Comparison
BMW i4 vs Mercedes-Benz CLA Electric
eDrive40 Gran Coupe (18 inch wheels) vs CLA 250+ with EQ Technology: range, price, charging, running costs and road-trip stops.
Best range Mercedes-Benz CLA Electric 374 mi vs 333 mi
Best value Mercedes-Benz CLA Electric $47,950 vs $57,900
Faster charging Mercedes-Benz CLA Electric 22 min vs 30 min
5-yr energy Mercedes-Benz CLA Electric $4,400 vs $4,200
Winner by category
6 categories comparedRange winner
Mercedes-Benz CLA Electric
374 mi vs 333 mi
Value winner
Mercedes-Benz CLA Electric
$128/mi vs $174/mi
Charging winner
Mercedes-Benz CLA Electric
22 min vs 30 min
Efficiency winner
Mercedes-Benz CLA Electric
270 Wh/mi vs 285 Wh/mi
Utility/family winner
BMW i4
Ahead on seats, cargo, and tow capacity
Performance winner
BMW i4
5.5 s vs 6.6 s
Side-by-side comparison
Featured trims| Spec | BMW i4 | Mercedes-Benz CLA Electric |
|---|---|---|
| Trim used | eDrive40 Gran Coupe (18 inch wheels) | CLA 250+ with EQ Technology |
| MSRP (USD) | $57,900 | $47,950 (better) |
| Range | 333 mi | 374 mi (better) |
| Efficiency | 285 Wh/mi • 3.51 mi/kWh | 270 Wh/mi • 3.7 mi/kWh (better) |
| Battery (usable) | 80.7 kWh | 85 kWh (better) |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Drivetrain | RWD | RWD |
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| DC max | 205 kW | 320 kW (better) |
| AC max | 11 kW (better) | 10 kW |
| 10–80% (DC) | 30 min | 22 min (better) |
| Roadtrip score | 81.3 | 91.1 (better) |
| Miles added (15 min est.) | 99 mi | 150 mi (better) |
| USD per mile of range | 174 $/mi | 128 $/mi (better) |
| 0–60 mph | 5.5 s (better) | 6.6 s |
| Top speed | 118 mph | 130 mph (better) |
| Cargo | 17 cu ft (better) | 10.3 cu ft |
Pick the BMW i4 if…
- You haul gear: 17 vs 10.3 cu ft of listed cargo space.
- You care about acceleration: 0-60 mph in 5.5 vs 6.6 seconds.
Pick the Mercedes-Benz CLA Electric if…
- You want the lower price: $47,950 vs $57,900 to start, $9,950 less.
- You drive long days: 374 vs 333 miles of rated range.
- You fast-charge often: 10-80% in 22 vs 30 minutes.
- You want to use Tesla Superchargers without an adapter: it has a native NACS port.
Availability: 2026 is the final model year for the BMW i4.
5-year energy cost: BMW i4 vs Mercedes-Benz CLA Electric
| Charging mix | BMW i4 | Mercedes-Benz CLA Electric |
|---|---|---|
| Efficiency | 285 Wh/mi | 270 Wh/mi |
| All home charging | $3,250 | $3,050 |
| 80% home, 20% public DC | $4,400 | $4,200 |
| All public DC fast charging | $9,100 | $8,650 |
60,000 miles (12,000 a year) at rated efficiency, $0.17/kWh at home, $0.48/kWh at public fast chargers, plus 10% charging loss. A 30 mpg gas car at $3.20/gal would spend about $6,400 on fuel over the same miles. Use your own rates.
500-mile road trip: charging stops
| BMW i4 | Mercedes-Benz CLA Electric | |
|---|---|---|
| First leg (90% to 10%) | 226 mi | 254 mi |
| Each leg after a 10-80% stop | 198 mi | 223 mi |
| Fast-charge stops | 2 | 2 |
| Time spent charging | about 60 min | about 45 min |
| DC port | CCS1 | NACS |
Highway range taken as 85% of rated range. Each stop is counted as a full 10-80% session at the listed time, so the last stop is often shorter in practice. Cold weather and high speeds add stops. Charging time calculator.
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