2026 Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupe

Volume trim CLE 300 4MATIC uses the M254 2.0L turbo I4 with 48V mild hybrid rated at 255 hp; range tops out with the AMG CLE 63 S E Performance PHEV.

CLE 300 4MATIC produces 295 lb-ft from the 2.0T with additional brief EQ Boost torque; CLE 450 and AMG variants scale up significantly.

Manufacturer 0–60 mph claim for the CLE 300 4MATIC is 6.2 s; brisk but not quick by luxury coupe norms — the CLE 450 and AMG variants are substantially faster.

48V mild-hybrid ISG smooths stop-start and low-load transitions, and torque fill masks turbo lag well, but the M254 four-cylinder lacks the silky character of the CLE 450's turbo I6 and can sound coarse under hard throttle.

Mercedes' 9G-TRONIC 9-speed automatic is well-calibrated with smooth, decisive shifts in normal driving; occasional busyness at low speed but no notable hunting or harshness.

4MATIC all-wheel drive is standard on every CLE Coupe sold in the US (CLE 300, CLE 450, AMG CLE 53, AMG CLE 63) — no RWD-only trim to buy around.

Three distinct mild-hybrid gas powertrains (2.0T I4, 3.0T I6, AMG-tuned 3.0T I6) plus the AMG CLE 63 S E Performance PHEV; no pure EV variant and no non-AMG PHEV, but electrified content is present across the range.

EPA-rated 27 MPG combined for the volume CLE 300 4MATIC Coupe; CLE 450 4MATIC drops to 26 combined. Mild-hybrid 2.0T with 9G-Tronic and standard AWD keeps combined figures modest for a luxury coupe.

EPA city rating for the CLE 300 4MATIC (volume trim). CLE 450 4MATIC drops to 23 city. AWD-only US lineup and premium-fuel turbo plus mild-hybrid architecture keep city MPG modest.

EPA highway rating for the volume CLE 300 4MATIC Coupe; CLE 450 4MATIC also lands at 33 mpg highway thanks to the smoother 3.0L I6 mild-hybrid cruising cycle.

Total range derived from EPA combined MPG and the CLE's 17.4-gallon fuel tank. Solid GT touring range but well short of hybrid coupes like the Lexus LC/RC that stretch tanks further.

Derived from EPA 15,000-mi assumption at 27 combined MPG (~556 gal/yr) times the 2026 Fuel Economy Guide premium price of $5.14/gal, ~$2,855. Sits at the very top (worst) of the coupe segment's 600-2800 $/yr band.

Both CLE 300 and CLE 450 require premium unleaded (91 octane min). No regular/E85/diesel flexibility; no home-charging option since no PHEV/EV variant is offered. Ownership cost penalty vs regular-fuel rivals is meaningful.

NHTSA has not published overall crash-test results for the C236 CLE Coupe. Inferred at 5 stars based on shared MRA2 platform with the W206 C-Class (which shares crash structure and restraints) and Mercedes-Benz's typical strong NHTSA performance across recent sedans.

IIHS has not individually crash-tested the 2024-2026 CLE Coupe — a common outcome for low-volume luxury 2-doors. Structure is closely related to the W206 C-Class (which earns TSP+ with Good small-overlap, moderate-overlap, and side results), so crashworthiness is expected to be strong, but the missing award and unverified rear-passenger updated moderate-overlap outcome (which recently pulled the E-Class down) keeps this in the mostly-Good-inferred band rather than TSP+ territory.

Standard on every CLE Coupe: Active Brake Assist (AEB with pedestrian detection), Blind Spot Assist with Exit Warning, Attention Assist, PRE-SAFE, and PARKTRONIC with Active Parking Assist. Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC (adaptive cruise), Active Steering Assist / lane centering, Active Blind Spot Assist with braking, rear cross-traffic, and the 360-degree camera all still require the extra-cost Driver Assistance Package on the volume CLE 300 4MATIC trim.

