Mercedes CLE review

The Mercedes CLE Coupé is the motoring equivalent of a "middle-of-the-market plane" (that's a passenger jet designed to replace single-aisle jets and wide-body models in one go).

Why? Well, Mercedes has designed the CLE to fill the gap in its line-up left by the axing of two models: the C-Class Coupé and the E-Class Coupé. It's intended to give owners of the smaller car something more practical to upgrade to, while fans of the larger coupé can switch to a model that's still indulgent but is a bit sharper to drive.

The CLE's engine range aims to offer something for everyone too. The 443bhp AMG CLE 53 leads the way for outright performance, followed by more modest petrols and diesels – including a plug-in hybrid. You can also get a soft-top CLE, which we rate in our Mercedes CLE Cabriolet review.

So is the Mercedes CLE a worthy replacement for its two predecessors or are you better off buying a BMW 4 Series? Read on as we rate it against the best coupés…

There are five petrol engines and one diesel to choose from for the Mercedes CLE Coupé, all with an automatic gearbox and either mild-hybrid or – in the case of the CLE 300e – plug-in hybrid (PHEV) tech.

For the most punch, you'll want the high-performance AMG CLE 53, which has a 3.0-litre engine producing 443bhp and can officially hit 62mph in 4.2 seconds. An optional Pro Performance Package adds launch control, cutting the 0-62mph time to four seconds (half a second quicker than a BMW M440i).

The AMG CLE 53 has all-wheel drive (called 4Matic by Mercedes) to help maximise traction, and you can adjust how it behaves with the electronic stability control (ESC). In Normal mode, it delivers power in a neutral manner, but tapping the ESC icon switches to Sport handling mode and sends a larger proportion of power to the rear wheels to help push you out of corners.

The Pro Performance Package goes one step further by including a Drift mode, which diverts all the engine’s power to the rear wheels for more playful handling. That’s something you can’t do in an M440i. The CLE 53’s exhaust generates a subtle crackle for a bit more theatre, while a digitised engine note is piped into the interior. However, neither is loud enough to be antisocial.

The CLE 300 has a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder petrol and all-wheel drive. It sounds slightly agricultural at idle, but once you’re on the move it has a more agreeable timbre that better suits its punchy performance.

With 255bhp on tap, 0-62mph officially takes 6.2 seconds, which is more than a second quicker than a BMW 420i. That, combined with the slick-shifting nine-speed auto gearbox, makes the CLE 300 an effortless car to cover ground in.

Other engine options include the CLE 200 petrol (with 201bhp) and the 220d diesel (with 194bhp). Both use 2.0-litre, four-cylinder motors to get from 0-62mph in around 7.5 seconds and have rear-wheel drive. Near the top of the range is the CLE 450 – a 3.0-litre, six-cylinder petrol with all-wheel drive, which brings even smoother, more effortless progress.

What’s rather unique to the coupé car class is the PHEV version, the CLE 300e, which combines a 2.0-litre petrol engine with an electric motor and a 25.4kWh battery. In Hybrid mode, the motor tends to do most of the leg work (if you have enough charge), with the engine joining in when you demand more pace.

In Sport mode, both work together to produce 308bhp and a 0-62mph time of 6.2 seconds. You can sense the engine working hard to haul the car's near-2200kg weight but it pulls consistently and smoothly to the rev limiter – while sounding quite good too. Officially it can run on electricity alone for up to 69 miles on a full charge, which is competitive for a PHEV.

In terms of handling, the CLE feels more tautly controlled and agile than the E-Class Coupé did, helped by its standard-fit adaptive dampers, but it’s still a comfort-first car. That’s to say it feels stable and precise during cornering, with medium-weight steering and good body control.

As you up your pace, it will pitch and roll more than a BMW 420i due to its softer suspension. The 300e PHEV is more compromised by its additional weight and doesn’t turn in to bends as keenly – the BMW 330e (the PHEV version of the 3 Series) delivers a far more polished ride and handling balance. 

The non-AMG CLEs can adopt and maintain a fairly brisk pace easily through twists and turns, and keep occupants comfortable while doing so. Plus, the ride quality is a step above the rivals. The suspension soaks up abrasions well, although really sharp potholes can cause a bit of jarring.

Meanwhile, the AMG CLE 53 comes with firmer suspension to improve body control in exchange for a little less ride comfort. You can adjust the firmness and it still cushions bumps comfortably in its softest Comfort setting.

The firmest Sport+ setting can occasionally make the ride feel a little more brittle, but it remains calm and settled at most speeds. There’s a hint of initial body lean but the car stays upright after that.

Overall, despite being equipped with an aggressive bodykit and four-wheel steering to improve manoeuvrability, the AMG CLE 53 feels closer to a BMW M440i than the (even more performance-focused) BMW M4. It’s more engaging to drive than other CLEs thanks to meatier steering and a more positive feeling brake pedal, but it’s not the last word in thrills.

The brake-pedal response in the non-PHEV versions could be sharper, but it’s much easier to stop smoothly than in the 300e PHEV, which struggles to blend its regenerative braking system with regular friction brakes. The result is a vague, inconsistent brake-pedal response.

In terms of refinement, the CLE is a hushed cruising companion when you want it to be, with minimal wind and engine noise at motorway speeds. The car’s big wheels and low-profile tyres generate a mild amount of noise on some surfaces, but not enough to be aggravating.

You sit a little higher up in the Mercedes CLE than in a BMW 4 Series so you feel as though you’re driving something more comfort than driver-focused – which you are.

In fact, it feels like an old-school Mercedes, with a wide and comfy driver’s seat that comes as standard with electric adjustment and variable lumbar support (both cost extra on the 4 Series).

