2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE Convertible

The volume CLE 300 4MATIC Cabriolet uses the 2.0L turbo inline-4 with a 48V mild-hybrid starter-generator, rated 255 hp. 2025 is the cabriolet's launch year in the US (production began April 2024), so there is no earlier model year to carry figures over from.

The CLE 300 makes 295 lb-ft from the 2.0T, with brief extra torque from the 48V system to fill in turbo lag.

Mercedes quotes 6.2 s to 60 mph for the CLE 300 Cabriolet: adequate, but behind the 6-cylinder luxury convertible rivals.

The 48V system smooths stop-start and fills turbo lag, so the car cruises refined. But the M254 four-cylinder sounds coarse when worked hard, which is easier to hear with the top down, and it lacks the smoothness of the CLE 450's inline-6.

The 9G-TRONIC 9-speed automatic shifts smoothly and decisively in normal driving. It can be slightly busy at low speed, with no real hunting.

4MATIC all-wheel drive is standard on every US CLE Cabriolet (CLE 300, CLE 450, AMG CLE 53), and the AMG version adds a fully variable 4MATIC+ system.

Three gas mild-hybrid powertrains (2.0T I4, 3.0T I6, AMG-tuned 3.0T I6) cover mainstream to performance buyers. There is no plug-in hybrid or EV cabriolet.

EPA rates the volume CLE 300 4MATIC Cabriolet at 26 MPG combined. The CLE 450 Cabriolet matches it.

EPA city rating for the CLE 300 4MATIC Cabriolet. Standard AWD and the soft-top car's weight keep it modest.

EPA highway rating for the CLE 300 4MATIC Cabriolet.

Range is calculated from the EPA combined figure and the CLE's 17.4-gallon (66 L) fuel tank, which the cabriolet shares with the coupe.

This is EPA's annual fuel cost estimate for the CLE 300 4MATIC Cabriolet on premium fuel. It sits near the top of the gas convertible band.

Every CLE Cabriolet trim requires premium unleaded, and no regular-fuel or plug-in option is offered. That puts it behind regular-fuel rivals such as the Mustang Convertible on running costs.

NHTSA has not crash-tested the CLE in any body style; its 2025 Mercedes-Benz ratings list covers only Sprinter/eSprinter vans. Per the framework, an unrated vehicle is recorded as 0 stars rather than inferred from platform siblings.

IIHS has published no crashworthiness results for the CLE Cabriolet (or Coupe), so it holds no TSP/TSP+ award. The MRA2 structure is shared with the C-Class, which has earned TSP+, and the cabriolet adds windshield-frame and floor reinforcement plus pop-up rollover bars, but with no tested result the score stays in the no-award middle band.

Every 2025 CLE gets Active Brake Assist (AEB with pedestrian detection), Blind Spot Assist, Attention Assist, PRE-SAFE and a rear camera as standard. Adaptive cruise, lane centering, active blind-spot intervention and cross-traffic functions all cost extra in the $1,950 Driver Assistance Package, even at this price point.

Active Brake Assist is the same current-generation system fitted to the C-Class and E-Class, both of which IIHS rates well for front crash prevention. The CLE itself has no IIHS front-crash-prevention test, so the score sits below the tested siblings.

Blind Spot Assist, with Mercedes' Exit Warning function, is standard as an alert-only system. Active Blind Spot Assist with braking intervention and cross-traffic functions come only with the optional Driver Assistance Package, so full coverage requires the option box.

Active Steering Assist in the Driver Assistance Package gives the smooth lane centering reviewers praise in the C-Class and E-Class. Without the package, buyers get lane keeping only and no centering.

Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC is a well-regarded full-speed-range system with stop-and-go and route-based speed adaptation. It is optional, though: base cars have conventional cruise only, which holds the score down for a luxury convertible.

There is no hands-free option. Drive Pilot (Level 3) is offered only on the S-Class and EQS in California and Nevada, and the CLE's Driver Assistance Package requires hands on the wheel.

LED High Performance headlights with Adaptive Highbeam Assist are fitted, and Digital Light is optional. IIHS has not rated the CLE's lamps; similar LED units on the C-Class have rated well.

With the soft top up, the small glass rear window and thick fabric rear quarters leave large blind zones. Dropping the top improves sightlines considerably. The standard reversing camera is 2D, and Surround View is optional.

There are two rear seats, each with LATCH lower anchors and top tethers, but they are reached by tilting the front seat forward and squeezing through a two-door opening into a tight 2+2 cabin. Car-seat installation is workable but awkward.

