2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupe

The volume CLE 300 4MATIC's turbo four makes 255 hp, with a 23 hp boost from the integrated starter-generator. The CLE 450 (375 hp) and AMG CLE 53 (443 hp) raise the range ceiling.

295 lb-ft from the 2.0L turbo arrives low in the rev range, helped by the 48V mild-hybrid assist.

The manufacturer quotes 6.2 s for the CLE 300 4MATIC. That is adequate, but behind six-cylinder rivals.

The 48V ISG smooths start-stop and fills low-end torque, so delivery is mostly seamless. Reviewers note the four-cylinder gets gruff when worked hard, unlike the silky inline-six in the CLE 450.

The 9G-TRONIC 9-speed automatic shifts smoothly and suits relaxed grand-touring use. It can be slow to kick down in Comfort mode.

4MATIC all-wheel drive is standard on every US 2024 CLE coupe trim. The AMG CLE 53 adds fully variable 4MATIC+ with rear-axle steering, but there are no low-range or off-road modes, which suits the segment.

There are three gas mild-hybrid powertrains: 2.0L I4, 3.0L I6, and the AMG 3.0L I6 with an electric auxiliary compressor. All three cover the performance spread, but there is no PHEV or EV variant.

The mild-hybrid 2.0L turbo returns 28 MPG combined per the EPA. That is reasonable for an AWD luxury coupe.

The EPA city rating is 24 MPG for the volume trim.

The EPA highway rating is 34 MPG, a strong figure for long-distance grand touring.

Range is calculated from the 17.4-gallon tank and the 28 MPG EPA combined rating.

The EPA estimates $2,900 a year, inflated by the premium-fuel requirement.

Every 2024 CLE coupe trim requires premium unleaded, with no regular-fuel option anywhere in the range.

NHTSA lists the 2024 CLE (the launch year of the C236 generation) as Not Rated in every crash category. The framework defines 0 as never rated by NHTSA, so that applies.

IIHS has not crash-tested the 2024 CLE, so it has no TSP/TSP+ award and no individual crashworthiness results. There are no known structural concerns: it shares the MRA2 architecture with the W206 C-Class, which has tested well. That puts it at the low end of the mostly-Good band, behind rivals like the BMW 4 Series that have published Good results.

The standard 2024 CLE 300 4MATIC includes Active Brake Assist (AEB), Blind Spot Assist, Adaptive Highbeam Assist and Attention Assist. Adaptive cruise, Steering Assist, Active Lane Change Assist and cross-traffic braking come only with the optional Driver Assistance Package, and NHTSA lists lane departure warning as optional for 2024. That is core features standard with ACC and lane assistance optional, which lands at the low end of the mid-band.

The CLE uses the same current-generation camera-plus-radar Active Brake Assist as the W206 C-Class, whose AEB has done well in IIHS testing. IIHS has not evaluated the CLE itself, and PRE-SAFE Brake with pedestrian recognition and BAS PLUS with cross-traffic come with the optional package. The score therefore sits below the tested siblings.

Blind Spot Assist with Exit Warning is standard but only alerts. Active Blind Spot Assist with braking and the cross-traffic functions require the optional Driver Assistance Package. Coverage is good when optioned and alert-only as delivered on many volume cars.

NHTSA lists lane departure warning as optional on the 2024 CLE, and Active Steering Assist (lane centering) and Active Lane Change Assist come only with the Driver Assistance Package. When fitted, Mercedes' centering is smooth and well regarded, but the volume car often ships without any lane assistance.

When fitted, DISTRONIC is a refined full-speed-range system with Stop & Go and Route-Based Speed Adaptation. On the 2024 CLE 300 it comes only in the optional Driver Assistance Package, not as standard, which keeps it out of the top band.

The 2024 CLE offers no hands-free driving: Steering Assist requires hands on the wheel. Mercedes' Level 3 Drive Pilot was limited to the S-Class and EQS in California and Nevada.

LED headlights with Adaptive Highbeam Assist are standard, and Digital Light is optional. IIHS has not rated the CLE's headlights, so there is no tested result. Related Mercedes LED units have rated well, which supports a score just under the Good-standard band.