The CLE Coupe carries the same latest-generation Active Brake Assist stack — with turning/cross-traffic function available in the Driver Assistance Package — that earned Superior day/night vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian ratings on the closely related W206 C-Class and 2026 E-Class. AEB should perform at that level in real-world use; the absence of a direct IIHS test of the CLE nudges confidence and the score slightly below the tested siblings.

Blind Spot Assist and Exit Warning are standard on every CLE Coupe. The Driver Assistance Package upgrades to Active Blind Spot Assist with braking intervention and adds rear cross-traffic alert with braking. Full coverage when optioned; alert-only at base.

Active Steering Assist via the Driver Assistance Package delivers the same smooth, well-integrated lane centering reviewers praise on the C-Class and E-Class, complete with route-based curve prediction. Base trim gets lane departure warning only.

Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC provides full-range adaptive cruise with stop-and-go and Route-Based Speed Adaptation that reads speed limits, curves, and roundabouts. Reviewers describe smooth acceleration/deceleration and natural following behavior; the only knock is that it requires the optional Driver Assistance Package rather than being standard.

Mercedes' Level 3 Drive Pilot hands-free system is restricted to the S-Class and EQS in California and Nevada — it is not offered on the CLE Coupe. The Driver Assistance Package on the CLE is hands-on only, with driver-attention monitoring via Attention Assist.

Standard LED High Performance headlights are shared with the C-Class (which IIHS rates Good for forward visibility); Digital Light headlights with high-resolution beam patterning are optional. Not individually IIHS-rated on the CLE, so confidence is medium and the score sits just below the C-Class's tested 82.

The CLE's coupe roofline pays a real visibility tax versus the C-Class sedan: sharply sloping C-pillars, a shallow rear window, and pillarless doors that swap thin B-pillars for thick rear quarters produce noticeable rear-quarter blind zones and a small backup view. Standard Blind Spot Assist and Reversing Camera help; the 360-degree Surround View camera is optional (Parking Package) rather than standard.

Two-door coupe geometry is the limiting factor: the CLE has only two rear seating positions with two lower LATCH anchors and two top tethers, and installing/removing a child seat requires tilting and sliding a heavy front seat then working through a low door opening. Anchors themselves are Mercedes-typical (accessible under seat-back flaps), but the access penalty versus the C-Class sedan is real.

CLE Coupe is a strict 2+2 with two front buckets and a two-seat rear bench — 4 total, bottom of the coupe segment band (4–5).

Front headroom of 40.3 in tops the coupe normalization band (36–40) despite the low-slung roofline.

Front legroom of 42.1 in sits mid-band for coupes (40–44).

Rear headroom of 36.0 in sits near the bottom of the coupe band (35–39) — tight rear seat under the fastback roofline.

Rear legroom of 34.2 in is near the bottom of the coupe band (32–42) — 2+2 with short-trip rear space at best for adults.

Trunk of 14.8 cu ft sits mid-to-upper coupe band (10–20) — 2.2 cu ft larger than the C-Class sedan's trunk, and rear seatbacks fold for longer items.

Competitive luxury-coupe storage — center console bin, door pockets, MBUX-integrated wireless charging pad, and split-fold rear seats — but nothing standout for the segment (no clever underfloor bins or onboard power stations).

Multi-way power front seats with wide adjustment range and optional multicontour/massage seats are widely praised for long-haul comfort; rear bench is comfortable within its 2+2 constraints.

Compliant, well-damped ride that soaks up broken pavement while keeping body control tidy in corners — plush end of the luxury-coupe segment.

Reviews describe a library-quiet highway cruise with minimal wind and road noise thanks to generous sound deadening and (on higher trims) acoustic glass.

Standard heated power front seats with memory and dual-zone auto climate; optional ventilated seats, multicontour with massage, and heated steering wheel. Deep comfort catalog but ventilation/massage/heated wheel sit in option packages rather than being standard.

