Mercedes CLA vs Tesla Model 3
Biggest differences: Boot — Mercedes CLA 405 l, Tesla Model 3 594 l · 0–100 km/h — Mercedes CLA 6.7 s, Tesla Model 3 5.2 s · DC charging — Mercedes CLA 320 kW, Tesla Model 3 250 kW.
Mercedes CLA
The electric sedan in the D-segment is offered with four different powertrain options, offering a WLTP range of up to 792 km.
Tesla Model 3
The Tesla Model 3 is a sedan in the D-segment, offered with four different powertrain configurations, each offering varying ranges and performance characteristics.
Profile against the market: Mercedes CLA vs Tesla Model 3
Mercedes CLACLA 250+
Tesla Model 3Premium RWD
Mercedes CLA or Tesla Model 3 — who wins where
Mercedes CLA leads 6 to 4
The score leaves out metrics where data is missing on one side.
Click a slice to see only those metrics. Each bar shows where the car stands against the whole catalogue.
- WLTP range kmMercedes CLA +42 km
- Battery kWhMercedes CLA +6 kWh
- Consumption ↓ kWh/100 kmMercedes CLA −1.3 kWh/100 km
- Power PSMercedes CLA +8 PS
- 0–100 km/h ↓ sTesla Model 3 −1.5 s
- Top speed km/hMercedes CLA +9 km/h
- DC charging kWMercedes CLA +70 kW
- AC charging kWTesla Model 3 +0.5 kW
- Charging ↓ minNo data
- Weight ↓ kgTesla Model 3 −233 kg
- Boot lTesla Model 3 +189 l
Technical data: Mercedes CLA vs Tesla Model 3
Bold and underline = better value · ↓ = lower is better · — = no data
| Key parameters | Mercedes CLA CLA 250+ | Tesla Model 3 Premium RWD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Range and energy | |||
| WLTP range | 792 km | 750 km | Mercedes +42 km |
| Battery | 85 kWh | 79 kWh | Mercedes +6 kWh |
| Consumption ↓ | 12.3 kWh/100 km | 13.6 kWh/100 km | Mercedes −1.3 kWh/100 km |
| Charging | |||
| DC charging | 320 kW | 250 kW | Mercedes +70 kW |
| AC charging | 11 kW | 11.5 kW | Tesla +0.5 kW |
| Charging 10–80% ↓ | 22 min | — | — |
| Range per minute of charging | 25.2 km/min | — | — |
| Voltage | 800 V | 400 V | Mercedes +400 V |
| Performance and drivetrain | |||
| Power | 272 PS | 264 PS | Mercedes +8 PS |
| 0–100 km/h ↓ | 6.7 s | 5.2 s | Tesla −1.5 s |
| Top speed | 210 km/h | 201 km/h | Mercedes +9 km/h |
| Drivetrain | RWD | RWD | — |
| Practicality | |||
| Weight ↓ | 1980 kg | 1747 kg | Tesla −233 kg |
| Boot | 405 l | 594 l | Tesla +189 l |
| Length | 4723 mm | 4720 mm | Mercedes +3 mm |
| Width | 1855 mm | 1850 mm | Mercedes +5 mm |
| Height | 1468 mm | 1440 mm | Mercedes +28 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2790 mm | 2875 mm | Tesla +85 mm |
The better value in each row is bold and underlined in the colour of the car. Metrics marked ↓ — lower is better. Dimensions are shown without picking a winner.
Energy cost calculator
Mercedes CLA
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Video reviews of both models
Mercedes CLA
Tesla Model 3
Other comparisons in this class: Sedan, segment D
Frequently asked questions about this comparison
Which has the longer range — Mercedes CLA or Tesla Model 3?
The Mercedes CLA goes further: 792 km WLTP against the 750 km of the Tesla Model 3. That is a difference of 42 km.
Which has the bigger boot?
The Tesla Model 3 takes more: 594 l against 405 l in the Mercedes CLA. The difference is 189 l.
Which charges faster?
The Mercedes CLA accepts up to 320 kW DC, the Tesla Model 3 up to 250 kW.
Which is cheaper to run?
The Mercedes CLA uses less electricity: 12.3 kWh/100 km against 13.6 kWh/100 km in the Tesla Model 3. Over 15000 km a year that is a difference of 195 kWh — the calculator on this page turns it into money.
Technical data comes from official manufacturer materials and we do our best to verify it, but a manufacturer can change a specification without notice and mistakes do happen. Confirm the figures with a dealer before you buy — we accept no liability for decisions made on the basis of this data. Full disclaimer
Range, consumption and weight are given for the base configuration: manufacturers homologate them as a band of values that depends on wheels and equipment (e.g. 533–592 km), and we take the lightest variant, on the smallest wheels — i.e. the most favourable. The same model on larger wheels will travel a shorter distance.