Mercedes-Benz CLE
New from £46,360
Is the Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupe a good car?
Read our expert review
Words by: Mark Nichol
"Trying to understand the vast Mercedes-Benz model range can make the final question on The 1% Club look easy. The company clearly knows this, and so is trying to streamline its range with cars like the CLE here, which replaces both the C-Class and E-Class Coupes. Apparently, C-Class Coupe buyers wanted more space, and E-Class Coupe buyers wanted something more fun to drive. The result is a car that’s longer than the E-Class Coupe, with noticeably more rear leg space, but with an interior that’s more ‘driver focussed’ than both. (Albeit, lifted directly from the C-Class Saloon.) Ultimately, the CLE is a nailed-on rival to the BMW 4 Series and the Audi A5, and in principle it kind of merges the qualities of those two alternatives: the rear-wheel drive sportiness of the 4 Series with the absolute solidity and refinement of the Audi. It’s more than that, though. The CLE feels more luxurious and arguably more special than both, largely because of its huge and beautifully integrated portrait touchscreen, some of the most delightful cabin lighting you’ll ever see, and a very polished driving experience."
Read the review by category
Running costs for a Mercedes-Benz CLE
3/5
The main headline is that Mercedes-Benz has offered a 2.0-litre diesel in an age where diesel is as on-trend as a tribal tattoo. It makes sense though, giving you a 60.1mpg engine option and a theoretical tank range of 800-plus miles. The CLE 200 and 300 are powered by a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine which offer economy at either side of 40mpg, while the high-performing CLE 450 uses a six-cylinder 3.0-litre engine whose economy will start with a two if you’re careful. Something for almost everyone, then. The price variance from bottom to top is very wide, stretching from around £50,000 for a CLE 200, to £72,000 for a top-of-the-line CLE 450. All of them sit in relatively company car tax bands (BiK) too, 34 percent to 37 percent, and won’t be cheap to insure. On the 1-50 insurance scale, you’re looking at groups 35 to 44. Ultimately, running a CLE is never going to be inexpensive, but you can mitigate the costs by choosing engine and spec wisely.
Reliability of a Mercedes-Benz CLE
4/5
The CLE is a brand-new model, but it’s built using a reassuringly long-serving collection of parts. The chassis goes back to the 2014 C-Class, and the interior is to all intents and purposes the same one you’ll find in the current C-Class. Same goes for the engines, which are used extensively throughout the Mercedes-Benz model range. All this is to say that these parts are tried-and-tested over a long period of time, and although the CLE is a complex car – both electrically and mechanically – there’s nothing to suggest your CLE will be unusually problematic. The Mercedes-Benz warranty is shorter than you’ll get from a lot of manufacturers these days, at three years, but it's unlimited mileage.
Safety for a Mercedes-Benz CLE
5/5
A massive amount of safety kit is included as standard in a CLE. In fact, the only thing classed as a safety system that’s reserved for higher trim cars is a 360-degree parking camera – although you might consider a head-up display a safety feature too, which is also mid-spec and above. Still, all cars come with 11 airbags designed to cushion every part of all occupants, as well as active lane-keeping assist, automatic cruise control, road sign recognition, blind spot assistance, ISOFIX, and a Pre-Safe system that will take steps to mitigate injury if the car senses a crash is imminent – adjusting the head restraints, for instance. Euro NCAP hasn’t crash-tested the CLE, but because it’s very closely related to the five-star rated Mercedes-Benz C-Class, it’s fair to assume the CLE would achieve the same score.
How comfortable is the Mercedes-Benz CLE
4/5
For all that Mercedes has listened to E-Class Coupe customers who wanted a “sportier” experience, the CLE is still most suited to long-distance cruising. It’s an extremely comfortable, quiet and relaxed thing to drive. The driving position is fantastic, with a huge range of adjustment for all shapes and sizes, but sinking you low into the cabin on beautifully contoured seats. As an example of the CLE’s deference to comfort, it features a kinematic system that will automatically adjust the chair ever-so-slightly over long journeys to prevent aches and pains. The standard adjustable Dynamic Ride Control suspension gives the CLE a wallowy feel in ‘comfort’ setting, more akin to a luxury saloon, which combined with the super-light steering and a smooth automatic gearbox, make this a very easy car to drive. Switch into the car’s sportier modes and things stiffen up a bit (harsher ride quality and heavier steering), but it never quite feels like a truly focused driver’s car. A BMW 4 Series is more involving to drive. As you’d expect, the rear seats don’t offer a massive amount of head- and shoulder room, but as far as four-seat coupes go, it’s acceptable. There’s more space than you’ll find in the rear of an Audi A5; the CLE has a longer wheelbase than the A5, which means legroom is better, albeit the Audi has a Sportback option with rear doors, which this doesn’t.
