Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupe 2026 review | Classic coupe styling and luxurious inside

What is the Mercedes CLE Coupe?

Where once Mercedes produced coupe versions of the C-Class and E-Class, it has now consolidated these into one new model. It’s called the CLE Coupe (a CLE Convertible is also offered) and, according to Mercedes at least, it’s designed to bridge the gap between those two once-separate models. Which is to say, it supposedly offers owners of the previous C-Class Coupe the interior space of an E-Class Coupe, but delivers the sharper driving dynamics associated with the smaller car.

The CLE is built on the same platform as both the latest generation Mercedes-Benz C-Class and E-Class, and is available with petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid powertrains. Once a direct rival, the Audi A5 as we have known it for years was discontinued in 2024, with the A5 badge now used on what used to be referred to as the A4. Instead, the CLE’s main rival is the BMW 4 Series, which also offers seating for four and a high-tech interior. But keep in mind used Audi A5s, should you be looking for a CLE or similar coupe on the second-hand market.

How practical is it?

The CLE Coupe offers more space in its rear seats than you might expect. Anybody up to six-foot tall will fit with a bit of legroom to spare – and while headroom is tight, it’s far from unbearable. Phone charging ports and integrated cupholders for the rear passengers are nice touches, although it’s worth bearing in mind that the rear windows do not open (the CLE is not a pillarless coupe in the Mercedes-Benz tradition).

Boot space stands at 420 litres, whether you go for a petrol or a diesel model. The exceptions are the sporty Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 4Matic+, which makes do with 410 litres, and the CLE 300e plug-in hybrid, which offers just 290 litres. However, while luggage access is narrow, you will be able to slide in a couple of suitcases with relative ease. If you plan on taking your CLE Coupe on cross-continental jaunts (as well you should, given its grand touring abilities), the boot should accommodate what you need. An integrated ski hatch is also potentially useful, as is the fact that the rear seats can drop down to increase the CLE’s cargo space.

In the front, the CLE Coupe offers a useful variety of storage areas, including two cupholders in the centre tunnel, a space under the armrest and a good-sized glovebox. The front seats, it should be noted, are particularly comfortable.

The range of specific accessories for the CLE is very slim. If you want a Mercedes-branded cup or a spare floor mat, then great. Otherwise, you’ll need to look at C-Class or E-Class accessories. Both can be had with roof racks, rubber boot liners and so on. That said, the CLE is capable of towing a trailer, with figures of 750kg unbraked and 1,800kg braked for all powertrains.

What’s it like to drive?

While it might be more dynamic than the outgoing E-Class Coupe, the CLE Coupe still has a ‘grand tourer’ feel to the way it drives. In other words, it rides very comfortably and isolates its occupants well from wind and road noise (perhaps less so on 20-inch wheels than the smaller 19s). The car turns into corners sharply and offers abundant grip, but it stops short of feeling genuinely sporty. A BMW 4 Series isn’t that sporty, either, but it is a tad more engaging to drive.

The CLE’s variable assistance steering plays a part here, being lighter at low speeds and then adding weight as the car gains velocity. It’s predictable and accurate, but lacking in much feel for what is happening at the road surface. As a result, the CLE Coupe is competent and quick, rather than agile and thrilling – which is arguably just as a Mercedes coupe should be.

All the ‘standard’ engines use mild-hybrid technology to boost efficiency and smoothness, and send power to the wheels via a nine-speed automatic gearbox. The range starts with 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged petrol and diesel units in CLE 200 and CLE 220d. These rear-wheel-drive models serve up 201bhp (petrol) or 197bhp (diesel) and will accelerate from 0-62mph in 7.4 seconds and 7.5 seconds respectively.

The next step up the CLE Coupe ladder is the all-wheel-drive CLE 300 4Matic, which also uses a four-cylinder petrol motor, but with a power increase to 258bhp – resulting in a 0-62mph time of 6.2 seconds. This is a fine engine, with useful low- to mid-range pulling power and enough enthusiasm at high revs to feel entertaining. It also sounds pretty good, particularly with the car in its Sport mode, when it pumps a bit of extra engine growl into the cabin via the speakers. Next up is the CLE 450 4Matic, which uses a 3.0-litre in-line six-cylinder engine with a healthy 380bhp for a 0-62mph time of 4.4 seconds.

