Mercedes-Benz C-Class vs. Mercedes-Benz CLS
iSeeCars' unbiased and data-driven comparison of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Mercedes-Benz CLS contrasts the two cars across a broad spectrum of vehicle specifications to determine which car is better. In addition to comparing pricing and specs, iSeeCars uses all the ratings, rankings, and insights from its comprehensive analyses of each vehicle model, including calculations of reliability, safety, depreciation, value retention, and the vehicle's projected lifetime recalls (based on analyzing over 25 billion data points). This in-depth evaluation is used to identify which vehicle represents a better overall choice for shoppers who are considering both the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and the Mercedes-Benz CLS.
When we compare the Mercedes-Benz C-Class's and the Mercedes-Benz CLS's specifications and ratings, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class has the advantage in the areas of new vehicle base pricing, typical lower range of pricing for one- to five-year-old used cars, and fuel efficiency, resale value and overall quality score. The Mercedes-Benz CLS has the advantage in the areas of reliability and base engine power. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Mercedes-Benz CLS have the same interior volume. Based on this comparison of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class's and the Mercedes-Benz CLS's specifications and ratings, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class is a better car than the Mercedes-Benz CLS.
Pricing: A used 2023 Mercedes-Benz C-Class ranges from $32,006 to $50,711 while a used 2023 Mercedes-Benz CLS is priced between $53,990 to $80,121. For a new model, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class's price is between $49,506 and $73,255, with the Mercedes-Benz CLS priced between $81,890 and $94,488.
Resale/Retained Value: Looking at the 5-year depreciation rate for both models, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class loses 52.5 percent of its value and the Mercedes-Benz CLS loses 58.2 percent of its value. This means the Mercedes-Benz C-Class retains 5.7 percentage points more of its value and has the advantage of higher resale value versus the Mercedes-Benz CLS.
Quality Rating: The iSeeCars Overall Quality rating for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class is 8.4 out of 10 while the Mercedes-Benz CLS's quality rating is 7.5 out of 10. This results in the Mercedes-Benz C-Class being ranked 15 out of 35 Best Luxury Small Cars and the Mercedes-Benz CLS being ranked 8 out of 13 Best Luxury Large Cars.
Reliability Rating: iSeeCars’ Reliability Rating for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class is 7.5 out of 10. For the Mercedes-Benz CLS the reliability rating is 7.7 out of 10. This gives the Mercedes-Benz CLS a slight advantage in reliability compared to the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
Engine Power and Fuel Efficiency Comparison: For engine performance, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class’s base engine makes 255 horsepower, and the Mercedes-Benz CLS base engine makes 362 horsepower. The C-Class is rated to deliver an average of 29 miles per gallon, with a highway range of 626 miles. The CLS is rated to deliver an average of 25 miles per gallon, with a highway range of 633 miles.This gives the Mercedes-Benz C-Class the advantage in fuel efficiency and the Mercedes-Benz CLS the advantage in maximum range. Both models use premium unleaded.
Passenger Space Comparison: The Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Mercedes-Benz CLS are comparable in regards to interior volume
Safety Ratings: The Mercedes-Benz C-Class has an average safety rating of 5 out of 5 Stars based on NHTSA's crash test ratings.
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
49506 - 73255
Starting MSRP:
44850
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
47499
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
31300 - 78200
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
81890 - 94488
Starting MSRP:
76500
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Luxury Large Cars)
96574
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Luxury Large Cars)
70200 - 123900
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
39317
Price Range:
32006 - 50711
Category Avg Price:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
42900
Category Avg Price Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
25084 - 84517
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
974
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
32083
# Good or Great Deals:
599
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
62427
Price Range:
53990 - 80121
Category Avg Price:
(Luxury Large Cars)
80940
Category Avg Price Range:
(Luxury Large Cars)
56933 - 123021
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
# Good or Great Deals:
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
8.4 / 10
Reliability:
7.5 / 10
Retained Value:
7.6 / 10
Safety:
10.0 / 10
Mercedes-Benz CLS Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
7.5 / 10
Reliability:
7.7 / 10
Retained Value:
7.3 / 10
Safety:
Not available
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Remaining Life Expectancy (years):
10.1
Typical Category Remaining Life Expectancy:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
10.1
Category Remaining Life Expectancy Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
7.5 - 18.1
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
0.08
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Mercedes-Benz CLS
Remaining Life Expectancy (years):
9.3
Typical Category Remaining Life Expectancy:
(Luxury Large Cars)
10.7
Category Remaining Life Expectancy Range:
(Luxury Large Cars)
5.2 - 14.1
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
0.016
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
2.512655633372714
Typical Category Recalls:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
2.3
Category Range for Recalls:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
1.1 - 16.5
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
2.501527819448896
Typical Category Recalls:
(Luxury Large Cars)
2.5
Category Range for Recalls:
(Luxury Large Cars)
1.2 - 77.2
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Rankings
Ranking
1 out of / 35Ranking
4 out of / 35Ranking
7 out of / 35Ranking
8 out of / 35Ranking
8 out of / 30Ranking
10 out of / 35Ranking
11 out of / 35Ranking
15 out of / 35Ranking
16 out of / 35Ranking
16 out of / 30Ranking
29 out of / 35Ranking
31 out of / 35Mercedes-Benz CLS Rankings
Ranking
5 out of / 13Ranking
6 out of / 13Ranking
8 out of / 13Ranking
8 out of / 13Ranking
10 out of / 13Ranking
10 out of / 13Ranking
11 out of / 13Available Body Styles
Convertible, Coupe, Sedan
Available Body Styles
Sedan
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Trim Levels
