2018 head-to-head · Compact Car
2018 Audi Q3 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.
The 2018 Audi Q3 is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas, it costs about $2,576 a year to fuel (23 MPG), versus $2,821 for the 2018 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class (21 MPG). That's roughly $245 a year, or about $1,227 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 Q3
- Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
Side by side
| Audi Q3 | Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class | |
|---|---|---|
| $2,576 | Your annual fuel cost | $2,821 |
| 23 MPG | Combined efficiency | 21 MPG |
| 20 MPG | City | 18 MPG |
| 28 MPG | Highway | 26 MPG |
| 84 cu ft | Passenger volume | 92 cu ft |
| 17 cu ft | Cargo volume | 11 cu ft |
| 387 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 425 g/mi |
| 5/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 4/10 |
| 5/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 4/10 |
| Gas | Powertrain | Gas |
| Premium gasoline | Fuel | Premium gasoline |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Engine / motor | 4.7L 8-cyl turbo |
| 6-speed automatic | Transmission | 9-speed automatic |
| AWD | 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 Q3 vs Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class across model years
- Audi Q3
- 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 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class has more passenger space (92 vs. 84 cu ft); the Audi Q3 has more cargo space (17 vs. 11 cu ft).
Among 44 2018 compact cars, the Audi Q3 ranks 41st and the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class 42nd for lowest fuel cost.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2018 Audi Q3 or the 2018 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class?
Measured by cost to drive, the Audi Q3. The Audi Q3 is rated 23 MPG combined and the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class 21 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2018 Audi Q3 vs. the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class per year?
At 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas, about $2,576 for the Audi Q3 and $2,821 for the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class.
Which has more cargo space?
The Audi Q3, with 17 cu ft of luggage volume versus 11 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).
Audi Q3 vs Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class in other years
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