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BMW i4 vs Mercedes-Benz CLA
Selected trim250+ Sport EditionChange trim484 mi · 85 kWh · £45,615
At a glance
In this comparison, BMW i4 stays competitive across the board, while the Mercedes-Benz CLA leads on value for money, motorway range and charging speed.
Which should you choose?
Choose the Mercedes-Benz CLA if...
- you want the most for your money - best overall spec per pound
- you do long motorway journeys - it has the best estimated real-world range at speed
- you need the fastest charging of these options
- you want the lowest running costs - from just 1.5p per mile on off-peak electricity
- you need the best car for city driving and tight parking
How we reached the recommendation
Verdict
Our take
The Mercedes-Benz CLA wins almost every category - it's the clear choice unless price is the deciding factor.
ValueMercedes-Benz
BMW
5.9
Mercedes-Benz
7.9
Motorway RangeMercedes-Benz
BMW
4.1
Mercedes-Benz
9
Family
BMW
6.4
Mercedes-Benz
6.5
Too close to call
ChargingMercedes-Benz
BMW
3.7
Mercedes-Benz
7.7
Cost Per MileMercedes-Benz
BMW
4.1
Mercedes-Benz
9.8
City DrivingMercedes-Benz
BMW
3.2
Mercedes-Benz
3.9
What each car does better
See the specification differences behind the verdict, with supporting figures for each advantage.
Mercedes-Benz CLA
250+ Sport Edition
- £7,790 cheaper
- 117 miles more WLTP range
- 120 kW faster rapid charging
- 1.3 m tighter turning circle
Key specifications
Compare the key specifications for your selected trims.
| Measure | BMW i4eDrive40 M Sport | Mercedes-Benz CLA250+ Sport Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £53,405 | £45,615 (better) |
| Official range | 367 miles | 484 miles (better) |
| Boot space | 470 L (better) | 405 L |
| 10-80% rapid charge | 31 min | Not available |
| 0-62 mph | 5.7 sec (better) | 6.7 sec |
Size Comparison
View:
Align by:
BMW i4
Mercedes-Benz CLA
Length
BMW i44,783mm
Mercedes-Benz CLA4,723mm-60mm
Width
BMW i41,852mm-3mm
Mercedes-Benz CLA1,855mm
Height
BMW i41,448mm-20mm
Mercedes-Benz CLA1,468mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions to assess how each car fits UK parking spaces.
| Measure | BMW i4eDrive40 M Sport | Mercedes-Benz CLA250+ Sport Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,783 mm | 4,723 mm |
| Width (mirrors folded) | 1,852 mm (better) | 1,855 mm |
| Width with mirrors out | 2,073 mm | Not available |
| Height | 1,448 mm | 1,468 mm |
| Turning circle | 12.5 m | 11.2 m (better) |
| Clearance in a standard bayA standard UK parking bay is 2,400 mm wide. | 548 mm spare (better) | 545 mm spare |
People & luggage
Compare seating, child-seat mounting points, boot space and towing capacity.
| Measure | BMW i4eDrive40 M Sport | Mercedes-Benz CLA250+ Sport Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 5 | Not available |
| Boot space (seats up) | 470 L (better) | 405 L |
| Boot space (seats down) | 1290 L | Not available |
| Frunk | 0 L | 101 L (better) |
| Towing capacity (braked) | 1,600 kg | Not available |
How each stacks up
Percentile ranks against UK EVs of the same body style.
BMW i4
Not enough peers to make confident percentile claims.
Mercedes-Benz CLA
- A 101 L frunk, one of 7 of 232 UK EVs in our catalogue with a front boot of 101 L or more.
- 484 mile WLTP range, longer than 95% of saloon EVs we track.
- At 4,723 mm, shorter than 85% of saloon EVs in our UK catalogue.
