2021 Mercedes-Benz CLS vs 2021 Tesla Model 3

The 2021 Tesla Model 3 has taken the automobile industry by storm, and for good reason. It’s fantastic appearance, breathtaking handling and bleeding edge technology almost place it in a league of its own. But is it good enough to compete with the 2021 Mercedes-Benz CLS, a car widely considered one of the best in the world due to its refined presentation, opulent cabin and world class performance?

Design & Style

The Mercedes-Benz CLS is the quintessential 4 door sedan. It has a fast roofline with a smooth and sporty look further enhanced by its broad track, prominent alloy wheels and wide grille. The interior is ambient with a centralized touchscreen and seats so comfortable you won’t want to leave. The Tesla Model 3 has a windswept frame that is free of a frontal grille. Since it is an electric car that contains no engine the designers kept everything low. The roofline has a sleek arc that tapers along the sides, with beautifully accented door handles and a roomy cabin. Unlike most cars, which have lots of buttons, dials and controls in their interior, the Tesla forgoes this in favor of a fifteen inch horizontal screen.

Technology & Safety

The Tesla Model 3 has earned a Top Safety Pick award and 5 star NHTSA rating, a feat few cars will ever achieve. It has just about every modern safety feature that you can imagine, the most famous of which is Auto Pilot, which gives it a certain degree of autonomous operation. It accomplishes this through sensors, radar and cameras but can only be done briefly; meaning drivers shouldn’t keep their hands too far away from the steering. Luxuries within its cabin include climate control, powered seats, and premium audio, but it doesn’t support Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz CLS has also received both the Top Safety Pick and five star NHTSA rating. It can automatically detect local speed limits and switch lanes on its own, plus it has emergency automated brakes with cruise and lane control. Luxuries within its cabin include ambient lighting, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, climate control and powered seats that can be heated or cooled.

Performance

Those that buy the Mercedes-Benz CLS 53 AMG® will get an inline 6 capable of generating 429 horsepower with 384 pounds of torque, which allows it to blaze from zero to sixty in about 4.3 seconds. Those that purchase the Tesla Model 3 Long Range edition will get a 450 horsepower engine that can accelerate from zero to sixty in 4.2 seconds.

The Bottom Line

Though the Tesla and Mercedes are evenly matched when it comes to safety and performance, the Tesla Model 3 makes too much noise, its cabin materials are inconsistent and it lacks Android Auto and Apple CarPlay despite the fact hundreds of millions of people around the world use both, making the Mercedes-Benz CLS the winner.

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