2015 head-to-head · Compact Car
2015 BMW 3 Series Diesel 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.
The 2015 BMW 3 Series Diesel is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.70/gal diesel fuel and $3.95/gal premium gas, it costs about $1,542 a year to fuel (36 MPG), versus $1,975 for the 2015 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class (30 MPG). That's roughly $433 a year, or about $2,167 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 Diesel
- Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class
Side by side
| BMW 3 Series Diesel | Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class | |
|---|---|---|
| $1,542 | Your annual fuel cost | $1,975 |
| 36 MPG | Combined efficiency | 30 MPG |
| 31 MPG | City | 26 MPG |
| 43 MPG | Highway | 37 MPG |
| 96 cu ft | Passenger volume | 88 cu ft |
| 13 cu ft | Cargo volume | 13 cu ft |
| 285 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 299 g/mi |
| 9/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 7/10 |
| 8/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 7/10 |
| Diesel | Powertrain | Gas |
| Diesel | Fuel | Premium gasoline |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Engine / motor | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo |
| 8-speed automatic | Transmission | 7-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 Diesel vs Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class across model years
- BMW 3 Series Diesel
- 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 BMW 3 Series Diesel has more passenger space (96 vs. 88 cu ft).
Among 52 2015 compact cars, the BMW 3 Series Diesel ranks 19th and the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class 34th for lowest fuel cost.
The powertrains differ: the BMW 3 Series Diesel is a diesel, while the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class is a conventional gas model.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2015 BMW 3 Series Diesel or the 2015 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class?
Measured by cost to drive, the BMW 3 Series Diesel. The BMW 3 Series Diesel is rated 36 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 BMW 3 Series Diesel vs. the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class per year?
At 15,000 miles a year with $3.70/gal diesel fuel and $3.95/gal premium gas, about $1,542 for the BMW 3 Series Diesel and $1,975 for the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class.
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