The CLE uses a fixed B-pillar with fixed rear quarter windows, not the E-Class Coupe's pillarless design, and its fastback roofline leaves thick rear quarters and a shallow back window. The standard rearview camera and Blind Spot Assist help, but the 360-degree camera is optional.

The rear has two outboard seats with lower anchors and top tethers. Fitting a car seat means tilting a front seat forward and working through a long, low door opening into a tight space under the sloping roof. That is workable for occasional use, but it is a real penalty compared with a sedan.

The 2024 CLE Coupe is a strict four-seater: two front buckets and two individual rear seats with only two rear seatbelts. That is the bottom of the coupe band.

Front headroom of 40.3 in is generous for a fastback coupe and near the top of the coupe band.

Front legroom of 42.1 in is comfortable for tall drivers and mid-band for coupes.

Rear headroom of 36.0 in beats the BMW 4 Series and Lexus RC, though the sloping roof still pinches taller passengers.

Rear legroom of 34.2 in is good for a coupe thanks to the 112.8 in wheelbase, 2.2 in more than the outgoing C-Class Coupe. Taller adults still won't be comfortable on long trips.

The US-measure trunk is 11.2 cu ft, slightly more than some rival coupes. It is still small in absolute terms, though Mercedes says it takes three golf bags. The 14.8 cu ft figure is the European VDA rating and isn't comparable with US ratings.

Storage covers the basics: a power deck lid, concealed underfloor trunk storage, split-folding rear seats, door pockets and a lidded armrest bin. However, the console cubby is hard to reach when the cupholders are in use.

The standard heated power front seats are wide, with lumbar support and memory, and are supportive over distance. Ventilation and massage are optional. The rear seats are sculpted but only comfortable for adults on short trips.

The CLE 300's fixed-rate suspension rides smoothly, absorbing impacts well across varied surfaces in the manner of the C-Class sedan. Some low-speed firmness on the optional 20-inch run-flats keeps it short of the very top.

Wind and road noise are well suppressed at cruise. Run-flat tire roar on larger wheels and a coarse four-cylinder under hard throttle are the main intrusions.

Heated power front seats, dual-zone automatic climate and remote start are standard. Ventilated and massaging front seats and a heated steering wheel are extra-cost options.

The 2024 CLE 300 4MATIC is the entry trim of the launch-year C236 coupe, priced above the outgoing C-Class Coupe and sitting just past the coupe band's ceiling.

The CLE 300 4MATIC is the volume trim. Most dealer stock carries the Pinnacle trim level or Premium content plus the Driver Assistance Package (~$1,950), which lands it in the low-to-mid $60Ks.

CarEdge projects about $3.9K of maintenance and repairs over five years, helped by the warranty covering early repairs. KBB's projection for the 2025 CLE is far higher at about $9K, so the real figure likely sits above CarEdge's.

KBB shows the 2024 CLE 300 coupe has lost about 31% in two years, and the CLE 450 about 28%. Extrapolating that curve gives roughly half the value retained at five years. iSeeCars' 65% figure looks optimistic against the observed early depreciation.

This is Mercedes-Benz USA's standard New Vehicle Limited Warranty.

Mercedes-Benz offers no extended powertrain coverage on gas models. The engine and transmission fall under the 4/50 basic term, the bottom of the band.

Roadside assistance runs for the warranty term and Mercedes me connect comes with trial services. Scheduled maintenance is a paid prepaid plan, which trails BMW's 3-yr/36K included maintenance on the 2 and 4 Series.

$63,500 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (50% retained, or about $31,750) leaves about $31,750 in depreciation. Add the projected $3,941 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $35,691 in total.

2024 is the launch year of the C236 CLE (coupe production began October 2023), and first-year Mercedes models typically carry more early-build issues. Consumer Reports has no published 2024 predicted-reliability verdict, and the related W206 C-Class has scored below average with CR. J.D. Power rates the follow-on 2025 CLE 83/100 for quality & reliability, but no 2024-specific figure was found. Taken together that is an average outlook, discounted for launch-year risk.