The 2025 CLE Cabriolet is a strict four-seater with two individual rear seats, which puts it at the bottom of the convertible seating band.

With 40.2 in of front headroom under the soft top, the CLE has unusually generous room for a convertible. Even so, Cars.com notes headroom can feel tight for very tall occupants.

Front legroom of 42.1 in is about average for the segment. MBUSA lists the figure as 'TBA', so this value comes from dealer and third-party spec data.

Rear headroom of 36.0 in is decent for a soft-top 2+2. Top Gear says rear passengers need to be under about six feet tall when the roof is up.

Rear legroom of 34.2 in is generous by convertible standards and about 14 mm more than the old C-Class Cabriolet, thanks to the longer wheelbase. Taller adults will still find it tight on longer trips.

The trunk holds 9.6 cu ft with the top up, compared with 11.2 cu ft in the coupe, and the stowed fabric roof takes up some of that space. Split-folding rear seatbacks let longer items through.

Everyday storage is competitive for a luxury convertible: a center-console bin, a wireless charging tray, door pockets and split-folding rear seats. It has nothing standout, and the convertible top takes trunk space.

The front seats are supportive, powered and heated, with memory as standard and multicontour or ventilation on offer, and they suit long drives well. The rear is fine for short trips with the roof up but tight for tall adults.

Reviewers call the ride generally smooth and supple, with no flimsy feel despite the open body. Top Gear notes some fussiness at low speed, which keeps it from the top of the band.

The multi-layer acoustic soft top keeps the cabin close to coupe-quiet with the roof up. With the roof down, the AIRCAP wind deflector keeps buffeting in check, but road and wind noise still exceed a fixed-roof car's.

AIRSCARF neck-level heating, the wind deflector, heated power front seats and dual-zone automatic climate control are all standard. Ventilated and massaging seats are optional. Standard AIRSCARF stands out among convertibles.

The CLE 300 4MATIC Cabriolet is the entry trim in 2025, the cabriolet's first US model year, at $66,450 plus a $1,150 destination charge. That is roughly $7,000 more than the equivalent coupe.

The CLE 300 Cabriolet is the volume build. Dealer stock usually carries a few thousand dollars of packages, such as the AMG Line, Premium and Driver Assistance packages, so window stickers land in the low $70ks.

CarEdge projects about $3,700–$3,950 in maintenance and repairs over five years for the CLE 300 and CLE line, and says that is below the luxury-coupe average. I added a modest allowance for the cabriolet's power soft-top mechanism and AIRSCARF hardware, which the coupe-based figures do not include.

The CLE has no real 5-year resale history yet, and the projections disagree. iSeeCars puts the convertible at about 58–60%, CarEdge has the CLE line at 63%, and KBB's residual for the line works out to about 44%. Mercedes drop-tops have historically depreciated faster than these models suggest, so I chose a figure below the midpoint of that range.

The Mercedes-Benz New Vehicle Limited Warranty runs 4 years or 50,000 miles, the same as BMW and Audi and short of Genesis's 5 years / 60,000 miles.

Mercedes-Benz does not offer longer powertrain coverage on gas models. The engine, the 9G-TRONIC transmission and the 48V mild-hybrid parts are covered only by the 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which puts this at the bottom of the band.

Mercedes-Benz USA includes no scheduled maintenance; service is sold as prepaid plans. Buyers get 24/7 Roadside Assistance for the warranty period and a trial of Mercedes me connect services, which is basic roadside coverage only and trails BMW's 3-year/36,000-mile Ultimate Care.

$72,000 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (52% retained, or about $37,440) leaves about $34,560 in depreciation. Add the projected $4,300 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $38,860 in total.

J.D. Power rates the 2025 CLE 83/100 ('Great') for quality & reliability, but Consumer Reports has no predicted-reliability rating for it (NA), and the related W206 C-Class has rated below average with CR. The convertible also adds a power soft top, its seals and the AIRCAP/neck-heater hardware. Mixed signals put it in the average band, a little above the brand baseline.

Mercedes-Benz sits in the lower half of J.D. Power VDS and Consumer Reports brand rankings: behind Lexus, Toyota and BMW, though not bottom-tier. This is the same brand baseline used for the CLE Coupe, C-Class and E-Class.