The CLE 300 4MATIC Coupe is the entry point (Mercedes consolidated the C-Class and E-Class coupes into a single CLE model in 2024). 2026 MSRP reflects a small model-year bump over the 2025 base of ~$56,900 + destination.

The volume build is the CLE 300 4MATIC (~$58,200) fitted with the Premium Package (heated seats, keyless-go, digital light headlamps, memory pkg) and Driver Assistance Package — the two most-selected option groups per Mercedes configurator data. Buyers who want the CLE 450 with I6 mild-hybrid push north of $70,000.

Mercedes-Benz dealer labor rates, premium parts (AIRMATIC/adaptive dampers where fitted, 4MATIC service, MBUX modules), and turbocharged I4/I6 mild-hybrid servicing push 5-year maintenance and out-of-warranty repair to the top of the coupe segment band. Years 4-5 in particular (brake fluid, tire replacement, potential 48V ISG/EQ Boost belt tensioner service) carry the total above BMW 4 Series levels.

Mercedes-Benz mid-size luxury coupes depreciate faster than Japanese luxury peers (Lexus RC/LC) because heavily-optioned MSRPs don't hold up on the used market and the coupe body style has softer resale than the C-Class sedan sibling. Consolidation of C/E coupes into the CLE may hurt residuals in the short term as the used market absorbs both prior nameplates.

Mercedes-Benz's New Vehicle Limited Warranty is 4 years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. Standard among German luxury; matches BMW and Audi, shorter than Genesis (5/60k).

Mercedes-Benz does not publish a separate extended powertrain warranty for gas models; the powertrain is covered under the same 4-yr/50k New Vehicle Limited Warranty. Well below segment leaders (Hyundai/Kia/Genesis 10-yr/100k). The 48V ISG mild-hybrid components are also covered under the standard warranty.

Mercedes-Benz discontinued its complimentary scheduled maintenance program for US-market gas models years ago — CLE buyers get only the first service visit (Service A at ~10,000 miles) included on some builds and dealer-dependent goodwill thereafter. Roadside assistance runs 4 years/unlimited miles alongside the NVLW, and the mbrace connected-services trial provides 3 years of remote access/geofencing/vehicle status. Falls well short of BMW's 3-yr/36k Ultimate Care and Genesis's 3-yr/36k program.

$63,500 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (44% retained, or about $27,940) leaves about $35,560 in depreciation. Add the projected $9,800 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $45,360 in total.

The C236 CLE Coupe launched for MY2024 and shares the W206 C-Class platform and M254/48V mild-hybrid powertrain, which Consumer Reports has rated below-average for predicted reliability. Small sample size on the CLE specifically, but the shared electronics, MBUX, and 48V complexity carry the same risk signature. Slight bump vs C-Class (62) reflects the CLE being newer and thus not yet accumulating the C-Class's owner-reported issue history.

Mercedes-Benz consistently sits in the lower half of J.D. Power VDS and Consumer Reports brand rankings — not bottom-tier but well behind Lexus, Toyota, and even BMW in recent years. Same brand baseline as the C-Class and E-Class in the CarScore dataset.

CLE Coupe (2024-2025) has picked up typical new-model recalls covering the 48V ISG/electrical system, eCall software, and small airbag/seatbelt component checks — pattern similar to the W206 C-Class but with fewer accumulated campaigns given the CLE's shorter time on market. No fire, powertrain-failure, or major safety-system recalls to date.

CLE 300 4MATIC (volume trim) uses the M254 2.0T I4 with 48V integrated starter-generator — newer engine family, ~4 years in production, no widespread failure patterns but mild-hybrid complexity is the main hedge. Optional CLE 450 4MATIC's M256 3.0L I6 with 48V is a well-established powertrain with a solid high-mileage record since 2018. The 9G-Tronic 9-speed automatic is proven and mature.

