2018 head-to-head · Compact Car
2018 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.
The 2018 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 $2,043 a year to fuel (29 MPG), versus $2,576 for the 2018 Audi Q3 (23 MPG). That's roughly $533 a year, or about $2,665 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 Q3 | Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class | |
|---|---|---|
| $2,576 | Your annual fuel cost | $2,043 |
| 23 MPG | Combined efficiency | 29 MPG |
| 20 MPG | City | 24 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) | 310 g/mi |
| 5/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 6/10 |
| 5/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 6/10 |
| 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 44 2018 compact cars, the Audi Q3 ranks 41st and the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class 32nd for lowest fuel cost.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2018 Audi Q3 or the 2018 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 29 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2018 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 $2,043 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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