SHARP Drives: Don’t Sleep On the 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE 300
The car world was skeptical when Mercedes-Benz announced the all-new 2024 CLE coupe and cabriolet. The CLE was, as its name might suggest, an amalgamation of the compact, sporty C-Class coupe with the grand, luxurious E-Class coupe. But those two coupes are, despite their outward similarity, like oil and water. They don’t mix easily. They’re built to serve different purposes, different drivers. Or, so we thought, until we drove the new 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE 300. Don’t sleep on this one because — for the right driver — it might be the perfect Mercedes coupe.
Splitting The Difference
Step into the low-slung driver’s seat and you’ll be struck immediately by two things: one is the swanky and decidedly tech-forward interior; the other is just how spacious it feels. In terms of size, the CLE is closer to the old midsize E-Class coupe than compact C-Class. If you can’t get comfortable in this then you’re probably also the sort of person who has to custom-order their giant shoes; anyone smaller than Zion Williamson should fit just fine.
Not only that, but unlike almost every other luxury two-door, the back seats on the new CLE are actually usable. While getting four adults into or out of this coupe would be difficult, once everyone is in they’d all be reasonably comfortable. Even the trunk space is decent at 420-litres, just five less than the old E-Class coupe. Whisper it, but the CLE is a surprisingly practical car (for a coupe).
We Need To Talk About That Dashboard
As mentioned, the new CLE goes big on high-tech features and touchscreens. That shouldn’t come as a shock to anybody who has been inside a luxury car recently, but the fact is not all touchscreen systems are created equal.
The third-generation of Mercedes’ MBUX infotainment system does take some getting used to. For starters, there’s no proper volume knob. (There’s a touch-sensitive pad on the steering wheel and clunky buttons on the dash, which, let’s be honest, are not as good as having a regular old volume knob.) For another thing, you’ll need to become adept at digging through menus to find the option you’re looking for. A physical button for the heated steering-wheel would be a welcome addition.
What the latest MBUX system does have going for it is a very slick, minimal design. It helps the cabin feel clean and modern, and leaves plenty of storage space for wireless phone charging and coffee cups. Not only that, but the voice-recognition system seems to be getting better and more useful too.
The rest of the cabin is suitably luxurious and well-made. Mercedes does better than their rivals in this department. The air vents look like little jet engines. The wave of woven-metal (or other trim of your choice) that washes across the whole dashboard and flows down the centre console is undeniably lovely. We’re partial to the rich open-pore walnut veneer option ourselves. For the seats, there are no less than four choices of leather and one non-leather option, plus two choices for headliner colour. The options leave plenty of scope for customization.
How Does The Mercedes CLE 300 Behave on the Road?
So long as you remember this is the entry-level into Mercedes coupe ownership, we think you’ll be quite happy with the way the CLE 300 goes down the road. (Yes, yes, we know Mercedes calls the smaller CLA a coupe because it has a fastback roof but it has four doors so it’s a sedan. Those are the rules.)
On the road, the adaptive suspension is comfortable enough for everyday driving duties, but not as plush or luxurious as the old E-Class coupe felt. When you start to whip around corners though, the CLE’s feels much tighter and better controlled thanks to the stiffer-feeling shocks and springs. It’s a reasonable compromise.
Under the hood is a turbocharged 2.0-litre four cylinder making 255 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. It’s assisted by a sneaky 48-volt electric starter/generator motor (tucked into the gearbox) that offers up 23 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque. Cruising around town this efficient powertrain combo is perfectly smooth. If you need to take off quickly or scoot past slower traffic, it’s got you covered. The engine sounds more refined than your average four-cylinder, but no, it won’t make the hair on the back of your neck stand up like an AMG V8 or even one of the new straight-sixes.
Speaking of AMG, for more spirited driving you’ll want the six-cylinder CLE 450 (with 375 hp and nearly as much torque) or the Mercedes-AMG CLE 53. The latter has a mighty straight-six pushing 443 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque. If you ask us, the CLE 53 also looks better and more purposeful with that AMG bodywork.
Starting at $61,900, the CLE 300 is going head-to-head with rivals like BMW’s 4 Series coupe and the Audi A5. The 2025 CLE 450 starts at $73,900 — not a terribly huge jump from the $61,900 of the CLE 300 — and the larger engine will surely offer the sort of effortless, excessive power we want from a Mercedes coupe.
Who is the 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE 300 For?
If you’re not looking to blow the budget, but want a stylish coupe as a second (or third) car for running errands or crushing the daily commute, the CLE 300 is perfect. It’s spacious, with an opulent and cosseting cabin that will help you shrug off any traffic jam. If, however, you’re looking for a sports car with more feel and feedback, something exciting — even if it comes at the expense of outright comfort — we’d suggest you look at one of Mercedes’ six-cylinder CLE models. Whichever one you choose, however, it’s clear the engineers in Stuttgart have done a remarkably good job at mixing oil and water; combining the best bits of both the C- and E-Class coupes into one machine was no easy feat, but they did it.
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