2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupe

The volume CLE 300 4MATIC uses the M254 2.0L turbo inline-4 with a 48V integrated starter-generator, rated at 255 hp. That is modest against six-cylinder luxury coupes, though the CLE 450 and AMG CLE 53 cover the higher-output end of the range.

The CLE 300 makes 295 lb-ft across a broad low-rpm plateau, which is healthy for a 2.0T. The 48V system adds brief extra boost on top of that figure.

Mercedes quotes 6.2 s to 60 mph for the CLE 300 4MATIC. That is brisk enough for daily driving but trails six-cylinder rivals such as the M440i and CLE 450.

The 48V integrated starter-generator smooths stop-start and fills in turbo lag, so delivery is calm and responsive around town. The four-cylinder can sound coarse at high rpm and lacks the silkiness of the CLE 450's inline-6.

The 9G-TRONIC 9-speed automatic shifts smoothly and decisively in normal driving and rarely hunts. It is less quick-witted than the AMG-tuned unit in the CLE 53, and it is occasionally busy at low speed.

4MATIC all-wheel drive is standard on every 2025 US CLE Coupe (CLE 300, CLE 450, AMG CLE 53 4MATIC+), so there is no RWD-only trim to avoid. The AMG version adds a fully variable rear-biased system with a drift mode.

There are three distinct gas powertrains, all with 48V mild-hybrid assist: a 2.0T inline-4, a 3.0T inline-6, and an AMG-tuned 3.0T inline-6. That covers mainstream-to-performance needs, but the 2025 US lineup has no plug-in or EV option.

The EPA rates the volume CLE 300 4MATIC Coupe at 27 MPG combined. Standard AWD and a 2.0T tuned for performance keep it middling despite the mild-hybrid assist.

EPA city rating for the volume CLE 300 4MATIC Coupe.

EPA highway rating for the volume CLE 300 4MATIC Coupe. The CLE 450 matches it at 33 MPG.

The EPA does not publish a range for this gas model, so range is derived from the EPA combined MPG and the 17.4-gallon tank. That gives a respectable grand-touring range of about 470 miles.

The EPA estimates $3,000 a year in fuel at 15,000 miles on required premium gasoline, near the costly end of the coupe band.

Every 2025 CLE Coupe powertrain (CLE 300, CLE 450, AMG CLE 53) runs on premium gasoline. There is no regular-fuel, flex-fuel or plug-in option.

NHTSA has published no 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2025 CLE Coupe, nor for any year of the C236 generation (launched for 2024). The framework defines 0 as never rated by NHTSA, so that applies. It is a low-volume luxury two-door, and NHTSA rarely tests those.

IIHS has not crash-tested the 2025 CLE, so it has no TSP/TSP+ award and no individual crashworthiness results. There are also no known structural concerns: the coupe rides on the MRA2 architecture shared with the W206 C-Class, which has tested well at IIHS. That puts it at the low end of the mostly-Good band, not in TSP territory. Rivals with published Good results, like the BMW 4 Series, earn more here.

Every 2025 CLE 300 4MATIC comes standard with Active Brake Assist (AEB with pedestrian detection), Blind Spot Assist with Exit Warning, lane keeping assist, Attention Assist, PRE-SAFE and a rearview camera. Adaptive cruise (Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC) is an extra-cost option on the volume trim, though. Steering Assist, Active Blind Spot Assist with braking and cross-traffic braking also cost extra, bundled in the Driver Assistance Package. That is core features standard with ACC optional, which is mid-band.

The CLE uses the same current-generation Active Brake Assist sensor stack (camera plus radar) as the W206 C-Class, and Mercedes' AEB has done well in IIHS front crash prevention tests on its sedans. IIHS has not evaluated the CLE itself, and the turning and cross-traffic functions need the optional package. The score therefore sits below the tested siblings, in the adequate-to-strong range.