The AMG CLE 53 comes with sports seats that have extra side bolstering to hold you more tightly when cornering – or, if you add the Pro Performance package, you can have racier items that seat you lower to the floor.

As with most two-door coupés, forward and side visibility are reasonable but parking can be a challenge because the wide rear pillars obstruct your over-the-shoulder view.

Mercifully, front and rear parking sensors are standard, as is a rear-view camera. On AMG Line Premium trim and above, the camera is upgraded to a 360-degree unit.

The CLE’s dashboard is closely based on that of the Mercedes C-Class with chromed and high-gloss highlights that give it lots of ritzy appeal. Combined with adjustable ambient lighting, it’s an attractive interior.

Complaints? Well, at eye level the interior is covered with soft-touch materials but it doesn’t take long to find cheaper feeling plastics lower down. Meanwhile, the chrome highlights are plastic rather than metal. That said, it feels pretty well screwed together, although it can't quite match the 4 Series.

Mercedes' digital interior technology is impressive. The head-up display fitted on AMG Line Premium Plus trim and above is huge, easy to read and even offers a few lay-outs. There’s also the third generation of the brand’s MBUX infotainment system (also used in the Mercedes E-Class).

The touchscreen offers faster responses than earlier Mercedes systems and has a redesigned home screen with enlarged icons that are much easier to touch when the car is moving at speed. It also has more Android-based apps built in, so you can access the likes of TikTok and Zoom directly from the touchscreen.

However, it’s worth noting that touchscreens are, generally speaking, more distracting to use while driving than a system with physical controls. For that reason, we prefer the iDrive system in the BMW 4 Series, which can be controlled using a rotary controller between the front seats.

In the AMG CLE 53 version, you can adjust the drive modes on the touchscreen, which can be fiddly as you swipe through all the numerous settings available. Thankfully, the sports steering wheel has two rotary controls that do the same job.

No one buys a two-door coupé like the Mercedes CLE for its practicality, but the chances are you occasionally need four seats and a boot – otherwise, you’d probably be looking at sports cars.

The CLE is roomy in the front, where you’re unlikely to have any issues with head or leg room. Storage space is decent, thanks to a big glovebox and a useful cubby under the centre armrest. There’s also a multitude of USB-C ports and wireless phone-charging.

Getting into the back seats involves squeezing through quite a narrow gap, but that’s true of any car lacking rear doors. Once you’re in, you’ll find there's a touch more head and leg room than you get in a BMW 4 Series, although six-footers won’t want to spend too much time back there.

Boot space on non-PHEV versions of the CLE is 420 litres, so it's not quite a match for the 4 Series (440 litres).

Still, that's enough space for golf clubs or a small pushchair, and you can fold down the rear seats when you need to carry longer loads. The boot aperture itself is quite small, making it tricky to load in wider objects.

In the C300e PHEV, boot capacity shrinks to 290 litres due to the battery packaged under the boot floor. That's quite a big drop, especially when you consider you might want to pack the charging cable.

Entry level versions of the Mercedes CLE command a similar price to a BMW 4 Series and they’re relatively well equipped as standard.

However, it’s worth noting that while the CLE 200 and CLE 200d engines are available in entry-level AMG Line trim, you have to upgrade to AMG Line Premium if you want one of the more powerful engines.

If you head straight for the AMG CLE 53, you'll find that in its cheapest AMG Premium trim it costs significantly more than an M440i but less than a BMW M4. Going for the top-spec Night Edition Premium Plus version with the optional Dynamic Plus Package pushes the price beyond the M4's. You can check for the latest prices using our New Car Deals pages.

The CLE 53 is less economical on fuel than an M440i, but the other mild-hybrid petrol versions are comparable with equivalent BMW 420i. If you're looking for a company car, you'll be best off financially with the 300e plug-in hybrid (PHEV) because of its lower BIK tax rate (a BMW 330e will be cheaper though).

The PHEV will take about three hours to charge up using a home EV charger.

The CLE's entry-level AMG Line trim does come with plenty of goodies, including 18in alloy wheels, keyless entry and go, ambient lighting, leather upholstery and wood trim.

Stepping up to AMG Line Premium introduces 19in alloy wheels, matrix LED headlights, a panoramic sliding roof and a 360-degree parking camera.

AMG Line Premium Plus brings 20in wheels, a head-up display and a Burmester 3D surround-sound system.

The range-topping Premier Edition is very similarly equipped to AMG Line Premium Plus, but you get sportier details such as 20in AMG alloy wheels and carbon-fibre interior trim.

The CLE 53 is available in two trim levels: AMG Premium and AMG Night Edition Premium Plus. Premium comes with adjustable adaptive suspension, 20in alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, grey brake calipers, an opening panoramic glass roof and a sports steering wheel.

Only the pricier AMG Night Edition Premium Plus can be optioned with the Pro Performance Package, which includes launch control, Drift Mode and Race drive mode. Inside you also get upgraded AMG performance seats, suede-like material on the steering wheel, black exterior highlights and red brake calipers.

Mercedes doesn’t let you spec up a base car with individual options – aside from the choice of colour, everything is wrapped up in specific trim packages.

It's too soon to say how reliable the CLE will be, but Mercedes' performance in our 2024 What Car? Reliability Survey was not particularly impressive. It came in 22nd out of 31 car makers, a long way below BMW in eighth place.

The CLE has yet to be crash-tested by Euro NCAP so we don't know if it will match the five-star safety rating awarded to the BMW 4 Series. However, all versions come with automatic emergency braking (AEB), blind-spot monitoring and lane-keeping assist.

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