The CLE cabin borrows heavily from the C-Class and E-Class: MBUX 11.9-inch portrait touchscreen, Nappa leather availability, open-pore wood or aluminum trim, ambient lighting, and premium switchgear. Reviewers consistently cite it as class-leading among luxury coupes, matching or exceeding the BMW 4 Series and Audi A5 on tactile richness.

Assembly at Mercedes' Bremen plant delivers tight panel gaps, consistent trim alignment, and premium tactile feel — same standard as the W206 C-Class. Early CLE units have surfaced a handful of MBUX freeze/reboot complaints but mechanical fit-and-finish is consistently strong in reviewer testing.

~380 Mercedes-Benz dealers across all 50 US states — denser than BMW (~340) and Audi (~300), covers all major metros and most secondary markets. Luxury service satisfaction sits mid-pack in J.D. Power CSI (Luxury), behind Lexus and Cadillac.

Mercedes parts are among the most expensive in the industry and largely dealer-sourced. The CLE inherits the C-Class/E-Class electronics (48V system, MBUX portrait screen, optional adaptive dampers) that drive out-of-warranty repair spend well above mainstream coupes. Independent-shop aftermarket exists but is thinner than for domestic or Japanese brands.

The CLE Coupe carries the same 11.9-inch portrait central touchscreen as the W206 C-Class it derives from, running MBUX 2nd gen. Standard on every trim including the AMG CLE 53; no larger display is offered.

MBUX 2nd gen shares the C-Class UX — sharp graphics and quick response, but reviewers criticize deep menus and the near-total elimination of physical climate controls (climate lives inside the touchscreen). BMW 4 Series iDrive 9 is easier to live with day-to-day.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto are standard on every 2026 CLE Coupe trim, paired with a wireless smartphone charging tray in the center console.

Hey Mercedes natural-language assistant handles conversational commands well and MBUX Navigation with Augmented Video (real-time street overlays on the center screen) is among the best factory nav in the luxury coupe segment. Trails the newer MB.OS voice stack on the CLA (which adds ChatGPT and Gemini).

Optional Burmester 3D Surround Sound System (17-speaker, ~710 W) is available across trims and is class-leading in the luxury coupe segment. Standard audio is competent for the tier.

12.3-inch fully digital driver display is standard on every 2026 CLE Coupe trim with multiple configurable views (Classic, Sport, Discreet, Assistance, Service, Navigation). On par with BMW 4 Series and larger than the CLA's cluster.

MBUX 2nd gen on the CLE Coupe supports over-the-air infotainment/maps updates and certain feature packs, but does not receive the whole-vehicle/driver-assist OTA scope that Mercedes' new MB.OS platform brings to the 2026 CLA. Solid mid-tier OTA capability.

Mercedes me connect app provides remote start, lock/unlock, locate, and vehicle status, plus a UWB Digital Key option that turns a compatible iPhone or Apple Watch into the key. Extended remote services move to paid subscription after the initial trial.

Two front USB-C data/power ports plus two rear USB-C ports and a wireless charging pad in the center console are standard. No household AC outlet. Rear accessibility is inherently constrained by the 2+2 coupe layout, but port count is respectable.

KEYLESS-GO proximity entry with push-button start is standard, and UWB Digital Key allows a compatible smartphone or Apple Watch to lock/unlock and start the car on equipped configurations. Coupe body means no hands-free liftgate, but frunkless/trunk-only layout is expected here.

Rear camera and front/rear parking sensors are standard. The 360-degree surround-view camera with Parking Assist arrives via the Parking Package rather than being standard, keeping the CLE a step behind BMW 4 Series on standard 360 view.

A full-color head-up display is offered via the Premium package on the CLE Coupe — available but not standard. It is large, informative, and includes navigation prompts; augmented-reality nav elements appear on the center screen rather than the HUD.

Two-door 2+2 with only two rear seating positions and two lower LATCH anchors, plus a fastback roofline that shrinks the door aperture. Rear legroom of 34.2 in is marginally better than the 4 Series and power-slide/tilt front seats help access, but daily kid loading still requires tipping a front seat every time — regularly frustrating for family duty.