The NHTSA feed shows only one campaign touching the 2025 CLE Cabriolet: a fleet-wide infotainment control unit software update that fixes an instrument-cluster blank-out, remedied by a software flash. The 2024-only coupe campaigns (door lock, parking brake/infotainment software, fuse) do not reach this model year. Few, minor recalls with nothing structural or powertrain-related.

The volume CLE 300 4MATIC uses the M254 2.0T I4 with a 48V integrated starter-generator. It is a newer engine family with no systemic failures reported, but the mild-hybrid electrics add complexity. The CLE 450's M256 3.0T I6 (in service since 2018) and the 9G-Tronic 9-speed automatic are mature units.

The cabin takes its MBUX 11.9-inch portrait screen, available Nappa leather, open-pore wood and ambient lighting from the C/E-Class. Reviewers rank it at or above the BMW 4 Series Convertible on tactile richness, with some piano-black and touch-control criticism.

Bremen-built, with tight panel gaps and a well-insulated multi-layer soft top that reviewers say keeps it quiet with the roof up. Held slightly below the coupe because convertible bodies and tops accumulate rattles and seal wear over time. J.D. Power's strong quality score supports solid initial assembly.

Roughly 380 Mercedes-Benz retailers nationwide is a denser network than BMW or Audi. J.D. Power rates the CLE's dealership experience 79/100, which is mid-pack luxury service satisfaction.

Mercedes parts are expensive and largely dealer-sourced. The CLE adds 48V mild-hybrid electrics, MBUX hardware and a powered soft top with its own actuators and control unit, all costly to repair out of warranty. The independent-shop aftermarket is thinner than for mainstream brands.

Every 2025 CLE Cabriolet trim gets the 11.9-inch portrait center touchscreen running second-generation MBUX. No larger screen is offered.

MBUX is sharp and quick, but reviewers dislike the touch-sensitive steering-wheel controls and the lack of physical controls, since climate settings live on the screen. BMW's iDrive is easier to use day to day.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on every trim, along with wireless phone charging.

Native navigation and the 'Hey Mercedes' natural-language assistant are standard and capable. Augmented-reality navigation requires the $2,600 Pinnacle package.

Burmester 3D surround-sound audio is listed as standard on the 2025 CLE 300, which is a premium branded system without an upcharge.

A configurable 12.3-inch digital driver display is standard on every trim and matches the BMW 4 Series Convertible.

Second-generation MBUX receives over-the-air infotainment and map updates plus purchasable Digital Extras. It does not get the whole-vehicle OTA updates of Mercedes' newer MB.OS platform.

The Mercedes me app covers remote lock, locate, vehicle status and remote start. Extended services move to a paid subscription after the trial period.

Wireless charging is standard, along with USB-C ports in front and rear, but there is no household AC outlet. That port count is competitive for a 2+2.

KEYLESS-GO entry and push-button start are standard, and the soft top can be operated with the key fob. Remote start and Digital Key go through the Mercedes me app.

A rear camera, parking sensors and automated parking are standard. The 360-degree camera requires the $2,600 Pinnacle Trim Package on the CLE 300 and 450, though it is standard on the AMG CLE 53.

A head-up display is offered only in the $2,600 Pinnacle Trim Package. It is available on every powertrain but is not standard.

This two-door 2+2 has two rear seats with LATCH, and parents have to tilt a front seat and reach through the door opening for every child-seat load. Rear legroom is decent, but 36.0 in of rear headroom and the 9.6 cu ft trunk make strollers and rear-facing seats awkward.

AEB with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, attention assist and PRE-SAFE are standard, but adaptive cruise and lane centering cost $1,950 extra. Neither NHTSA nor IIHS has crash-tested the CLE.

Four adults fit only if the rear passengers are under about six feet tall, and the 9.6 cu ft trunk shrinks further with the top stowed. AIRSCARF and dual-zone climate help front occupants only.

A quiet, supple ride, standard 4MATIC, the smooth 48V mild-hybrid powertrain and standard automated parking make it a relaxed daily driver. Sluggish throttle response, touch-sensitive controls and optional-only adaptive cruise take some points off.

EPA rates it 23/32/26 MPG, but premium fuel brings the annual fuel cost to about $3,100. Mercedes service and tire costs are also above mainstream norms.

At about 191 in long the CLE is sizable for a 2+2, but its 36.8 ft turning circle is good and automated parking is standard. Top-up rear visibility is poor, and the 360-degree camera requires the Pinnacle package.

There is no US tow rating, no bed and only a 9.6 cu ft trunk, so it has no meaningful work capability.

