2015 head-to-head · Compact Car

2015 Audi Q3 vs Mercedes-Benz CLA-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
$2,576/ year to fuel
23 MPG
✓ Cheaper to run
$1,975/ year to fuel
30 MPG

The 2015 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class 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 $2,576 for the 2015 Audi Q3 (23 MPG). That's roughly $601 a year, or about $3,005 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 CLA-Class

Side by side

Audi Q3Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class
$2,576 Your annual fuel cost $1,975
23 MPG Combined efficiency 30 MPG
20 MPG City 26 MPG
28 MPG Highway 37 MPG
84 cu ft Passenger volume 88 cu ft
17 cu ft Cargo volume 13 cu ft
387 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 299 g/mi
5/10 EPA fuel economy score 7/10
5/10 EPA greenhouse gas score 7/10
Gas Powertrain Gas
Premium gasoline Fuel Premium gasoline
2.0L 4-cyl turbo Engine / motor 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
6-speed automatic Transmission 7-speed dual-clutch
AWD 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.

Audi Q3 vs Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class across model years

  • Audi Q3
  • Mercedes-Benz CLA-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 CLA-Class has more passenger space (88 vs. 84 cu ft); the Audi Q3 has more cargo space (17 vs. 13 cu ft).

Among 52 2015 compact cars, the Audi Q3 ranks 49th and the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class 34th for lowest fuel cost.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2015 Audi Q3 or the 2015 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class?

Measured by cost to drive, the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class. The Audi Q3 is rated 23 MPG combined and the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class 30 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2015 Audi Q3 vs. the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class per year?

At 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas, about $2,576 for the Audi Q3 and $1,975 for the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class.

Which has more cargo space?

The Audi Q3, with 17 cu ft of luggage volume versus 13 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).

Audi Q3 vs Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class in other years

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