Mercedes-Benz · Compact cars · Gasoline
Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class: MPG and annual fuel cost, 2026
At 23 MPG combined, the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class sits 11 MPG below the compact cars median of 34, which makes it 19th of 21 compact cars, in the bottom quarter.
- 23MPG combined19th of 21 in class
- $3,550a year in fuel19th of 21 in class
- 379g/mile CO2
Where it stands
Compared only with the gasoline models of its class it is 7th of 9 gasoline compact cars, in the lower half. The median of that narrower group is 26 MPG, against 34 MPG for all compact cars together.
Across every class it is tied for 86th of 180 gasoline models, in the lower half.
Mercedes-Benz has 22 models in the 2026 data. This one ranks 13th of them on combined rating, against a make median of 25.5 MPG.
In its class, just ahead of it is the Genesis G70 at 24 MPG and just behind it is the Lexus IS at 22 MPG.
Fuel cost and CO2
Assuming 15,000 miles a year with 55% of them in the city and premium gasoline at $5.48 per gallon, fuelling the most efficient version comes to about $3,550 a year. That is $1,600 more than the compact cars median of $1,950.
It emits 379 g of CO2 per mile from the tailpipe; the compact cars median is 265, a difference of 114 g/mile.
Rated versions
In the city the most efficient version is rated 20 and on the highway 28, 8 better on the open road. The data lists one version for 2026: AMG CLA45 S 4matic: 2.0 L, 4 cyl, Automatic (AM8), AWD.
| Version | Combined MPG | City MPG | Highway MPG | Annual fuel cost | CO2 g/mile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMG CLA45 S 4matic: 2.0 L, 4 cyl, Automatic (AM8), AWD | 23 | 20 | 28 | $3,550 | 379 |
Year by year
The Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class is in the data for 8 of the 8 model years from 2019 to 2026. Its best combined rating went from 29 in 2019 to 23 MPG in 2026, down 6 MPG. The number of rated versions shrank from 4 to 1. Fuel cost for the best version is $3,550 in the latest data against $2,850 in 2019, although the file applies today's fuel prices to every model year, so that change comes from the rating, not from prices.
| Model year | Versions | Best MPG | Lowest MPG | Fuel cost | CO2 g/mi | Class median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 23 | 23 | $3,550 | 379 | 34 |
| 2025 | 1 | 23 | 23 | $3,550 | 379 | 30.5 |
| 2024 | 1 | 23 | 23 | $3,550 | 389 | 30 |
| 2023 | 4 | 29 | 23 | $2,850 | 309 | 29 |
| 2022 | 4 | 29 | 23 | $2,850 | 309 | 30 |
| 2021 | 4 | 29 | 23 | $2,850 | 306 | 30 |
| 2020 | 4 | 28 | 23 | $2,950 | 310 | 30 |
| 2019 | 4 | 29 | 26 | $2,850 | 310 | 30.5 |
Similar models
| Model | Powertrain | Combined MPG | Annual fuel cost | Model year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genesis G70 | Gasoline | 24 | $3,400 | 2026 |
| Lexus IS | Gasoline | 22 | $3,750 | 2026 |
| Cadillac CT4 | Gasoline | 26 | $3,150 | 2026 |
| Volkswagen GLI | Gasoline | 29 | $2,300 | 2026 |
| Mercedes-Benz C-Class Hybrid | Hybrid | 29 | $2,850 | 2026 |
Compare and rank
Rankings: Compact cars, Gasoline, Mercedes-Benz, Gasoline compact cars.
Data: US EPA and DOE, as prepared in methods and data.