You see them on the road, as shiny new models at a show or as a beloved classic in passing on a sunny Sunday. The Mercedes-Benz coupe is a unique lopass of the German automobile lopass and anything that many aspire to own.
Fans do not recognize this new CLE-Class nomenclature, as it is new territory for Mercedes-Benz.
This is the next bankruptcy in the brand’s long and storied history of elegant and modern coupe models, replacing the E-Class and C-Class coupes.
This new in-between model, which starts at just over $100,000 before on-road costs, serves as the gateway point into Mercedes’s reach-for-the-stars range of two-door delicacies.
Reach for the stars with the Mercedes-AMG GT priced at $366,500 before highway costs.
But let’s come back down towards earth for this review, and look at what Mercedes’s most budget-friendly coupe looks, feels and drives like.
With a starting value just above the six-figure threshold of $102,815 plus on-road prices, the CLE200 Coupe is more expensive than the old base C-Class Coupe ($79,200 plus on-road prices). on-road prices for the C200), but it costs $10,000. less expensive than the equivalent E200 coupe ($112,969).
And to get up to the price quotient here, the new Benz CLE-Class is longer and wider than the outgoing E-Class Coupe, and noticeably longer and wider than the C-Class Coupe.
The CLE200’s standard equipment is high-level, with parts like LED headlights and taillights, an AMG-Line external styling package and 19-inch black AMG wheels that edit road presence. the path
Inside, there is an 11. 9-inch infotainment screen, a 12. 3-inch virtual tool cluster, a head-up display and a sliding panoramic sunroof as equipment.
There’s a Burmester-branded audio formula with Dolby Atmos, ambient interior lighting, and heated, power-adjustable front seats.
In terms of pricing, the Mercedes-Benz CLE does feel a little costly against the likes of an Audi A5 45 TFSI ($90,815 plus on-roads) or even the gruntier, better equipped S5 for $119,215 plus on-road costs.
At BMW, the 430i M Sport ($109,700), or industrial external length for engine length, with the smaller but stronger M240i xDrive, which has 285kW/500Nm and costs $99,900 plus on-road prices.
Those who need a sportier coupe for around $100,000 also check out the Toyota Supra, Nissan Z, and Ford Mustang.
Perhaps an oddball choice would be the electric Polestar 4, which is classed a coupe, but blends four-door coupe styling, hatchback practicality, and higher-riding SUV stance.
With greater length and width at stake, the new Benz CLE has a clear advantage in terms of surface area over the smaller C-Class coupe.
But although the CLE is technically a four-seater vehicle, inside it has a two-plus-two configuration. This means that while there’s room for two (not three, by the way), it’s a little tight for legroom and headroom in the rear.
Adults may have compatibility here, but comfort will depend on the length of the legs of those in front. The visibility is also usually not wonderful and is only suitable for short getaways.
But of course it’s up front where the CLE200 impresses.
Because there is premium equipment included like in this Benz, entering the cabin adds a “wow” detail to your impressions. It’s well designed and offers the same combination of design, layout and fabrics that we’ve noticed in newer Mercedes-Benz products.
The combination of wood on the dashboard and glossy piano black blends well and plays into the completely dark and moody theme inside the vehicle. The switchgear feels smart and has a smart amount of storage space available in the center console’s two lidded storage spaces, plus cupholders of course.
The power outlets are hidden with the cup holders under the black piano panel, and I’m sure many cleaning enthusiasts will appreciate the fact that you can close everything to keep it clean and tidy.
Other chrome-like plastics look wonderful around door panels, handles, and air vents, but the addition of LED ambient lighting is cleverly executed to give the CLE200 a modern, eye-catching feel.
Not taking into account a sturdier all-wheel-drive powertrain, the only thing a more expensive CLE300 offers than a CLE200 is the addition of leather seats, which are distinct from the CLE200’s artificial leather.
But with a $2900 option ticked, we’ve been upgraded to the same level. And aside from features like heating, memory and ample electric adjustment on offer, the seats in the CLE200 with the upgraded materials are quite comfortable and well made. We did a driving stint of around two-and-a-half hours and came out without any issues to note.
Infotainment has been a strong suit of Mercedes-Benz for a while now, and that continues to be the case here. An 11.9-inch system is ample in terms of screen size, but the combination of features, menu navigation and ease-of-use rates highly here.
Most will likely dip straight into Apple CarPlay or Android Auto for all of their navigation and entertainment needs, but we’ve also got native navigation, AM/FM radio and digital radio to appease our needs.
