Mercedes-Benz CLA vs Nissan Z (2026)
Price gap, MSRP + destination
$685
- CLA: 10 mpg better, 4.7 cu ft more cargo.
- Z: 179 hp more, 1.9 s quicker to 60.
- Each wins 4 of 9 measures.
- Price: about the same.
| Measure | CLA | Z | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSRP + destination | $44,950 | $44,265 | About the same |
| Horsepower | 221 hp | 400 hp | Z |
| Torque | 258 lb-ft | 350 lb-ft | Z |
| MPG combined | 30 mpg | 20 mpg | CLA |
| Cargo, max | 11.6 cu ft | 6.9 cu ft | CLA |
| Cargo, seats up | N/A | 6.9 cu ft | N/A |
| Rear legroom | 33.9 in | N/A | N/A |
| Front legroom | 41.8 in | 42.9 in | Z |
| Length | 184.6 in | 172.4 in | Not scored |
| Width | 72.0 in | 72.8 in | Not scored |
| Curb weight | 3,494 lb to 4,729 lb | 3,486 lb | N/A |
| Seats | 5 | 2 | CLA |
| Ground clearance | N/A | 4.8 in | N/A |
| 0-60 mph | 6.3 s tested | 4.4 s estimate | Z |
| Basic warranty | 4 yr / 50,000 mi | 3 yr / 36,000 mi | CLA |
Not scored: length, width, curb weight. N/A rows are not counted.
Nearest trims by price
| Trim | Nearest in price | Gap |
|---|---|---|
| CLA 250 RWD $42,750 | Z Sport Manual RWD #481518 $42,970 | $220 |
| Z Sport RWD $42,970 | CLA 250 RWD $42,750 | $220 |
Cost to run
CLA costs $3,155 less over 6 years.
12,000 miles a year. Gas $3.20. Electricity 17 cents per kWh.
| Cost | CLA | Z |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP + destination | $44,950 | $44,265 |
| Fuel or charging, 1 year | $1,280 | $1,920 |
| Fuel or charging, 6 years | $7,680 | $11,520 |
| Total, 6 years | $52,630 | $55,785 |
Which is better for me?
Weight each group from 0 to 10. MPG uses fuel or charging cost.
Equal weights: CLA wins.
Z wins if Power weight is 9 or more.
| Group | Ahead | By |
|---|---|---|
| Price | About the same | |
| MPG | CLA | 33% |
| Power | Z | 45% |
| Space | CLA | 41% |
| Towing | N/A |
Other years
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