The Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class does 20.7 mpg combined (18.1 city, 25.7 highway), which works out to about $1,855 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 3L 6-cyl Hybrid does 25.6 mpg while 5.5L 8-cyl does 16 — a difference of $900 a year. Against other V8 cars it sits above the average of 16.1 mpg.
Every Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class ranges from 25.6 down to 16 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $900 a year across 5 versions of the same car. Picking the right one often saves more fuel than picking a different car altogether. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3L 6-cyl Hybrid | 23 / 30.4 | 2019–2023 | $1,500 | |
| 3L 6-cyl | 20 / 29 | 2015–2016 | $1,600 | |
| 4.7L 8-cyl | 17.6 / 25.6 | 2012–2018 | $1,892 | |
| 5L 8-cyl | 14 / 20 | 2006–2006 | $2,400 | |
| 5.5L 8-cyl | 14 / 20.8 | 2007–2011 | $2,400 |
What that actually costs
The Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class burns a gallon every 20.7 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 580 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.155 |
| Fuel per year | $1,855 |
| Fuel over five years | $9,275 |
| Against other V8 cars | −$530 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,840 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class gives up 7.6 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 25.7 out there against 18.1 in town, a 42% drop worth $628 a year. A wide gap punishes stop-and-start traffic; a narrow one means the car doesn't care where you drive it.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City | 18.1 mpg | $2,122 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 25.7 mpg | $1,494 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +7.6 mpg (42%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the CLS-Class changed over the years
The CLS-Class peaked in 2021 at 26 mpg (23 city, 30 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2011 at 16 — 10 mpg apart, or $923 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2023 car does 25. Jumps usually mark a new generation or a new engine; dips often mean a heavier body or added all-wheel drive.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 22 / 30 | 1 | $1,536 | |
| 2022 | 22 / 30 | 1 | $1,536 | |
| 2021 | 23 / 30 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 2020 | 24 / 31 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 2019 | 24 / 31 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 2018 | 18 / 26 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2017 | 18 / 26 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2016 | 19 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 2015 | 19 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 2014 | 17 / 25 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2013 | 17 / 25 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2012 | 17 / 25 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2011 | 14 / 21 | 1 | $2,400 | |
| 2010 | 14 / 21 | 1 | $2,400 | |
| 2009 | 14 / 21 | 1 | $2,400 | |
| 2008 | 14 / 21 | 1 | $2,400 | |
| 2007 | 14 / 20 | 1 | $2,400 | |
| 2006 | 14 / 20 | 1 | $2,400 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 20 EPA ratings of the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class — 5 engines across 2006–2023. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon, against EPA's own estimate of $3,840. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class get?
20.7 mpg combined on average — 18.1 in the city and 25.7 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2006–2023.
How much does a Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class cost in fuel per year?
About $1,855 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $9,275 over five years, or 0.155 dollars a mile.
Which CLS-Class engine is the most economical?
The 3L 6-cyl Hybrid at 25.6 mpg, against 16 for the 5.5L 8-cyl — a difference of about $900 a year.
Is the CLS-Class good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other V8 cars it sits above the average of 16.1 mpg, computed across 3323 ratings.
Are these real-world CLS-Class figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class is $3,840 against the $1,855 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 26 and 16 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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