2026 head-to-head · Compact Car
2026 BMW i5 vs Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class EV
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 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class EV is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with 18¢/kWh electricity, it costs about $729 a year to fuel (126 MPGe), versus $826 for the 2026 BMW i5 (110 MPGe). That's roughly $97 a year, or about $486 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 i5
- Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class EV
Side by side
| BMW i5 | Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class EV | |
|---|---|---|
| $826 | Your annual fuel cost | $729 |
| 110 MPGe | Combined efficiency | 126 MPGe |
| 114 MPGe | City | 127 MPGe |
| 106 MPGe | Highway | 124 MPGe |
| 30.6 kWh | Electricity use (kWh/100 mi) | 27 kWh |
| 310 mi | Driving range | 374 mi |
| 98 cu ft | Passenger volume | 91 cu ft |
| 11 cu ft | Cargo volume | 12 cu ft |
| 0 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 0 g/mi |
| 9/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 10/10 |
| 10/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 10/10 |
| 8 hrs | Charge time at 240V | 8.8 hrs |
| Electric | Powertrain | Electric |
| Electricity | Fuel | Electricity |
| Electric motor (250 kW) | Engine / motor | Electric motor (200 kW) |
| Single-speed | Transmission | Single-speed |
| RWD | 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.
BMW i5 vs Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class EV across model years
- BMW i5
- Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class EV
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
The Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class EV goes farther between stops: about 374 miles on a charge, compared with 310 miles for the BMW i5.
Per EPA interior volume figures, the BMW i5 has more passenger space (98 vs. 91 cu ft); the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class EV has more cargo space (12 vs. 11 cu ft).
Among 21 2026 compact cars, the BMW i5 ranks 3rd and the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class EV 1st for lowest fuel cost.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2026 BMW i5 or the 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class EV?
Measured by cost to drive, the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class EV. The BMW i5 is rated 110 MPGe combined and the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class EV 126 MPGe (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2026 BMW i5 vs. the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class EV per year?
At 15,000 miles a year with 18¢/kWh electricity, about $826 for the BMW i5 and $729 for the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class EV.
Which has more range?
The Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class EV: about 374 miles versus 310 miles.
Which has more cargo space?
The Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class EV, with 12 cu ft of luggage volume versus 11 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).
BMW i5 vs Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class EV in other years
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