Features of the Mercedes-Benz CLE
4/5
Probably the most satisfying thing about the CLE is how lovely the cabin feels, both to look at and to use. The ambient lighting is remarkable, framing the main parts of the dashboard and backlighting the air vents – and with dozens of colours to choose from. The 12-inch instrument panel is customisable too, so you can choose how you want to see your data. And the 12-inch infotainment screen is infinitely more intuitive to use than the click-wheel system Mercedes was using a generation ago. As with all these things, there are times when sub-menus are distracting, but the air con and stereo volume controls are pinned to the bottom of the screen so you can always get to them. The four haptic spokes on the steering wheel look like overkill, but they quickly become intuitive and will likely become your go-to method of controlling things. The main trim levels all have ‘AMG Line’ in the name, derived from Mercedes-AMG and designed to give the car a ‘sporty’ feel – rear spoiler, AMG-branded wheels, stuff like that. All cars get leather upholstery, wireless phone charging and smartphone mirroring, electrically adjustable seats with a pre-set memory function (including for the steering column) and navigation. The only convenience feature that you might miss in a basic car is keyless entry, and although you might want your wheels to be bigger than the standard 18-inchers, bigger wheels do have a negative impact on ride comfort.
Power for a Mercedes-Benz CLE
4/5
Every engine option in the CLE has ‘mild hybrid’ tech, using a small integrated electric motor to boost fuel economy. All feature a nine-speed automatic gearbox too, which despite all those gears never feels like it’s shuffling around trying to find the right one. It’s slicker than a self-help TED Talk. Other than that, the CLE’s power options are unusually old-school: no plug-in hybrid or fully electric version and, again, a diesel. That’s the one to go for if you’re covering long distances, offering 60.1mpg (WLTP average) and strong performance. It hits 62mph in 7.5 seconds, but feels quicker because it has a massive amount of torque from very low revs. The 204 horsepower 2.0-litre petrol engine in the basic CLE 200 is a good one too, and a little quieter than the diesel, but it’s rated at 44mpg and in reality will give you closer to 35. The CLE 300 uses the same engine, basically, but with a power bump to 258 horsepower for a 6.2-second 0-62mph time, and it’s four-wheel drive as standard. We’d suggest that if you really want your CLE to feel like a performance car, though, the CLE 450 is the way to go, because it uses a much better-sounding 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine. It’s remarkably quick (4.4 seconds to 62mph) and only a few mpg less efficient than the 2.0-litre engine in the CLE 300 (36.7mpg).
Standard equipment
Expect the following equipment on your Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupe. This may vary between trim levels.
Other vehicles in the CLE family
Related articles and reviews
Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupe (2023 - 2024) review
Very comfortable, looks the part, fantastic cabin and a rare diesel option… but it’s no sports car
Your questions answered
Monthly rentals ('payments') are not an offer of credit. Payments are based on offers available today which may be withdrawn or varied at any time in the future without notice.
Contract Hire ('Leasing') is subject to status and approval and is only available to UK residents aged 18 and over. Vehicle must be returned with no more than fair wear and tear to avoid further charges. You will not own the vehicle. Excess mileage charges and return conditions apply.
Auto Trader Limited (Firm Reference Number: 735711) is a credit broker and not a lender. Auto Trader Limited introduces you to Autorama UK Ltd (Trading as Auto Trader leasing), which acts as a credit broker in its own right. Autorama UK Ltd, Maylands Avenue, Hemel Hempstead, HP2 7DE (Firm Reference Number: 630748) may go on to introduce you to one of a limited number of funders. Autorama UK Ltd will typically receive a commission or other benefits from the funder as a result of this introduction.
Autorama UK Ltd is an Auto Trader Group Plc company.
Vehicles are subject to availability and may vary from images shown.