Introduced back in 2023, the Mercedes CLE arrived with the pressure of replacing both the C-Class and E-Class Coupés in one swoop. The challenge of bringing together two of the German brand's most stylish and loved two-door offerings was no mean feat but in the CLE, Mercedes may well have achieved just that. With rivals such as the Audi A5, Lexus RC and brilliant BMW 4 Series, the CLE is up against some stiff competition but it more than holds its own with its unique combination of style, comfort and old-school luxury.
The Mercedes CLE blends classic coupé design with modern-day refinement, delivering a car that feels sophisticated, calm and effortlessly premium. It doesn’t pretend to be the sportiest coupé in its class, instead leaning heavily into comfort, technology and everyday usability. For buyers who crave style and serenity over sharp handling, the CLE stands out as one of the most desirable luxury coupés on the market.
Jack is an experienced motoring journalist who has been covering the latest new-car releases for the last 10 years.
Read bioPrices for the most basic coupé get underway at just over £46,000 for the entry-level CLE 200 AMG Line, which places the car roughly in the middle of the premium coupé market. Moving up the range, more powerful mild and plug-in hybrid variants can cost as much as £80,000, even before you start looking at Mercedes’ extensive list of optional extras, which includes panoramic roofs, high-end audio systems and adaptive suspension options. For anyone seeking wind-in-your-hair motoring, prices for the CLE Cabriolet start at just under £53,000, with the most expensive models again getting close to the £80,000 mark.
If that sounds too steep for you, then don’t worry because CLE models are beginning to trickle down into the used car market. Second-hand models start at just £35,000 before maxing out at around £73,000. With the car having only launched in 2023, used stock does remain slightly limited but it's definitely worth keeping an eye on AA Cars for any potential bargains.
Aside from the purchase price, CLE buyers should be aware that running costs are at the higher end of the spectrum, especially when it comes to insurance, servicing and maintenance.
As with much of Mercedes’ lineup, the CLE is available with a choice of mild-hybrid four-cylinder petrol and diesel options, as well as a plug-in hybrid variant, and a silky smooth straight-six petrol unit, which sits at the top of the range.
Performance in the four-cylinder models benefit from a 48-volt integrated starter-generator, which helps to improve fuel efficiency and boost performance, even at low speeds. Meanwhile, the plug-in hybrid combines a 2.0-litre petrol engine with a 150 bhp electric motor, powered by a 25.4 kWh battery. This results in a total output of 309 bhp and an electric-only range of up to 69 miles.
The most powerful unit can be found in the premium CLE 450, which has a turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six engine, producing 375 bhp and 500 Nm of torque. The setup is paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and Mercedes’ 4MATIC all-wheel drive, offering a 0-60 mph time of just 4.4 seconds.
Unlike some of its rivals, the CLE doesn’t pursue outright sportiness, with Mercedes instead opting to put composure and refinement at the core of the car’s performance. As a result, the CLE positively glides around town at low speeds, aided by its hybrid systems, which help to keep everything smooth.
It’s a similar story when you get out of town and head for the motorways, where the CLE settles into a quiet and composed long-distance cruiser. It is here where the car really comes into its own as a grand tourer, eating up the miles without even a shred of fuss. The car keeps engine, wind and road noise to a minimum and its smooth suspension is able to absorb the vast majority of bumps that modern roads will throw at it. While not the most exciting coupé that money can buy, the CLE does offer good acceleration, which makes overtaking a piece of cake.
With sportiness very much an afterthought, the CLE was always going to live or die by the quality of its ride. Thankfully, in that department, the Mercedes ranks among the very best in this segment, with a comfortable ride that could even rival some premium saloons.
Even lower spec cars, which do not come with adaptive dampers, are able to offer a plush, consistent ride that is more than a little bit reminiscent of the much larger, and more expensive, E-Class. This can be improved even further by opting for the adaptive suspension or AMG Line Premium Plus package, which adds an extra layer of composure on faster roads.
Handling-wise, the CLE has very much been designed to get you to the Amalfi Coast in style and comfort without being particularly exciting when you get to the bendy coastal roads. While the steering is accurate, it is also too light to offer any meaningful feedback to impress the more keen drivers, who would be better advised to consider something like the BMW 4 Series.
Sophistication is very much the order of the day when stepping into the cabin of the CLE with the car taking more than a few design clues from the latest C-Class and E-Class saloons. Up front, the cabin is dominated by a stylish 11.9-inch central touchscreen, which blends effortlessly into the centre console, as well as a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, positioned behind the steering wheel.
Elsewhere, the CLE is filled with ultra-modern and good-looking materials, with a choice of leather finishes, open-pore wood veneers, brushed aluminium and soft-touch surfaces. While the majority of these are excellent, a few of the smaller touches do feel slightly cheap for a car of this price point.
Meanwhile, the driving position is low and the seats are comfortable, with the option of adding heating, ventilation and massage functions in the front. Moving to the rear, head and legroom are limited – even for a coupé – meaning things can feel a little cramped on longer journeys.
With 420 litres of space, the standard CLE coupé offers one of the most generous boots of any car in its class. While the opening itself is slightly on the narrow side, the space inside is sizeable and more than enough for weekend luggage or a weekly shop. However, it is worth noting that if you opt for the plug-in hybrid model, boot capacity shrinks to 290 litres. In the cabriolet, drivers get 385 litres with the roof up, decreasing to 295 litres when the top has been folded away.
Inside the cabin, there is a good level of storage, with useful door bins, a deep central cubby, covered cupholders and well-positioned USB-C ports for both front and rear passengers.
Mercedes offers a good level of standard equipment in pretty much all of its cars these days, and the CLE is certainly no exception to the rule. Even the most basic cars come with an 11.9-inch central touchscreen; 12.3-inch digital driver display; wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto; LED headlights; parking sensors and a reversing camera.
As you move through the lineup, the German brand offers a number of more high-end touches including a Burmester 3D sound system; augmented reality navigation; a head-up display; a panoramic roof; adaptive suspension and ventilated and massaging seats. Mercedes also offers an extensive list of optional extras, although these can get very expensive, very quickly if you’re not careful.
Mercedes currently offers the CLE in several different models, including the CLE 200, the CLE 450 4MATIC, the CLE 220 d and the CLE 300 4Matic. All models are available in AMG Line, AMG Line Premium, AMG Line Premium Plus and Premier Edition trim levels. While each new spec adds an extra layer of tech and comfort, the most basic cars offer the best value for money.
Popular colour choices include Obsidian Black, Polar White, Graphite Grey, High-tech Silver, Selenite Grey, Nautic Blue and Manufaktur Opalite White.
As well as being one of the most comfortable and stylish cars around, the CLE also boasts a perfect five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP. The judges were impressed by its long list of standard safety equipment which includes autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, driver attention monitoring, adaptive cruise control and traffic sign recognition.
Reliability is another strength, with the CLE benefitting from Mercedes' high level of build quality and the fact it shares a platform with the latest C-Class and E-Class.
Mild-hybrid versions of the CLE offer respectable efficiency for a coupé of this size, figures ranging from 29.4 to 44.2 mpg, depending on which engine setup you go for.
Meanwhile, the plug-in hybrid has an official capacity of 470.8 mpg. While this is technically possible in test conditions, in the real-world drivers can expect returns of up to 60 mpg. The PHEV also has a handy range of up to 60 miles using electric power only. When it comes to CO2 emissions, numbers vary between 19 and 165 g/km, depending on which engine you go for.
Buyers should also be aware that as a premium model, the CLE is subject to the government’s Expensive Car Supplement, which costs an extra £425 a year for five years, applied from the second year of registration.
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