2024 head-to-head · Compact Car

2024 BMW 3 Series vs Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class Hybrid

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
$2,043/ year to fuel
29 MPG
✓ Cheaper to run
$1,975/ year to fuel
30 MPG

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class Hybrid is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas, it costs about $1,975 a year to fuel (30 MPG), versus $2,043 for the 2024 BMW 3 Series (29 MPG). That's roughly $68 a year, or about $341 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

  • BMW 3 Series
  • Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class Hybrid

Side by side

BMW 3 SeriesMercedes-Benz CLA-Class Hybrid
$2,043 Your annual fuel cost $1,975
29 MPG Combined efficiency 30 MPG
25 MPG City 26 MPG
34 MPG Highway 36 MPG
94 cu ft Passenger volume 89 cu ft
13 cu ft Cargo volume 12 cu ft
308 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 296 g/mi
6/10 EPA fuel economy score 6/10
6/10 EPA greenhouse gas score 6/10
Gas Powertrain Hybrid
Premium gasoline Fuel Premium gasoline
2.0L 4-cyl turbo Engine / motor 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
8-speed automatic Transmission 8-speed dual-clutch
RWD Drivetrain FWD

✓ 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.

BMW 3 Series vs Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class Hybrid across model years

  • BMW 3 Series
  • Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class Hybrid

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 BMW 3 Series has more passenger space (94 vs. 89 cu ft); the BMW 3 Series has more cargo space (13 vs. 12 cu ft).

Among 28 2024 compact cars, the BMW 3 Series ranks 18th and the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class Hybrid 17th for lowest fuel cost.

The powertrains differ: the BMW 3 Series is a conventional gas model, while the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class Hybrid is a full hybrid.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2024 BMW 3 Series or the 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class Hybrid?

Measured by cost to drive, the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class Hybrid. The BMW 3 Series is rated 29 MPG combined and the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class Hybrid 30 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2024 BMW 3 Series vs. the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class Hybrid per year?

At 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas, about $2,043 for the BMW 3 Series and $1,975 for the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class Hybrid.

Which has more cargo space?

The BMW 3 Series, with 13 cu ft of luggage volume versus 12 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).

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