Honda Prelude vs Mercedes-Benz CLA (2026)
Price gap, MSRP + destination
$1,755
- Prelude: $1,755 cheaper, 14 mpg better.
- CLA: 21 hp more, 1 more seat.
- Prelude wins 5 of 9 measures.
| Measure | Prelude | CLA | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSRP + destination | $43,195 | $44,950 | Prelude |
| Horsepower | 200 hp | 221 hp | CLA |
| Torque | 134 lb-ft to 232 lb-ft | 258 lb-ft | N/A |
| MPG combined | 44 mpg | 30 mpg | Prelude |
| Cargo, max | 15.1 cu ft | 11.6 cu ft | Prelude |
| Cargo, seats up | 15.1 cu ft | N/A | N/A |
| Rear legroom | 37.4 in | 33.9 in | Prelude |
| Front legroom | 42.3 in | 41.8 in | Prelude |
| Length | 178.4 in | 184.6 in | Not scored |
| Width | 74.0 in | 72.0 in | Not scored |
| Curb weight | 3,261 lb | 3,494 lb to 4,729 lb | N/A |
| Seats | 4 | 5 | CLA |
| 0-60 mph | 7.0 s estimate | 6.3 s tested | CLA |
| Basic warranty | 3 yr / 36,000 mi | 4 yr / 50,000 mi | CLA |
Not scored: length, width, curb weight. N/A rows are not counted.
Nearest trims by price
| Trim | Nearest in price | Gap |
|---|---|---|
| Prelude FWD $42,000 | CLA 250 RWD $42,750 | $750 |
| CLA 250 RWD $42,750 | Prelude 2-Tone FWD $42,500 | $250 |
Cost to run
Prelude costs $4,199 less over 6 years.
12,000 miles a year. Gas $3.20. Electricity 17 cents per kWh.
| Cost | Prelude | CLA |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP + destination | $43,195 | $44,950 |
| Fuel or charging, 1 year | $873 | $1,280 |
| Fuel or charging, 6 years | $5,236 | $7,680 |
| Total, 6 years | $48,431 | $52,630 |
Which is better for me?
Weight each group from 0 to 10. MPG uses fuel or charging cost.
Equal weights: Prelude wins.
No single weight change flips the winner.
| Group | Ahead | By |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Prelude | 4% |
| MPG | Prelude | 32% |
| Power | CLA | 10% |
| Space | Prelude | 23% |
| Towing | N/A |
What this cannot tell you
Your price and mpg will differ.
Reliability and safety are not included.
- 2 or more sources
- 1 source
- Model-level, rule or estimate
- Sources disagree