This is a luxury cabin with a fabric soft top, it has no fleet history, and Mercedes offers no work-oriented variant, so it is not suited to hard use.

There is no AC outlet, no factory hitch and no roof-rack provision on the soft-top body, so it offers essentially no work provisions.

It is a strong two-up grand tourer: supple ride, quiet acoustic top, supportive heated seats and AIRSCARF, with a 17.4-gal tank good for roughly 450 miles combined. Adaptive cruise requires the Driver Assistance Package, and four-up comfort is limited by the rear seat.

Standard 4MATIC makes it a capable snow-belt convertible, but low ground clearance and the absence of a roof rack or hitch keep it on the pavement.

The 9.6 cu ft trunk shrinks with the top stowed, though split-folding rear seatbacks help with long items. It has no roof rails or hitch, so bulky gear is a squeeze.

Despite its weight it is neither cumbersome nor sloppy, and standard 4MATIC gives sure-footed grip. Its character is a relaxed grand tourer rather than a sharp sports car, and it trails the BMW 4 Series Convertible for agility.

The steering is light and responsive enough to stay engaging, but reviewers consistently call it numb on the non-AMG versions.

The brake hardware is shared with the CLE Coupe and gives a firm, progressive pedal. No instrumented stopping data was found for the cabriolet, and its extra weight likely adds a few feet to stops compared with the coupe.

The 48V integrated starter-generator smooths restarts and coasting, and the 9G-TRONIC shifts cleanly. Top Gear finds throttle response sluggish, and the CLE 300 hesitates briefly off the line.

The M254 2.0T four-cylinder sounds coarse when worked hard, and the fabric top lets more of that noise through than the coupe's fixed roof. The CLE 450's inline-six is notably sweeter.

Mercedes lists a 36.8 ft turning circle for the CLE 300 4MATIC Cabriolet, which is mid-pack for the segment despite the car's 112.8-in wheelbase.

The power seats offer wide adjustment and the driving position is natural. Climate controls buried in the touchscreen, touch-sensitive wheel controls and poor rear visibility with the top up are frequent complaints.

Open-air motoring with AIRSCARF and AIRCAP makes it more emotive than the coupe. The CLE 300 is a relaxed cruiser rather than a driver's car, and evo calls the drive not especially memorable.

The 2025 CLE 300 Cabriolet comes with the coupe's standard kit: heated power front seats, dual-zone climate control, a 12.3-inch gauge cluster, an 11.9-inch MBUX touchscreen and Burmester audio. It also adds a power soft top, which works at up to 37 mph, and AIRSCARF neck heating, which rivals often charge for. Head-up display, ventilated seats and the full driver-assist suite still require extra packages.

At $66,450 the CLE 300 Cabriolet costs about $7,000 more than the coupe and buys only 255 hp, with typically optioned cars in the low $70ks. The CLE 450 ($75,800) and AMG CLE 53 ($82,600) add real performance, while the BMW 4 Series Convertible generally offers similar content for a little less. Fair value for a luxury drop-top, but not a bargain.

Three well-spaced powertrains, from the 2.0T four through the 3.0T inline-six to the AMG 53 six, all with standard 4MATIC, plus AMG Line, Premium, Pinnacle and Night packages. There is no rear-drive, plug-in hybrid or electric version.

Including the coupe, the CLE line sold about 15,400 US units in 2025, up 7.5%, and it leads the luxury-coupe class in 2026 so far. The cabriolet is a smaller share of that total, sold into a convertible market that keeps shrinking.

Mercedes-Benz is a top-tier aspirational luxury brand, and its four-seat cabriolets have long been image cars, with AMG versions adding to that halo.

Mercedes-Benz Financial Services ran modest promotions on the 2025 CLE, including 1.99% APR for 24–36 months on select models and subsidized cabriolet leases. Invoice runs about $3,650 below MSRP, so there is room to negotiate. These are occasional, moderate deals rather than heavy discounting.

2025 is the CLE Cabriolet's first US model year, after production began in April 2024. It is an all-new A236 generation that replaced both the C-Class and E-Class Cabriolets, built on current MRA2 hardware with the latest MBUX, and no redesign is in sight.

Reviewers praise its cabin quality, refinement and top-down comfort features as a relaxed grand tourer. Comparisons tend to favor the sharper BMW 4 Series Convertible on dynamics, and the CLE Cabriolet has won no 10Best or NACTOY-level award.