Mercedes-Benz sits in the lower half of the J.D. Power VDS and Consumer Reports brand rankings. It trails Lexus, Toyota and BMW but is not bottom-tier. This is the same brand baseline used across the C-Class, E-Class and CLE.

Four NHTSA campaigns reach the 2024 CLE Coupe, three of them confined to 2024 builds. The most serious is a faulty 80-amp main fuse that can cut drive power or safety systems and carries a fire risk. The others are a corroding door-lock micro-switch that can defeat auto-park (rollaway risk), an MBUX software fault that disables automatic cross-traffic braking, and an infotainment reset that blanks the instrument cluster. All are remedied by a dealer fix or software update and none is a powertrain failure, but that is above-typical activity for one launch year.

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, and the 2024 fuse recall shows electrical-architecture teething issues. 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 11.9-inch portrait MBUX screen, available Nappa leather, open-pore wood and ambient lighting from the C- and E-Class. Reviewers rate it at or above the BMW 4 Series on tactile richness. Their main criticisms are piano-black trim and touch-sensitive controls.

The Bremen-built fixed-roof coupe body has tight panel gaps and consistent trim alignment, per reviewers. Launch-year owner complaints skew toward MBUX freezes and software faults rather than rattles or misalignment, but first-year builds warrant a small discount against the 2025 car.

About 380 Mercedes-Benz retailers nationwide give it a denser network than BMW or Audi. J.D. Power rates the CLE's dealership experience in the high 70s, mid-pack for luxury service satisfaction.

Mercedes parts are expensive and mostly sourced through dealers. The CLE adds 48V mild-hybrid electrics, MBUX hardware and optional adaptive dampers, all costly to repair out of warranty. As a brand-new nameplate in 2024, it also has thin independent-shop and aftermarket support.

Every 2024 CLE has a standard 11.9-inch vertically oriented center touchscreen, and no larger display is offered.

Second-generation MBUX is fast and graphically sharp, but nearly everything, including climate, runs through the touchscreen. The steering-wheel and seat controls are touch-sensitive with no feedback, and there are no conventional knobs.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on every 2024 CLE.

The 'Hey Mercedes' natural-language assistant controls audio and many vehicle functions, and native MBUX navigation is strong. Augmented-reality navigation is optional.

A 17-speaker Burmester 3D surround system with front-headrest speakers is standard on the 2024 CLE, which is unusually generous for the class.

A crisp, configurable 12.3-inch digital driver display with multiple layouts is standard.

MBUX takes over-the-air updates for infotainment, maps and some features. Whole-vehicle OTA covering chassis and driver-assist software arrived later with MB.OS, not on the MRA2-based CLE.

The Mercedes me app covers remote start, lock/unlock, locate and vehicle status, and a Digital Key is available. Several connected services become paid subscriptions after the trial period.

USB-C ports are fitted front and rear, and wireless charging is standard. There is no 120V outlet, which is normal for the segment.

Push-button start, remote start and a power deck lid are standard. KEYLESS-GO proximity entry is fitted, and a phone-based Digital Key is available.

A rear camera and parking sensors are standard. The 360-degree surround-view camera is a $600 option (also in the Pinnacle upgrade), and active parking assist is optional.

A color head-up display is offered only as part of the top Pinnacle upgrade, so it is absent from the volume configuration.

As a two-door 2+2 with only two rear seatbelts, loading a child means tilting a front seat and reaching through a long, low door under a sloping roof. The 11.2 cu ft trunk takes a stroller only with a squeeze.

Neither NHTSA nor IIHS has crash-tested the 2024 CLE. AEB and blind-spot alerts are standard, but adaptive cruise, lane centering and active blind-spot braking require the $1,950 Driver Assistance Package, and rear side airbags are a $700 option.

The front seats are excellent tourers, but the coupe seats only four. The rear suits short trips for adults and has few amenities, and the small trunk limits luggage with four aboard.

A smooth ride, a refined 48V mild-hybrid stop/start and a smooth 9-speed make it relaxing in traffic. Long brake-pedal travel and the touchscreen-heavy controls are minor annoyances.

An EPA 28 MPG combined rating (24 city) is competitive for a luxury AWD coupe, but it requires premium fuel and the run-flat tires are costly to replace.

