2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE

Here’s an unexpected development — although no less welcome. Just when we thought the whole world would be driving around in all-electric SUVs, Mercedes-Benz (a maker of several all-electric luxury SUVs) has launched a coupe. It’s a genuine coupe with two doors, not some 4-door lump with a sloping roof. And there’s a CLE soft-top convertible, known as a cabriolet, because it has seating for four.

Not a C-Class or an E-Class, but in a class all by itself, the new CLE does that elegant motoring thing perfected by Mercedes-Benz. It takes elements from its sedan stablemates to be thoroughly contemporary while offering traditional luxury aspects like fine cabin materials and massaging front seats.

The CLE is an all-new model with coupe and convertible body styles, replacing those versions of the previous-generation C-Class and E-Class while adopting some technology from the newest E-Class (which also debuts in 2024).

There aren’t any like-for-like rivals. The smaller Audi A5 coupe and compact BMW 4 Series coupe both start below the CLE. The larger BMW 8 Series and full-size Lexus LC begin appreciably higher. Before buying a new Mercedes-Benz CLE, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should pay. As for resale value, specialized Mercedes-Benz models tend to fare quite well. Remember, recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

The 255-horsepower CLE 300 4Matic has plenty of muscle for most situations on public roads. You know, how normal people drive. We also found it agile and easy — in that usual, pleasurable, imperturbable Mercedes-Benz way. Sport mode makes the steering a little firmer and the engine a touch more responsive to throttle inputs. That’s fun. The dash from standstill to 60 mph happens in a respectable 6.2 seconds. Almost a second slower than the BMW 430i xDrive Coupe, sure, but the CLE 300 is more about serenity than alacrity. For a faster sprint, the CLE 450 4Matic gathers its 375 horsepower to stop the clock at 4.2 seconds.

Fuel Economy

The CLE 300 4Matic Coupe achieves 28 mpg in combined city/highway driving. To compare, a BMW 430i xDrive Coupe gets 30 mpg combined. The CLE 300 Cabriolet manages 26 mpg combined. As does the CLE 450 4Matic, regardless of body style. We’d say that’s not much of a penalty given the difference in power.

The overall cabin design is one aspect of the latest C-Class that has migrated into the CLE. The same large (11.9-inch) center touchscreen is oriented vertically and angled slightly toward the driver, along with a trio of air vents just above it. The driver has a 12.3-inch instrument cluster and gets to really enjoy the standard surround-sound system because that seat has speakers in its headrest.

We’ve always liked the extending arms in Mercedes-Benz coupes that bring the seat belt into a more reachable position. They’re present and accounted for in the new 2024 CLE. There’s plenty of room up front, with comfortable and well-shaped seats. And we appreciate how the CLE even provides soft places for our elbows to land. Naturally, the cabin materials are high-quality, although we can predict that the piano black on the center console of our test car will eventually look less classy with fingermarks and scratches. Choose another option if possible.

We’ve found outward vision in the coupe to be quite acceptable, although we’re pleased that blind-spot monitoring and parking sensors are standard. We won’t gripe about the tight rear legroom since adults are unlikely to sit in the back regularly. Most of the time, the second row is where coupe owners keep their bags and jackets. The coupe’s 11.2 cubic feet of trunk space is kind of cozy, but the back seats fold down to accommodate more and larger cargo. The CLE Cabriolet’s trunk area measures 9.6 cubic feet.

The cabriolet’s optional leather upholstery has a special coating to stay cooler in direct sunlight. The neck-heating Airscarf feature with warm-air vents in the front seats is standard. We also like how this car’s infotainment touchscreen can tilt to help reduce reflections during top-down motoring.

Based on the newest C-Class platform, but about half an inch longer than the outgoing E-Class coupe, the new CLE straddles the line between compact and midsize. The 2024 CLE is available as either a fixed-roof coupe or a cabriolet (4-seater convertible) model with a power-folding fabric roof. To our eyes, the riskiest thing about the styling is how traditional it seems. That’s fine by us, though. There’s a typical Mercedes-Benz elegance to the CLE, and the proportions are judged well. We love the multi-spoke alloy wheels too.

Artificial Intelligence
The CLE’s infotainment system (also found in the new E-Class) can recognize and learn behavior patterns. For example, the system may suggest a navigation destination visited regularly or offer to initiate a phone call that usually happens at a particular time. It can even go beyond this to create a cold weather setting (activating the heated front seats when the outside temperature falls below a certain point) or a date night ambiance — playing romantic music and selecting rose-colored cabin lighting, among other predictive settings.

Burmester audio
Often on the options lists of Mercedes-Benz vehicles, a 710-watt/17-speaker Burmester surround-sound system is standard in the new CLE. To make it incredibly immersive, there are speakers set into the headrest of the driver’s seat. Dolby Atmos enriches the sound and is also part of the setup.

Just Talk
Technology develops so quickly. Last year, just saying “Hey Mercedes” to prompt the digital assistant still felt futuristic. Now, the system in the CLE knows when there’s a solo driver and is always listening out for instructions. So, there’s no need to begin commands with those two words if you’re by yourself.

Apps
Mercedes-Benz calls the CLE the most intelligent 2-door car to wear its famous star badge. This claim includes the ability to download third-party apps like Zoom, TikTok, and the Angry Birds video game — that’s intelligent, right?

Driver Assistance
This optional bundle helps with things like busy intersections and evasive steering while moving the front seats closer to the center if a side impact is about to happen. We think this would be a good addition.

Active Parking Assist
The newest Mercedes-Benz self-parking function performs its tasks quicker than past iterations.

Both engine choices in the 2024 CLE range have a mild-hybrid arrangement where an electric motor provides a quick boost of 23 horsepower and 148 lb-ft of torque to help reach peak output quickly and efficiently. The system also smooths out the fuel-saving, emissions-reducing engine stop/restart function.

The CLE 300’s engine is a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder unit turbocharged to make 255 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. The CLE 450 has a 3.0-liter turbocharged 6-cylinder engine generating 375 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque.

A sweet-shifting 9-speed automatic transmission is standard, along with all-wheel drive (known as 4Matic).

4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty

Like most European luxury automakers, Mercedes-Benz warranty coverage lasts four years or 50,000 miles, whichever happens first.

Safety Equipment

The new C-Class sedan earned Top Safety Pick+ honors from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). As Mercedes-Benz based the CLE on the C-Class, we expect similar performance from this new coupe. Mercedes-Benz has a well-earned reputation for innovating and installing many safety features. The new CLE includes forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, plus active lane-keeping assistance as standard.