Moving away from the regular engines, there’s the CLE 300e, the plug-in hybrid that sits roughly in the middle of the range. Its 2.0-litre petrol engine is paired to an electric motor and a 19.5kWh battery, meaning it can drive up to 70 miles on battery power alone. The 0-62mph dash takes 6.3 seconds

At the top of the tree is the Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 4Matic+. Its 3.0-litre, twin-turbo six-cylinder engine produces a total of 445bhp, enough to hit 62mph in 4.2 seconds. Yes, that’s only 0.2 seconds quicker than the CLE 450 4Matic, but the AMG CLE 53’s character is more intense, with a firmer ride, massive brakes, sharper steering and plenty of noise.

Technology, equipment & infotanment

Although the exterior of the CLE Coupe appears closer to an E-Class than a C-Class in its dimensions, its interior architecture comes from the smaller car. In terms of quality, that means there are a few more hard surfaces than you might hope, even if they are tucked away in places you rarely look at or touch. In terms of what you do see and feel, the CLE Coupe (just like the C-Class saloon) feels like an extremely high quality product.

The central touchscreen is portrait-mounted and measures 11.9 inches across. Again, the hardware comes straight from the C-Class and looks suitably glossy. Its software is based on the third-generation MBUX operating system, which is beautifully responsive, and generally easy to navigate, at least once you learn where key functions reside within its menus. The dials take the form of a 12.3-inch digital cluster ahead of the steering wheel, which is fully customisable (albeit via some very fiddly wheel-mounted controls).

In terms of equipment, the range kicks off with AMG Line spec, which includes 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, wireless phone charging, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, climate control air-con, blind spot and traffic sign assist, a reversing camera and rather lovely 64-colour ambient interior lighting. Above this is AMG Line Premium, with 19-inch alloys, keyless go, a heated steering wheel, a panoramic sunroof and 360-degree cameras to help with parking.

Continue up the range and you'll land at the AMG Line Premium Plus. This has 20-inch wheels (19s if you go for the plug-in hybrid), ventilated front seats, a Burmester 3D sound system and a head-up display. The top-spec Premier Edition adds styling and material upgrades, such as Nappa leather for the seats and carbon-fibre trim panels (if you want them), but that’s about all.

Naturally, the AMG CLE 53 is the most expensive version, but much of its equipment and technology is exactly the same. What’s different is the driving experience.

Mercedes CLE running costs

In terms of purchase price, the CLE Coupe costs about £1,000 more than a BMW 4 Series, but it is a slightly larger vehicle. For the lowest running costs, opt for the C200d with its claimed average of 60.1mpg, or the plug-in hybrid model, assuming you have the ability to charge its battery on a regular basis.

Of the petrol models, the C200 is the most efficient, with a WLTP-tested average fuel economy of 44.1mpg. The C300 isn’t far behind at 39.8mpg, while the six-cylinder C450 manages 36.7mpg. In our tests of the C300, we managed an average of 32-34mpg in mixed driving, which seems perfectly acceptable given the performance on offer.

All new CLE Coupes cost in excess of the £40,000 threshold for the premium rate of Vehicle Excise Duty (VED, or road tax). You therefore need to bank on paying an additional £390 per year for the first five years of the car’s life, on top of the standard tax rate.

Insurance groups for the CLE Coupe range from 35-43, out of 50 groups in total. This puts it broadly in line with equivalently powerful versions of the BMW 4 Series.

Mercedes CLE reliability

The CLE Coupe is too new to have any meaningful reliability data to share. The fact it borrows engines and technology from the current generation C-Class isn’t of much help either, because that car is also quite new.

In the absence of stats for the CLE and the C-Class, then, we’ll look at how Mercedes-Benz as a brand has performed in recent surveys – and the news isn’t great. In the 2023 What Car? Reliability Survey, Mercedes placed 24th of 32 brands, behind Lexus in first and BMW in 12th, but ahead of Audi in 26th. And in the latest What Car? study, Mercedes secured 22nd place out of 30 brands, tied with Audi, but behind Lexus in ninth and BMW in sixth.

On a more positive note, the CLE Coupe comes with a three-year, unlimited mileage warranty, which can be extended up to five years at extra cost. So while there’s never any guarantee that a CLE won’t go wrong (indeed, any new car can have its issues), you are at least covered by the warranty if you need it.