Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class vs Toyota GR 86: Specs Compared
Also searched as Toyota GR 86 vs Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class specs — both orientations show this same side-by-side comparison.
The Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 26 mpg combined versus 25 mpg for the Toyota GR 86, a 1 mpg advantage and costs about $150 less per year to fuel.
Across 4 measured categories, the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class leads in 4. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.
2015–2023
Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
Compact Cars · 27 configurations
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class | Toyota GR 86 |
|---|---|---|
| Best combined MPG | 26 mpg ✓ | 25 mpg |
| Best city MPG | 24 mpg ✓ | 21 mpg |
| Best highway MPG | 31 mpg | 31 mpg |
| Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year | $2,900 ✓ | $3,050 |
| Lowest CO2 output | 334 g/mi ✓ | 360 g/mi |
| Engines offered | SIDI; Mild Hybrid, SIDI | SIDI & PFI |
| Transmissions | Automatic 9-spd, Automatic 7-spd | Automatic (S6), Manual 6-spd |
| Drivetrains | All-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive | Rear-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel types | Premium | Premium |
| EPA class | Compact Cars | Minicompact Cars |
| Years covered | 2015–2023 | 2022–2025 |
| Configurations on record | 27 | 8 |
Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.
Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class vs Toyota GR 86 dimensions and size
The Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class is 26.8 inches longer than the Toyota GR 86 on a wheelbase 11.4 inches longer, and 1,459.5 lbs heavier. Both clear the roughly 200 inches of usable length in a standard single garage bay.
| Dimension | Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class (2018) | Toyota GR 86 (2026) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 194.5 in | 167.7 in | 26.8 in |
| Width (excl. mirrors) | 74 in | 70.1 in | 3.9 in |
| Height | 55.9 in | 51.6 in | 4.3 in |
| Wheelbase | 113 in | 101.6 in | 11.4 in |
| Curb weight | 4,277 lbs | 2,818 lbs | 1,460 lbs |
Width excludes mirrors; add 8–12 inches for mirrors out. Figures are for the newest model year on record for each vehicle. See both drawn to scale.
Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class vs Toyota GR 86: what the numbers mean
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 Toyota GR 86. 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 versus highway split: the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class is the stronger commuter at 24 mpg city, while the Toyota GR 86 pulls ahead on the interstate at 31 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 CLS-Class is recorded with 2 distinct engine configurations (SIDI; Mild Hybrid, SIDI), the Toyota GR 86 with 1 (SIDI & PFI). Across 27 recorded Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class configurations and 8 for the Toyota GR 86, 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 Toyota GR 86 with 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 Minicompact 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 360 g/mile for the Toyota GR 86. Emissions track fuel consumption almost exactly, so the cleaner vehicle here is also the cheaper one to fuel.
CLS-Class vs GR 86: common questions
Which is better on gas, the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class or the Toyota GR 86?
The Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 26 mpg combined versus 25 mpg for the Toyota GR 86, a 1 mpg advantage and costs about $150 less per year to fuel.
Which costs less to run per year?
By EPA estimates at 15,000 miles a year, the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class runs about $2,900 a year in fuel at its most efficient configuration, versus about $3,050 for the Toyota GR 86 — a difference of roughly $150 per year.
What engines do the CLS-Class and GR 86 offer?
Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class: SIDI; Mild Hybrid, SIDI. Toyota GR 86: SIDI & PFI.
Are they in the same vehicle class?
The EPA classifies the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class as Compact Cars and the Toyota GR 86 as Minicompact Cars, so they aren't a like-for-like match on size.
More CLS-Class comparisons
More GR 86 comparisons
Comparison id: mercedes-benz-cls-class-vs-toyota-gr-86