Blind Spot Assist and Exit Warning (which alerts to approaching cyclists and traffic before a door opens) are standard, but in base form they only alert. Active Blind Spot Assist with corrective braking, plus the cross-traffic functions, come only with the optional Driver Assistance Package. Coverage is good when optioned and alert-only as delivered on many volume cars.

Standard lane keeping assist corrects drift by braking individual wheels, with no continuous centering. Active Steering Assist adds true lane centering, praised as smooth on related Mercedes models, but only through the optional Driver Assistance Package. The volume trim therefore often ships without centering.

When fitted, Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC is a refined full-speed-range system with stop-and-go and, in the package, Route-Based Speed Adaptation. On the volume CLE 300 it is an extra-cost option, not standard, which keeps it out of the top band even though the system itself is class-leading.

No hands-free driving is offered on the 2025 CLE. Mercedes' Drive Pilot (Level 3) is limited to the S-Class and EQS in California and Nevada, and the CLE's Steering Assist requires hands on the wheel.

LED headlights with adaptive high beam 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 sloping roofline leaves thick rear quarters and a shallow back window. The result is noticeable rear-quarter blind zones. 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 and sliding a front seat forward, then working through a long, low door opening into a tight space under the sloping roof. That is workable for occasional use, but the coupe body adds a real penalty compared with the C-Class sedan.

The CLE Coupe is a strict four-seater with two front buckets and two sculpted rear seats, the bottom of the coupe band.

Front headroom of 40.3 in is generous for a low coupe roofline, at or above the top of the coupe band.

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

Rear headroom of 36.0 in (914 mm) is decent for a fastback coupe, though AutoGuide notes the fixed B-pillar and rear glass make the back feel enclosed.

Rear legroom of 34.2 in is good for a coupe, helped by the 112.8 in wheelbase, but still short-trip space for adults.

On the US measure the trunk holds about 11.2 cu ft (dealer data: 317 L). KBB calls it 'kind of cozy', and it is a known weakness. The often-quoted 14.8 cu ft is the European VDA figure (420 L), which isn't comparable with US ratings.

Storage is typical for a luxury coupe: a covered console bin, a wireless-charging tray, door pockets and split-folding rear seatbacks for long items. Nothing is innovative, and the small trunk limits overall usefulness.

The power front sport seats are supportive, with a wide range of adjustment, and optional multicontour seats add massage. The two rear seats are sculpted and comfortable for average adults on short trips.

The CLE 300's fixed-rate dampers absorb city bumps easily and stay composed. Some reviewers find it firm at low speed on the optional 20-inch wheels, which keeps it just short of the very top of the class.

Road and wind noise are very well isolated at cruise, though tire roar on 20-inch wheels and the coarse four-cylinder under load intrude slightly.

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

The 2025 CLE Coupe, in its second model year of the 2024-launched C236 generation, starts with the CLE 300 4MATIC. 2025 widened the range upward with the CLE 450 and AMG CLE 53 coupes.

The CLE 300 4MATIC is the volume coupe; typical builds add the Premium package, AMG Line and paint/wheel options, landing in the mid-$60ks. CarEdge's typically-equipped price and representative dealer window stickers agree.

Industry estimates diverge widely for this young model: CarEdge projects only ~$3,700 for the CLE 300, while Mercedes C/E-Class coupe class data historically runs toward $8,000–$9,000 once years 4–5 out of the 4-yr/50k warranty are included. A midpoint reflects dealer labor rates and 20k-mile Service A/B intervals without assuming major failures.

KBB's 2025 cost-to-own model forecasts $33,406 depreciation leaving a $25,744 residual (~43.5% of base MSRP), while CarEdge's CLE 300 projection of a $34,432 residual on a $64,783 typical price is ~53%. Blended to ~47%, typical of German luxury coupes.

Mercedes-Benz USA's New Vehicle Limited Warranty is 4 years or 50,000 miles, on par with BMW and Audi and shorter than Genesis or Lexus.

Mercedes does not offer a longer powertrain warranty on gas models; the engine, 9G-TRONIC and 48V mild-hybrid system are covered only by the 4/50k NVLW, well short of Lexus (6/70k) or Genesis (10/100k).

