Skip to main content
CaralogyCaralogy
HomeBrandsRoad TripBudgetDuelGuides
Caralogy

The car comparison platform. Physics simulation, road trips, real costs.

Navigation
All brandsCar duelRunning costsMotorwayMethodology
Simulators
Motorway simulatorRunning costsPerformance duel
Brands
VolkswagenBMWMercedesToyotaTeslaAudi
FRENDEESIT
© 2026 Caralogy · All rights reserved
  1. Home
  2. /Motorway
  3. /saloon
AModel 3vsBCLABEV
  • MotorwayMotorwayRange and charging
  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
  • ConsumptionConsumptionYearly cost
  • SpecsModel 3 · CLA

Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD vs Mercedes CLA 250+ with EQ technology

Trip mapped at a glance. Charging stops visible, total duration predictable. Caralogy simulation at 130 km/h.

saloon · 2019 vs 2025 · Paris → Marseille · 775 km · 130 km/h
TeslaBEV

Model 3 Long Range AWD

346 ch · 74 kWh · 2019

VS
MercedesBEVPlus rapide

CLA 250+ with EQ technology

272 ch · 85 kWh · 2025

Simulation trip
Assumptions: 130 km/h · start 100 % · mild weather

Result · total trip time

ATesla Model 3 Long Range AWD

7h22charging included

3 stops · 59.53 €

Gap16 minin favour of CLA 250+ with EQ technology
BMercedes CLA 250+ with EQ technology

7h06charging included

1 stop · 29.11 €

Paris → Marseille · 130 km/h · Caralogy simulation
MeasureModel 3 Long Range AWDCLA 250+ with EQ technologyGap
Total time7h227h0616 min · CLA 250+ with EQ technology
Charging stops3 stops1 stop2 stops · CLA 250+ with EQ technology
Cost of energy used59.53 €29.11 €30.42 € · CLA 250+ with EQ technology

Visualise the trip

Both vehicles drive at 130 km/h. The difference comes from charging stops.

TeslaBEV
Model 3 Long Range AWD
100%
399 km
Range
Paris
0 km · departure
Charge 1
7 min · +30 kWh · 17.76 €
Charge 2
7 min · +30 kWh · 17.76 €
Charge 3
6 min · +23 kWh · 14.02 €
Marseille
775 km · Arrival 7h22
3
Stops
7h22
Duration
59.53 €
Cost of energy used
MercedesBEVFastest
CLA 250+ with EQ technology
100%
662 km
Range
Paris
0 km · departure
Charge 1
5 min · +27 kWh · 16.12 €
Marseille
775 km · Arrival 7h06
1
Stops
7h06
Duration
29.11 €
Cost of energy used

The 16-minute lead of the CLA 250+ with EQ technology does not come from driving speed, but from 2 fewer charging stops on this route (1 vs 3).

Both vehicles drove at 130 km/h for the entire trip. The gap is built at the stops: 1 stop of 5 min for the CLA 250+ with EQ technology versus 3 stops totalling 21 min for the Model 3 Long Range AWD.

Motorway consumption: the Caralogy methodology

The official WLTP figures (16,0 kWh/100km for Model 3 Long Range AWD and 10,7 kWh/100km for CLA 250+ with EQ technology) are measured on a mixed cycle averaging ~46 km/h. At a steady 130 km/h, aerodynamic drag weighs much more heavily - it grows with the square of speed. Caralogy calculates a motorway consumption specific to each vehicle based on its aerodynamic profile (SCx), weight and power curve - not a uniform correction factor. For this trip, the simulation yields 18,5 kWh/100km (Model 3 Long Range AWD) and 12,8 kWh/100km (CLA 250+ with EQ technology). Full methodology: see the assumptions below the controls.

Recovery speed: 42,0 km/min versus 21,2 km/min

During the 5 minutes of charging for the CLA 250+ with EQ technology, range recovers by 210 km. During the 21 cumulative minutes for the Model 3 Long Range AWD, range recovers by 446 km. Per minute: the CLA 250+ with EQ technology recovers 2,0× faster. At this rate, the charging stop blends into the trip rhythm - just enough time for a coffee. At a lower rate, it dictates the pace.

