It’s a grand tourer in a classic sense, with a delightful balance of performance and luxury that makes it suitable for daily driving and weekend escapes. The CLE faces competition from the BMW 4 Series coupe and convertible, but one-time rivals—like the two-door Audi A5 and Infiniti Q60—have taken the off-ramp to obscurity. It’s a discouraging trend, but the remaining cars are quite compelling.
The CLE is 6.5 inches longer than the previous C-Class Coupe and 0.6 inches longer than the E-Class Coupe. These larger dimensions translate to modest gains in the rear seat and trunk.
The CLE is offered in two core trims: CLE 300 4Matic with a 255-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine and CLE 450 4Matic with a 375-hp turbocharged inline-six engine. Each powertrain uses a nine-speed automatic transmission and has standard all-wheel drive. (“4Matic” means AWD in Mercedes parlance.)
For greater thrills, there’s the high-performance 443-hp Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 coupe and cabriolet.
To experience the new coupe, we rented a CLE 450 from Mercedes-Benz. It was a 2024 model, but the 2025 changes were essentially limited to yellow paint and a different steering wheel wrap.
The base price was $65,650. The sticker price climbed rapidly with a lengthy roster of à la carte options, underscoring the importance of balancing budget and extras when shopping—particularly from German luxury brands.
If you’re a Consumer Reports member, our initial expert assessment of the Mercedes-Benz CLE is available to you below. If you haven’t signed up to be a member yet, click below and become a member to access this full article. We won’t be buying and formally testing a CLE because of its limited appeal and volume.
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What we rented: 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE 450 4Matic
Powertrain: 375-hp, 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder engine; 9-speed automatic transmission; all-wheel drive
MSRP: $65,650
Options: White/black Nappa leather ($2,590), driver assistance package ($1,950), Patagonia Red Metallic paint ($1,750), 20-inch black wheels ($1,150), head-up display ($1,100), massaging front seats ($950), ventilated front seats ($450), rear side airbags ($700), surround view camera ($600), additional USB ports ($300), heated steering wheel ($250), black wood trim ($200), night package ($200), energizing air control ($150)
Destination fee: $1,150
Total cost: $79,140
Final assembly point: Bremen, Germany
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