Standard Active Brake Assist (AEB with pedestrian), Blind Spot Assist with Exit Warning, Attention Assist and PRE-SAFE cover the basics on every trim, but adaptive cruise, active lane centering and rear cross-traffic still require the extra-cost Driver Assistance Package. IIHS has not individually tested the CLE and NHTSA has no published overall rating, though the shared W206 C-Class platform earns Top Safety Pick+.

14.8 cu-ft trunk is bigger than the 4 Series and split-fold rear seatbacks help with skis/long items, but 36.0 in rear headroom under the fastback roofline plus 34.2 in rear legroom make four-up multi-hour trips a squeeze. No rear-seat climate vents on the volume CLE 300, and the rear bench is a two-person 2+2 only.

Refined 2.0T mild-hybrid with 9G-Tronic, well-damped ride (cat4 ride 85), library-quiet cabin (cat4 quietness 88), plush multi-adjustable front seats, and MBUX 3-gen infotainment add up to a low-fatigue daily driver. Standard 4MATIC AWD removes weather anxiety. Only knocks are that DISTRONIC lane centering is optional and the low seating position hurts city visibility.

24/33/27 mpg city/hwy/combined on the volume CLE 300 4MATIC — respectable but AWD-only and premium-fuel required, giving a ~$2,850/yr EPA fuel cost. Mercedes-Benz labor rates and parts pricing, no complimentary factory maintenance, and 5-yr service/repair estimates around $9,800 push per-mile running costs above mainstream commuters and just below the 4 Series (which offers RWD).

At ~191 in long and ~74 in wide the CLE is longer and wider than the BMW 4 Series and turning circle sits around 37-38 ft. Standard reversing camera helps, but the 360-degree Surround View camera and active parking assist live in the optional Parking Package, and cat3 flagged compromised rear-quarter visibility (rated 60). Manageable in the city with camera help; not petite.

Not rated for towing in the US market, no bed, no published payload, and a 14.8 cu-ft trunk. Zero meaningful work capability — a slightly bigger trunk than the 4 Series is the only edge.

Luxury interior with leather/MB-Tex surfaces, carpeted trunk, and no wash-out provisions. M254/M256 mild-hybrid drivetrains should be durable in normal service, but the CLE has no fleet reputation and no work-oriented variant — Mercedes-Benz does not offer a hard-use configuration of the coupe.

No 120V cargo outlet, no factory trailer hitch, no roof-rack system for the coupe body, and no upfit ecosystem. Essentially zero work-oriented provisions.

Class-leading cabin quietness (88 in cat4), 85-rated ride, deeply adjustable front seats (optional multicontour/massage), and a 17.4-gal tank yielding ~470 mi combined / ~575 mi highway range make the CLE a strong two-up tourer. DISTRONIC adaptive cruise with route-based speed adaptation reduces highway fatigue when the Driver Assistance Package is checked. Coupe roofline still limits four-up endurance.

4MATIC AWD is standard on every US CLE — a real advantage for snow and light gravel over the 4 Series where xDrive is optional. But ground clearance is very low (~4.7 in), performance tires are standard, and there's no factory roof rack or trailer hitch. Fine as a snow-belt commuter; not a genuine adventure enabler.

14.8 cu-ft trunk is 2.8 cu ft larger than the 4 Series and split-fold rear seatbacks open up ski/board pass-through, but the small coupe trunk aperture, no roof rails or factory rack for the coupe body, and no factory hitch cap real bulky-gear flexibility.

The CLE Coupe rides on a stretched W206 C-Class platform with standard 4MATIC AWD; reviewers describe it as composed, planted, and grippy — a GT-flavored coupe that trades ultimate agility for comfort and stability. Optional rear-axle steering sharpens response but the CLE remains a step behind the BMW 4 Series and lighter sports coupes for outright darting ability.

