Class is offered with All-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive, the Nissan Maxima with Front-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 Midsize Cars respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.

Tailpipe emissions: at their cleanest configurations the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class emits 334 g/mile of CO2 versus 363 g/mile for the Nissan Maxima. Emissions track fuel consumption almost exactly, so the cleaner vehicle here is also the cheaper one to fuel.