Gas Mercedes models get no complimentary scheduled maintenance in the US (only Mercedes EVs get two years of included service); owners can prepay through Mercedes maintenance plans. Perks are limited to roadside assistance for the warranty period and a Mercedes me connect trial, trailing BMW's 3-yr/36k Ultimate Care and Lexus/Genesis programs.

$64,500 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (47% retained, or about $30,315) leaves about $34,185 in depreciation. Add the projected $6,500 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $40,685 in total.

2025 is the second model year of the C236 CLE (generation began 2024), a carry-over year. J.D. Power rates the 2025 CLE 83/100 ('Great') for quality & reliability. Consumer Reports has not published a predicted rating (NA), and the related W206 C-Class has scored below average with CR. Those mixed signals put it in the average band, slightly above the brand baseline. The coupe has no soft-top hardware, so it sits a touch above the convertible.

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.

Only one NHTSA campaign reaches the 2025 CLE Coupe: a cross-line infotainment control unit software update that fixes an instrument-cluster blank-out, remedied with a software flash. The 2024-only campaigns (door-lock and software/fuse issues) do not reach this model year. The record is 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 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. J.D. Power's strong quality score supports solid initial assembly. Owner complaints skew toward MBUX freezes and reboots rather than rattles or misalignment.

About 380 Mercedes-Benz retailers nationwide give it a denser network than BMW or Audi. J.D. Power rates the CLE's dealership experience 79/100, 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. Independent-shop and aftermarket support is thinner than for mainstream brands.

Every 2025 CLE has a standard 11.9-inch portrait center touchscreen, and no larger display is offered.

MBUX is quick and graphically sharp, and it learns routines and suggests actions. Reviewers do knock its menu layout, the climate controls living on the touchscreen, and the capacitive steering-wheel and door controls.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on every 2025 CLE trim.

The 'Hey Mercedes' natural-language assistant works without its wake phrase when the driver is alone. Native MBUX navigation is strong, and an augmented-reality camera view is available.

A 17-speaker, 710 W Burmester 3D system with Dolby Atmos and driver headrest speakers is standard, which is unusually generous for the class.

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

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

The Mercedes me app covers remote start, lock/unlock, locate and vehicle status. A phone-based Digital Key is available, but some services move to a paid subscription after the trial period.

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

Push-button start and remote start are standard, with KEYLESS-GO proximity entry, and a phone-as-key Digital Key is available. A coupe has no hands-free liftgate to consider.

A rear camera and front/rear parking sensors are standard. Sources disagree on the 360-degree camera: KBB lists surround view as standard, while dealer stickers place it in the Parking Package within the Pinnacle bundle. Active parking assist is optional.

A color head-up display is offered, but only in the top Pinnacle bundle, so it is not on the volume configuration.

It is a two-door 2+2, so every car-seat install or kid load means tilting a front seat forward. There are only two rear positions, and the 11.2 cu ft trunk leaves little room for a stroller.

Standard AEB, blind-spot assist and lane departure warning cover the basics. Neither NHTSA nor IIHS has crash-tested the CLE, and adaptive cruise and lane centering sit in the optional Driver Assistance Package.

The front seats and ride are excellent, but four-up trips are a squeeze. The rear seats suit adults only up to about 5'10", and an 11.2 cu ft trunk can't carry four people's luggage.

The smooth 48V mild hybrid, the composed ride and a quiet cabin make it a low-fatigue commuter, and standard 4MATIC handles bad weather. The touch-heavy controls and adaptive cruise being optional are minor drawbacks.

At 24/33/27 MPG it is reasonable for an AWD luxury coupe, but it requires premium fuel (about $3,000 a year on EPA estimates), and Mercedes maintenance is expensive.

At 191 in long and 73.3 in wide it is a large coupe, though its roughly 36.8 ft turning circle is reasonable. Thick rear pillars limit visibility, so it needs the camera and sensors to park with confidence.

It has no US tow rating, no bed and a small trunk, so it is not work-capable.