For reference: how much would an equivalent petrol car cost?

A Peugeot 508 1.6 PureTech 180 (equivalent segment) consumes about 7,2 L/100km on the motorway at 130 km/h. At 1,9 €/L, this Paris → Marseille trip would cost ~103 €. That is 1,7× the electric cost of the Model 3 Long Range AWD and 3,5× that of the CLA 250+ with EQ technology. The gap narrows in winter but never reverses.

Energy cost breakdown for your trip Paris → Marseille

The cost per kilometre depends on the electricity rate applied to each segment - based on the energy source used at that point of the trip.

Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD

SegmentEnergy usedDistanceConsumption€/kmCost (€)
Paris → Tournus, A6initial energy charged at home · 0.20 €/kWh359 km67 kWh consumed0.037 €/km13.33 €
Tournus, A6 → Valence, A7energy charged at Supercharger 254 kW · 0.60 €/kWh160 km30 kWh consumed0.111 €/km17.76 €
Valence, A7 → Manosque, A51energy charged at Supercharger 254 kW · 0.60 €/kWh160 km30 kWh consumed0.111 €/km17.76 €
Manosque, A51 → Marseilleenergy charged at Supercharger 234 kW · 0.60 €/kWh96 km18 kWh consumed0.111 €/km10.68 €
Trip total59.53 €

Mercedes CLA 250+ with EQ technology

SegmentEnergy usedDistanceConsumption€/kmCost (€)
Paris → Montélimar, A7initial energy charged at home · 0.20 €/kWh596 km77 kWh consumed0.026 €/km15.31 €
Montélimar, A7 → Marseilleenergy charged at Ionity 322 kW · 0.60 €/kWh179 km23 kWh consumed0.077 €/km13.81 €
Trip total29.11 €

Range recovered by stop duration

How many kilometres do you recover depending on the time spent at the charger? Comparison at nominal peak power.
Charging stop durationTesla Model 3 Long Range AWDMercedes CLA 250+ with EQ technology
5 minutes~79 km~145 km
10 minutes~157 km~291 km
20 minutes~315 km~582 km
Full session 10 → 80 %~280 km · 19 min~463 km · 17 min

What produces these figures

WLTP combined consumption
16.0 kWh/100 km · 10.7 kWh/100 km
Net battery
74 kWh · 85 kWh
Max DC charging
250 kW · 320 kW

Compare with another vehicle

Replace one of the two with an alternative from the same segment

TeslaBEV

Model 3 Long Range AWD

346 ch · 74 kWh · 2019

MercedesBEV

CLA 250+ with EQ technology

272 ch · 85 kWh · 2025

Other duels you might be interested in

VolvoVSTesla

V60 T8 AWD Recharge vs Model 3 Long Range AWD

MercedesVSRenault

CLA 250+ with EQ technology vs Megane E-Tech Electric

TeslaVSBMW

Model 3 Long Range AWD vs i4 eDrive35

MercedesVSRenault

CLA 250+ with EQ technology vs Megane E-Tech Electric 217

Frequently asked questions

The advantage comes from the combo real range + charging speed. On Paris → Marseille (775 km at 130 km/h), the CLA 250+ with EQ technology arrives in 7h06 with 1 charging stop.

WLTP consumption does not reflect motorway reality. Aerodynamic drag grows with the square of speed, so real consumption is 15 to 25 % higher than WLTP combined. Caralogy calculates a highway consumption specific to each vehicle based on its aerodynamic profile (SCx), weight and power curve.

Total time = driving time + charging time. Driving time is calculated at an average speed of 130 km/h on the motorway (adjustable). Charging time is calculated based on the real power curve of each vehicle, respecting the optimal 10 → 80 % range and the maximum power accepted by the chargers on the route.

No. The displayed cost covers only the energy consumed during the trip: kWh × energy rate, with a mix of home charging and DC fast chargers. Battery wear is a long-term ownership cost, not a trip cost.

On this trip, the energy used costs 59.53 € (Model 3 Long Range AWD) and 29.11 € (CLA 250+ with EQ technology). For reference, an equivalent Peugeot 508 1.6 PureTech 180 (~7.2 L/100 km) would cost about 103 € in fuel.