Mercedes' electric power steering in the CLE is accurate, linear, and well-weighted around center but delivers little road-surface feedback — a consistent knock against current-gen Mercedes coupes and sedans versus BMW's more communicative rack.

Firm, linear pedal with consistent bite and no fade concerns; instrumented 70-mph stops for the closely related C-Class and CLE 450 land in the low-to-mid 160-ft range on all-seasons, competitive for the segment without matching the top luxury-coupe efforts.

The 48V EQ Boost integrated starter-generator smooths stop/start, restarts, and low-load transitions in the volume CLE 300 4MATIC, and the 9G-Tronic is decisive under normal driving; however reviewers still flag brief off-the-line hesitation before the M254 turbo-four spools. The CLE 450's inline-six is markedly smoother than the four.

The volume M254 2.0L turbo four sounds coarse and buzzy under load — a criticism reviewers repeatedly level at the shared C-Class powertrain — while the optional CLE 450's turbocharged inline-six is far more cultured. Cabin isolation at cruise is otherwise excellent.

Mercedes-Benz USA lists a curb-to-curb turning diameter of approximately 11.8 m (~38.7 ft) for the CLE 300 4MATIC — a longer wheelbase than the C-Class sedan makes it noticeably less maneuverable in tight spaces.

Excellent multi-way power sport seats with generous adjustment range and a well-placed steering column deliver a natural coupe driving position; over-shoulder visibility is limited by thick C-pillars and the MBUX portrait touchscreen buries HVAC and many secondary functions in menus, drawing the usual ergonomic criticism.

In CLE 300 4MATIC volume-trim form the CLE Coupe is a pleasant, easygoing GT rather than a sharp driver's coupe — enthusiast outlets recommend the CLE 450's six-cylinder for more character or an AMG CLE 53/63 for genuine engagement, positioning the base CLE just behind the BMW 4 Series for outright driver appeal.

CLE 300 4MATIC starts around $58K and includes MBUX with dual displays, panoramic roof, LED headlights, and heated front seats, but ventilated seats, Burmester audio, head-up display, and driver-assist bundles remain optional in packages that push price meaningfully higher. Competitive equipment for the class but not loaded like the Lexus RC.

As-tested prices climb quickly past $70K on CLE 450 and above $85K on AMG CLE 53, and most content beyond the base package requires stacking Mercedes' package hierarchy. Luxury Coupe segment is inherently premium-priced, but rival BMW 4 Series is generally seen as offering more sport-per-dollar and Lexus RC undercuts on total content cost.

Three coupe powertrain tiers (CLE 300 4MATIC turbo-four, CLE 450 4MATIC I6 mild-hybrid, AMG CLE 53 4MATIC+) plus AMG Line and Night Package appearance options provide meaningful breadth from entry-luxury to performance. AMG CLE 63 rumored but not confirmed for 2026 US.

Luxury coupe segment is shrinking as buyers shift to SUVs, and CLE consolidates former C-Coupe and E-Coupe volumes but total US volume remains modest and trails the BMW 4 Series. Steady mid-pack in a niche category.

Mercedes-Benz remains a top-tier aspirational luxury brand with strong global cachet, and the three-pointed-star badge continues to command a resale and image premium. AMG halo further lifts the CLE line.

Mercedes historically maintains price discipline but supports the CLE with attractive lease programs and Mercedes-Benz Financial Services offers; modest cash incentives appear on year-end or aging inventory. Not the discount bonanza of a slow-selling volume brand, but reasonable buyer leverage.

CLE Coupe launched as an all-new model for the 2024 model year, replacing the C-Class Coupe and E-Class Coupe on the current MRA platform with the latest MBUX generation. Only entering its third model year for 2026 — well within its fresh window with no imminent redesign.

Reviews from Car and Driver, MotorTrend, and Edmunds have been generally positive — praising the design, cabin execution, and I6 refinement — while comparison tests still frequently give the sharper-handling BMW 4 Series the edge. No major awards like Car and Driver 10Best or NACTOY.