Full specifications
| Specification |  BMW i4 eDrive40 M Sport |  Mercedes-Benz CLA 250+ Sport Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4.78m | 4.72m-60mm |
| Width | 1.85m | 1.85m+3mm |
| Width (mirrors) | 2.07m | Not available |
| Height | 1.45m | 1.47m+20mm |
| Wheelbase | 2.86m | 2.79m-66mm |
| Ground Clearance | 125mm | Not available |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 470L (better) | 405L |
| Boot (seats down) | 1290L | Not available |
| Frunk | Not available | 101L (better) |
| Seats | 5 | Not available |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | 12.5m | 11.21m (better) |
| Kerb Weight | 2,125kg | Not available |
| Towing Capacity | 1,600kg | Not available |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 83.9kWh | 85kWh (better) |
| Range (WLTP) | 367 mi | 484 mi (better) |
| Max DC Charge | 200kW | 320kW (better) |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £53,405 | £45,615 (better) |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | Saloon | Saloon |
| Available | 2021–2026 | 2025+ |
* BMW i4: Launch figures. Cars built from July 2024 (facelift) have 81.3 kWh usable, 205 kW DC charging and up to 373 miles WLTP.
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Check official and estimated driving range alongside charging speeds, efficiency and battery technology.
| Measure | BMW i4eDrive40 M Sport | Mercedes-Benz CLA250+ Sport Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 367 miles | 484 miles (better) |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 261 miles | 403 miles (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge time | 31 min | Not available |
| Max rapid charge rate | 200 kW | 320 kW (better) |
| Home AC charging | 11 kW | Not available |
| Energy consumption | 160 Wh/km | Not available |
| Usable battery capacity | 80.7 kWh | 85 kWh (better) |
| Battery chemistry | NMC | Not available |
| Battery architecture | 400V | 800V (better) |
| Heat pump | Not available | Standard |
Driving & everyday use
Performance & drivetrain
Compare acceleration, power and drivetrain specifications for the selected trims.
| Measure | BMW i4eDrive40 M Sport | Mercedes-Benz CLA250+ Sport Edition |
|---|---|---|
| 0-62 mph | 5.7 sec (better) | 6.7 sec |
| Power | 250 kW (better) | 200 kW |
| Torque | 430 Nm (better) | 335 Nm |
| Drivetrain | RWD | RWD |
What the critics say
See how UK motoring publications rate each car in their road tests.
BMW i4
eDrive40 M Sport
8.8/10
average across 6 reviews
- Electrifying.com10/10
- Auto Express4.5/5
- DrivingElectric4.5/5
Mercedes-Benz CLA
250+ Sport Edition
Watch the reviews
Watch selected video reviews here, or visit each model page for the full collection.
Reviews and videos discuss each model overall; the specifications above apply to your selected trims.
Prices & deals
Calculate your real costs
For a useful running-cost comparison, factor in your mileage, charging access and current petrol or diesel car alongside the EV estimate.
Compare with petrol or diesel
Compare purchase price, energy, road tax and maintenance with a petrol or diesel alternative.
Calculate company-car tax
Work out monthly Benefit-in-Kind using current and future HMRC rates.
Cost per mile
Compare EV charging costs per mile with petrol and diesel using your charging options.
Check a lease quote
Assess the effective monthly cost alongside the list price and expected depreciation.
Safety & ownership confidence
Euro NCAP - BMW i4 eDrive40 M Sport
Tested 2022
Adult Occupant87%
Child Occupant87%
Vulnerable Road Users71%
Safety Assist64%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Euro NCAP - Mercedes-Benz CLA 250+ Sport Edition
Tested 2025
Adult Occupant94%
Child Occupant89%
Vulnerable Road Users93%
Safety Assist85%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Warranty
Check the published battery warranty cover for each selected trim.
| Measure | BMW i4eDrive40 M Sport | Mercedes-Benz CLA250+ Sport Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Battery warranty | 8 years | Not available |
| Battery warranty distance | 160,934 km | Not available |
What owners say
Aggregated from UK owner forums and communities - the things you only learn after living with the car.
Shared watch-outs for both cars
Owners of every car here flag infotainment & software, real-world range. Worth checking on a test drive whichever you choose.
BMW i4
eDrive40 M Sport
Owners love
- Owners praise the composed ride, quiet cabin and BMW build quality, and many compare it favourably with the Tesla Model 3 for comfort.
- The eDrive40 is widely seen as the sweet spot: rear-wheel drive, lighter than the M50 and with the most range.
- Many owners report around 280 to 300 miles in mild weather from an eDrive40, and efficiency of around 4 miles per kWh on gentle runs.
Watch out for
- Winter range falls a long way, with several owners reporting around 180 to 220 miles in cold, wet weather.
- The rear seats are tight for tall adults, the doors are small and the floor is raised by the battery.
