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Tesla Model S 85 vs Mercedes CLA 250+ mit EQ Technologie

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

grand tourer · 2012 vs 2025 · Paris → Marseille · 775 km · 130 km/h
TeslaBEV

Model S 85

362 ch · 77.5 kWh · 2012

VS
MercedesBEVPlus rapide

CLA 250+ mit EQ Technologie

272 ch · 85 kWh · 2025

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

Result · total trip time

ATesla Model S 85

8h09charging included

4 stops · 86.68 €

Gap63 minin favour of CLA 250+ mit EQ Technologie
BMercedes CLA 250+ mit EQ Technologie

7h06charging included

1 stop · 29.11 €

Paris → Marseille · 130 km/h · Caralogy simulation
MeasureModel S 85CLA 250+ mit EQ TechnologieGap
Total time8h097h0663 min · CLA 250+ mit EQ Technologie
Charging stops4 stops1 stop3 stops · CLA 250+ mit EQ Technologie
Cost of energy used86.68 €29.11 €57.57 € · CLA 250+ mit EQ Technologie

Visualise the trip

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

TeslaBEV
Model S 85
100%
315 km
Range
Paris
0 km · departure
Charge 1
16 min · +31 kWh · 18.60 €
Charge 2
16 min · +31 kWh · 18.60 €
Charge 3
16 min · +31 kWh · 18.60 €
Charge 4
20 min · +36 kWh · 21.36 €
Marseille
775 km · Arrival 8h09
4
Stops
8h09
Duration
86.68 €
Cost of energy used
MercedesBEVFastest
CLA 250+ mit EQ Technologie
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 63-minute lead of the CLA 250+ mit EQ Technologie does not come from driving speed, but from 3 fewer charging stops on this route (1 vs 4).

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+ mit EQ Technologie versus 4 stops totalling 69 min for the Model S 85.

Motorway consumption: the Caralogy methodology

The official WLTP figures (23,5 kWh/100km for Model S 85 and 10,7 kWh/100km for CLA 250+ mit EQ Technologie) 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 24,6 kWh/100km (Model S 85) and 12,8 kWh/100km (CLA 250+ mit EQ Technologie). Full methodology: see the assumptions below the controls.

Recovery speed: 42,0 km/min versus 7,6 km/min

During the 5 minutes of charging for the CLA 250+ mit EQ Technologie, range recovers by 210 km. During the 69 cumulative minutes for the Model S 85, range recovers by 523 km. Per minute: the CLA 250+ mit EQ Technologie recovers 5,5× 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 BMW 530i (equivalent segment) consumes about 8,0 L/100km on the motorway at 130 km/h. At 1,9 €/L, this Paris → Marseille trip would cost ~115 €. That is 1,3× the electric cost of the Model S 85 and 4,0× that of the CLA 250+ mit EQ Technologie. 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 S 85

SegmentEnergy usedDistanceConsumption€/kmCost (€)
Paris → Beaune, A6initial energy charged at home · 0.20 €/kWh283 km70 kWh consumed0.049 €/km13.96 €
Beaune, A6 → Limonest, A6energy charged at Supercharger 116 kW · 0.60 €/kWh126 km31 kWh consumed0.148 €/km18.60 €
Limonest, A6 → Valence, A7energy charged at Supercharger 116 kW · 0.60 €/kWh126 km31 kWh consumed0.148 €/km18.60 €
Valence, A7 → Manosque, A51energy charged at Supercharger 116 kW · 0.60 €/kWh126 km31 kWh consumed0.148 €/km18.60 €
Manosque, A51 → Marseilleenergy charged at Supercharger 107 kW · 0.60 €/kWh114 km28 kWh consumed0.148 €/km16.93 €
Trip total86.68 €

Mercedes CLA 250+ mit EQ Technologie

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 S 85Mercedes CLA 250+ mit EQ Technologie
5 minutes~28 km~145 km
10 minutes~57 km~291 km
20 minutes~114 km~582 km
Full session 10 → 80 %~220 km · 42 min~463 km · 17 min

What produces these figures

WLTP combined consumption
23.5 kWh/100 km · 10.7 kWh/100 km
Net battery
77.5 kWh · 85 kWh
Max DC charging
120 kW · 320 kW

Compare with another vehicle

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

TeslaBEV

Model S 85

362 ch · 77.5 kWh · 2012

MercedesBEV

CLA 250+ mit EQ Technologie

272 ch · 85 kWh · 2025

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BMWVSTesla

i5 xDrive40 vs Model S 85

MercedesVSRenault

CLA 250+ mit EQ Technologie 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+ mit EQ Technologie 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 86.68 € (Model S 85) and 29.11 € (CLA 250+ mit EQ Technologie). For reference, an equivalent BMW 530i (~8.0 L/100 km) would cost about 115 € in fuel.