With a luxury interior and carpeted trunk, no fleet history and no hard-use variant, it is unsuited to work abuse.

It has no AC outlet, no factory hitch, no roof-rack provision and no upfit ecosystem.

It is an excellent two-up grand tourer, with a quiet cabin, a supple ride, supportive seats and about 470 mi of range (roughly 575 mi on the highway). DISTRONIC lane-centering assist is optional rather than standard.

Standard 4MATIC helps in snow and on gravel roads, but low ground clearance, summer or performance tires, and no roof rack or hitch keep it on pavement.

An 11.2 cu ft trunk with split-folding rear seatbacks takes golf bags or two carry-ons, but there are no roof rails and no hitch, so bulky gear is a struggle.

At nearly two tons the CLE 300 is sure-footed rather than sharp: secure, predictable and well controlled, but behind the BMW 4 Series for agility. Optional rear-axle steering helps it turn in.

The steering is light and accurate, firming sensibly off-center, but it is muted compared with the 4 Series.

Stopping power is adequate and consistent for a luxury GT. Cars.com criticizes the lack of pedal feel, and no instrumented CLE 300 70–0 figure was found.

The 48V integrated starter-generator makes stop/start nearly seamless, and the 9-speed shifts smoothly. The 2.0T is torquey and responsive.

The four-cylinder sounds coarse under load and at cold start, which jars with the car's elegance, though it is quiet at cruise.

A curb-to-curb diameter of about 11.2 m (36.8 ft) for the CLE 300 4MATIC is mid-band for coupes. MBUSA lists the figure as 'TBA', so it comes from third-party data.

The driving position is excellent and adjustable, but climate controls are touchscreen-only, the wheel and door controls are capacitive, and over-shoulder visibility is limited.

The CLE 300 is a pleasant, refined cruiser, but reviewers point enthusiasts to the six-cylinder CLE 450 or AMG CLE 53 for real excitement.

The $59,150 CLE 300 4MATIC comes standard with all-wheel drive, a 48V mild-hybrid powertrain, MBUX with an 11.9-in portrait touchscreen and 12.3-in digital cluster, a panoramic roof, LED headlights and heated power seats. Burmester audio, head-up display, ventilated seats and the full Driver Assistance suite sit in costly packages, so the equipment is competitive rather than generous.

The CLE starts several thousand dollars above a comparable BMW 4 Series ($51,170 for a 430i) and typical builds land in the mid-$60ks for a 255-hp four-cylinder. The CLE 450 ($68,600) and AMG CLE 53 ($75,450) give more performance per dollar, but the volume trim is fair value at best.

For 2025 the coupe spans three powertrain tiers, all 4MATIC: the CLE 300 turbo-four, the new-to-coupe CLE 450 inline-six mild hybrid, and the AMG CLE 53. AMG Line, Night and Premium/Pinnacle packages fill out the range, though there is no rear-drive or entry-price version.

The CLE absorbs the former C-Class and E-Class coupe buyers in a shrinking luxury-coupe segment. Its US volume is modest and trails the BMW 4 Series, a steady mid-pack result for a niche body style.

Mercedes-Benz is among the most aspirational luxury brands, and the CLE's styling is widely praised as more elegant than its BMW rival. The AMG CLE 53 lends the line a performance halo.

Mercedes-Benz Financial Services runs regular lease and APR programs on the CLE, and with the 2026 models arriving (at a $59,550 base plus a $1,350 destination charge), leftover 2025 inventory has drawn dealer discounts. Incentives are moderate rather than deep.

2025 is only the second model year of the all-new C236 CLE Coupe, which began production in October 2023 on Mercedes' current MRA2 platform with the latest MBUX. No redesign is near, and the range grew for 2025 with the CLE 450 and AMG CLE 53.

Reviewers praise the CLE's styling, cabin quality and refinement, but comparisons consistently rate the BMW 4 Series more engaging to drive, citing the CLE's muted steering. We found no major US award such as a Car and Driver 10Best or a NACTOY win.