- It is heavy for its size, at about 2.1 to 2.3 tonnes, which owners feel in hard cornering and in efficiency.
Owner tips
- Sit in the back on the test drive if tall adults will use the rear seats regularly.
- Check the tyres and their brand closely; budget for a set if they are low, and prefer smaller wheels for range.
Mercedes-Benz CLA
250+ Sport Edition
Owners love
- Competitive pricing in the £45-51k bracket against Polestar 2 and Tesla Model 3
- 484-mile WLTP range is competitive with traditional petrol sedans
- Smooth, quiet driving experience with responsive handling and comfortable ride quality
Watch out for
- 800V-only design incompatible with majority of existing 400V rapid chargers across UK networks, significantly limiting public charging access
- Real-world range likely 320 miles rather than 484 miles WLTP claim, reducing practical usability on longer trips
- Scheduled charging feature missing at launch on CLA 250+, unlike other Mercedes EVs, with fixes delayed until 2026 OTA updates
Owner tips
- Verify 800V charger availability on your regular routes and confirm Mercedes charging network coverage before purchase, as 400V chargers are incompatible
- Use Mercedes Me app and onboard navigation for trip planning rather than third-party tools like ABRP, which cannot filter by 800V compatibility
Buying options
Get a quote
BMW i4
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Mercedes-Benz CLA
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Live used listings
Active inventory from independent UK dealers.
BMW i4
- £28,9502023Car360View
- £25,6992024Car360View
- £24,5582023Car360View
Mercedes-Benz CLA
No active listings.
Frequently asked questions
Is the BMW i4 worth the extra £7,790 over the Mercedes-Benz CLA?
The BMW i4 costs £7,790 more than the Mercedes-Benz CLA. For that premium it adds 65 litres more boot space, 50 kW more power and a 1.0s quicker 0-62mph time. The Mercedes-Benz CLA is not just cheaper - it also offers 117 miles more WLTP range and 120 kW faster peak rapid charging. On EVcarsguide's combined category scores, the Mercedes-Benz CLA comes out ahead overall.
Which is cheaper to own over 5 years, the BMW i4 or the Mercedes-Benz CLA?
The Mercedes-Benz CLA is £7,790 cheaper to buy. The Mercedes-Benz CLA is cheaper to charge, roughly £120 a year versus £176 for the BMW i4, at 8,000 miles on an off-peak home tariff. Add 5 years of charging and the Mercedes-Benz CLA comes out roughly £8,070 cheaper overall. These figures cover list price and home charging only - insurance, servicing, tyres and depreciation will move the real total.
What are the BMW i4 and Mercedes-Benz CLA like on a long motorway trip?
EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 261 miles for the BMW i4 and 403 miles for the Mercedes-Benz CLA - both below their WLTP figures, because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. The Mercedes-Benz CLA goes roughly 142 miles further between charging stops.
Which is easier to park and drive in town, the BMW i4 or the Mercedes-Benz CLA?
The two are within 3 mm on width, so neither is meaningfully easier to thread into a tight space. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 548 mm of total clearance for the BMW i4 and about 545 mm of total clearance for the Mercedes-Benz CLA. The Mercedes-Benz CLA also turns in a 1.3 m tighter circle, which helps with U-turns and multi-storey ramps.
Go deeper on each car
Visit the full model pages for owner feedback, expert reviews, used prices and battery-health information.
Compare against other rivals
Compare similarly sized and priced electric cars before finalising your shortlist.
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See both cars in our rankings
EVcarsguide scores every verified EV on price, range, family use and running costs. Here is where this pair appears.
Where the BMW i4 and Mercedes-Benz CLA rank among long-range EVsWhere the BMW i4 and Mercedes-Benz CLA rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the BMW i4 and Mercedes-Benz CLA rank among the best city EVsWhere the BMW i4 and Mercedes-Benz CLA rank among the cheapest EVs to runWhere the BMW i4 and Mercedes-Benz CLA rank among EVs with the biggest bootsWhere the BMW i4 and Mercedes-Benz CLA rank among Best Used Electric Cars Under £10,000 (UK)
If neither is quite right
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Further reading
Explore buying and ownership guides to help you choose between these electric cars.
Data accuracy
Specs are sourced from manufacturer websites and manually reviewed. These figures were last verified .