2016 head-to-head · Compact Car

2016 Audi A4 vs Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class

MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.

Swap sides
✓ Cheaper to run
$2,194/ year to fuel
27 MPG
✓ Cheaper to run
$2,469/ year to fuel
24 MPG

The 2016 Audi A4 is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas, it costs about $2,194 a year to fuel (27 MPG), versus $2,469 for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class (24 MPG). That's roughly $274 a year, or about $1,372 over five years.

Your numbers

Change these to match your driving and local prices. Every figure and chart on this page updates.

Fuel cost over 10 years

  • Audi A4
  • Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class

Side by side

Audi A4Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
$2,194 Your annual fuel cost $2,469
27 MPG Combined efficiency 24 MPG
24 MPG City 20 MPG
31 MPG Highway 30 MPG
91 cu ft Passenger volume 92 cu ft
12 cu ft Cargo volume 11 cu ft
341 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 375 g/mi
6/10 EPA fuel economy score 5/10
6/10 EPA greenhouse gas score 5/10
Gas Powertrain Gas
Premium gasoline Fuel Premium gasoline
2.0L 4-cyl turbo Engine / motor 3.0L 6-cyl turbo
CVT Transmission 7-speed automatic
FWD Drivetrain RWD

✓ marks the better value. EPA scores run 1–10 (10 is best). Volumes come from the EPA interior volume index and aren't published for every body style.

Audi A4 vs Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class across model years

  • Audi A4
  • Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class

Annual fuel cost of the most efficient configuration of each model year, at your prices. Click a point to open that year.

How they differ

Per EPA interior volume figures, the Audi A4 has more cargo space (12 vs. 11 cu ft).

Among 51 2016 compact cars, the Audi A4 ranks 40th and the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class 44th for lowest fuel cost.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2016 Audi A4 or the 2016 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class?

Measured by cost to drive, the Audi A4. The Audi A4 is rated 27 MPG combined and the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class 24 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2016 Audi A4 vs. the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class per year?

At 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas, about $2,194 for the Audi A4 and $2,469 for the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class.

Which has more cargo space?

The Audi A4, with 12 cu ft of luggage volume versus 11 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).

Audi A4 vs Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class in other years

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