AMG C 43, AMG C 63 S, AMG C 63 S Final Edition, C 300, C 300 4MATIC
Mercedes-Benz CLS Trim Levels
CLS 450 4MATIC
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
4 years / 50000 miles
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
5 out of 5 Stars
2026 NHTSA Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
Not yet available
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
Not yet available
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
255 hp @ 5800 rpm
Torque:
295 foot-lbs @ 2000 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.067 hp per pound
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
362 hp @ 5500 rpm
Torque:
369 foot-lbs @ 1600 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.085 hp per pound
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
2 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
4
Transmission:
Automatic
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
RWD / AWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
25 / 36 / 29
Range (city/hwy):
435 / 626 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Premium Unleaded
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
3 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
6
Transmission:
Automatic
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
AWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
22 / 30 / 25
Range (city/hwy):
464 / 633 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Premium Unleaded
Standard/Optional Features
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Android Auto:
Standard
Apple CarPlay:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Heated Seats
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Keyless Ignition:
Standard
Leather Upholstery:
Standard
Paddle Shifters:
Standard
Power Lift Gate:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Roadside assistance:
Standard
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Standard
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Wifi:
Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Available
Automatic Parking:
Available
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
Available
Heated Steering Wheel:
Available
Navigation System:
Available
Parking Sensors:
Available
Satellite radio:
Available
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
Available
Air Suspension:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Internet Radio:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roof Rack:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Standard/Optional Features
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Android Auto:
Standard
Apple CarPlay:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Heated Seats
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Keyless Ignition:
Standard
Leather Upholstery:
Standard
Paddle Shifters:
Standard
Power Lift Gate:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Roadside assistance:
Standard
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Standard
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Wifi:
Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Available
Automatic Parking:
Available
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
Available
Heated Steering Wheel:
Available
Navigation System:
Standard
Parking Sensors:
Available
Satellite radio:
Available
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
Available
Air Suspension:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Internet Radio:
N/A
Massage Seats:
Available
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roof Rack:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
Blind Spot Monitoring:
Standard
Driver Attention Monitoring:
Standard
Forward Collision Warning:
Standard
Pedestrian Detection:
Standard
360-Degree Camera:
Available
Lane Departure Warning:
N/A
Lane Keeping Assist:
N/A
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
N/A
Rear Seat Reminder:
N/A
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
Blind Spot Monitoring:
Standard
Driver Attention Monitoring:
Standard
Forward Collision Warning:
Standard
Pedestrian Detection:
Standard
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Lane Departure Warning:
N/A
Lane Keeping Assist:
N/A
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
N/A
Rear Seat Reminder:
N/A
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
40 inches
Front Leg Room:
41.7 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
56.3 inches
Rear Head Room:
37.5 inches
Rear Leg Room:
36 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
55.6 inches
Cargo Space:
12.6 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
93.0 cubic feet
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
36.9 inches
Front Leg Room:
41.9 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
57.8 inches
Rear Head Room:
35.9 inches
Rear Leg Room:
35 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
56.5 inches
Cargo Space:
11.9 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
93.0 cubic feet
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
3825 lbs
Width:
80 inches
Height:
56.6 inches
Length:
187 inches
Wheelbase:
112.8 inches
Ground Clearance:
3.8 inches
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
4255 lbs
Width:
81.5 inches
Height:
56.3 inches
Length:
196.4 inches
Wheelbase:
115.7 inches
Ground Clearance:
3.7 inches
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
18.0 x 7.5 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
225/45R18
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
19.0 x 8.0 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
245/40R19
Exterior Colors
Black
Black / Obsidian Black Metallic
Blue
Lunar Blue Metallic / Starling Blue Metallic
Gray
Graphite Grey Metallic / MANUFAKTUR Selenite Grey Magno Matte / Selenite Grey Metallic
Red
MANUFAKTUR Cardinal Red Metallic
Silver
Cirrus Silver Metallic / Mojave Silver Metallic
White
MANUFAKTUR Moonlight White Metallic / Polar White
Exterior Colors
Black
Black / Obsidian Black Metallic
Blue
MANUFAKTUR Cote d'Azur Light Blue Metallic / MANUFAKTUR Mystic Blue Metallic / Starling Blue Metallic
Gray
Graphite Grey Metallic / MANUFAKTUR Arabian Grey / MANUFAKTUR Graphite Grey Metallic / MANUFAKTUR Selenite Grey Magno Matte / MANUFAKTUR Teide Light Grey Metallic / Selenite Grey Metallic
Red
MANUFAKTUR Cardinal Red Metallic
Silver
Cirrus Silver Metallic / Mojave Silver Metallic
White
MANUFAKTUR Cashmere White Magno Matte / MANUFAKTUR Diamond White Bright Metallic / Polar White
Interior Colors
Beige
Macchiato Beige
Black
Black
Brown
Sienna Brown / Sienna Brown/Black
Gray
Neva Grey
Red
Power Red/Black
Blue
Not available
White
Not available
Interior Colors
Beige
Macchiato Beige/Magma Grey / Magma Grey/Macchiato Beige / MANUFAKTUR Macchiato Beige/Titian Red
Black
Black
Brown
MANUFAKTUR Tartufo Brown/Black / Sienna Brown/Black
Gray
Neva Grey/Magma Grey
Red
MANUFAKTUR Classic Red/Black / MANUFAKTUR Titian Red/Macchiato Beige
Blue
MANUFAKTUR Yacht Blue/Black
White
MANUFAKTUR Deep White/Black