At 191 in long with long doors and thick rear quarters, it takes care in tight spots. A mid-pack 36.8 ft turning circle and standard rear camera and sensors help, but the 360-degree camera is optional.

The CLE is a luxury coupe with no US tow rating and an 11.2 cu ft trunk, so it is not meaningfully work-capable.

It is a luxury-oriented car with MB-Tex or leather upholstery, low-profile run-flats and a first-model-year build, none of which suits hard use.

There is no onboard power outlet, hitch, roof rails or upfit ecosystem, just a trunk with underfloor storage.

A strong grand tourer, with supportive front seats, a quiet and smooth ride, standard Burmester audio and about 487 miles of range from a 17.4-gal tank at 34 MPG highway. Adaptive cruise and lane centering are optional, which holds it back.

Standard 4MATIC AWD gives it all-weather traction, but low ground clearance, run-flat performance tires, no tow rating and no roof rails keep it on pavement.

The 11.2 cu ft trunk fits about three golf bags, and the split-folding rear seatbacks add pass-through length. The coupe opening, missing roof rails and hitch, and two-door access limit bulky gear.

Handling is precise and reasonably nimble but tuned for composure rather than sharpness. It is slightly less sporty than the BMW 4 Series and Audi A5 at nearly two tons. Rear-axle steering is optional.

The steering is precise and light in typical Mercedes fashion, firming sensibly off-center. It transmits less feedback than the 4 Series.

Stopping power from speed is good, but the pedal has noticeably long travel before it firms, which dulls initial response. No instrumented 70–0 figure was found for the CLE 300.

The 48V integrated starter-generator makes stop/start nearly seamless and fills in low-end torque, and the 9G-TRONIC shifts smoothly. Kickdown can be leisurely in Comfort mode.

The four-cylinder is quiet at cruise but sounds coarse under load and at cold start, which jars with the car's elegance. The CLE 450's inline-six is far sweeter.

A curb-to-curb diameter of about 36.8 ft is mid-band for coupes. MBUSA doesn't publish the figure, so it comes from third-party data.

The low, adjustable driving position suits most sizes and wide doors ease entry. Climate controls are touchscreen-only, the wheel and seat controls are touch-sensitive with no feedback, and over-shoulder visibility is limited.

The CLE 300 is a pleasant, refined cruiser rather than an enthusiast's coupe. Reviewers point buyers wanting excitement to the six-cylinder CLE 450 or AMG CLE 53.

Standard features include 4MATIC AWD, the 48V mild-hybrid powertrain, an 11.9-inch MBUX touchscreen, a 12.3-inch digital cluster, heated seats and LED headlights. Adaptive cruise, lane centering and active blind-spot braking need the extra-cost Driver Assistance Package, which is stingy at nearly $58K.

The CLE is priced near the BMW 4 Series Coupe with AWD standard and more rear-seat room. The volume CLE 300 makes only 255 hp, though, while BMW's M440i and the CLE 450 deliver six-cylinder performance for less per horsepower, so the value is fair rather than standout.

The 2024 lineup offers the CLE 300 and CLE 450, each in Premium or Pinnacle form, plus the AMG CLE 53, all with AWD only. That is a reasonable spread from $57.6K to the AMG with no RWD or entry configuration.

The CLE family sold about 14,300 units in its first US year, coupe and cabriolet combined, and rose to about 15,400 in 2025. That is solid for a shrinking luxury-coupe niche, consolidating former C- and E-Class coupe buyers.

Mercedes-Benz is an aspirational luxury brand, and the CLE's elegant grand-touring design is consistently praised by reviewers. The three-pointed star carries strong showroom appeal, though resale is only average.

Launch-year cars sold close to MSRP. Mercedes-Benz Financial lease support and dealer discounts on leftover 2024 units appeared once the 2025s arrived, giving occasional modest savings.

2024 is the launch model year of the all-new C236 CLE, built on the current MRA2 platform with MBUX and 48V mild-hybrid tech. No redesign risk applies for buyers.

Reviewers broadly like the CLE's comfort, refinement and styling but find it less sharp than the BMW 4 Series and the four-cylinder unremarkable. No major US award or comparison-test win was found.