It is possible to connect the other Mercedes Me app to your CLE Class, which provides you with information and remote control, but there is a fee for this service after the three-year free period.
Mercedes-Benz appears to have some vehicle apps available only through a subscription service, meaning it wants ongoing payments to use a given feature even if the hardware is installed in the car.
While many cars of the Mercedes variety have a published ANCAP safety score and five stars are the most popular in this regard, the CLE is currently not rated and no testing is conducted either through ANCAP in Australia or Euro NCAP overseas.
Standard safety equipment is aplenty in this CLE200, with nothing held over compared to more expensive variants. This includes all of the usual suspects like adaptive cruise control, autonomous braking, lane-keep assistance and blind-spot monitoring, but also has the added value of not getting in the way of everyday driving.
The technology is there and can be genuinely helpful if you have a slip-up behind the wheel (we’ve all had one, haven’t we?), but the systems are finely tuned in a manner to not interrupt your normal attentive and thoroughly safe driving situations.
Service fees for the Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class are capped at $3,325 for 3 years or $6,800 for five years. Mercedes offers them as part of prepaid plans and is the same across the Mercedes-Benz CLE line.
Remember, the hardware between CLE200 and CLE300 is necessarily the same. While the number style has all-wheel drive, more power and torque is achieved with the same base 2. 0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine.
Insurance for a 2025 Mercedes CLE200 is set at $3,206 per year, according to an online quote generator. This is based on a 35 year old man living in Chatswood, New South Wales. Insurance estimates may vary depending on your location, driving history and personal circumstances.
With the help of a smooth 48-volt hybrid system, this coupe’s 2. 0-liter M254 engine is a powerful engine. A demand of only 7. 2 litres per hundred kilometres is impressive, yet our driving conditions in the city, highway and busiest regions saw a consistent increase of 9. 0 l/hundred km.
For what it’s worth, opting for the more expensive CLE300 with the higher-powered edition of the same engine, 190kW/400Nm instead of 150kW/320Nm, gets a top average of 7. 4L/100km.
In this CLE200 variant of Mercedes’s swooping coupe, you get a driving experience that is competent and refined, but also not exciting. In this case, it’s a car that’s destined for those who don’t see themselves as keen enthusiasts.
The CLE gets a harder tuning with the same basic motor as the CLE300, but the 150 kW and 320 Nm in this case are enough, but not much.
The nature of the engine, which doesn’t develop a raucous amount of power density, is quite demure overall. It’s refined and well behaved, with enough grunt for a little bit of nippy driving.
But at the same time, it would be disappointing for those who need a bit of a tough side.
The 17kW and 205Nm outputs from the belt alternator starter, which is fed from the 48-volt mild hybrid system, do help a little in terms of forward motivation. But like most other applications of this technology, this is all about improving efficiency and reducing emissions.
Driving this CLE200 you can feel that the chassis is capable of handling much more force and torque than what we have here. That’s 84 kW per tonne for a claimed curb mass of 1,782 kg, which is decent for a sporty car.
Numbers and specifications aside, the driving experience of this CLE200 is not sporty. This is due to the linear and non-explosive transmission of power through the revolutions, a fairly low maximum rev range and a subtle soundtrack.
On the more positive side, the car remains composed and solid in almost any scenario it finds itself in. It’s balanced and subtle thanks to the steering wheel and offers plenty of driving functions to explore. But for willing drivers, they will have to accelerate 100 percent to get dynamic movement.
Another strong point of the CLE is the ride quality, which is occasionally smart and adequate for city, highway and highway driving. This reinforces the CLE200’s strength as a smart-looking passenger vehicle, rather than a dynamic package.
Not many people have a Mercedes-Benz Coupe as a regular towing option, but the maximum braked towing capacity of 1,800kg is strangely generous.
Provided that the trailer has its own form of braking system, you can get away with a decently sized trailer behind your car – if you’re so inclined.
The main attraction of the CLE200 is the aesthetics, whether when you look at it from the outside or when you dive inside. Take a look at the component and it will be an attractive option for those who aspire to get a stylish two-door passenger vehicle dressed in a three-pointed star.
It’s comfortable and refined, and it’s packed with impressive and functional technology. For those who need a fancy tank for weekend road trips and a comfortable two-plus-two driver, overall it feels pretty smart.
Those without extra oomph, whether through functionality or soulful emotion, will have to dig deeper into a CLE300, which delivers more muscle and all-wheel drive.
Costing just over a hundred thousand dollars plus on-road costs has its appeal, but the CLE200 does have some compelling competition to consider. The BMW 430i and Audi A5 would need to be considered, along with other sporty coupes like the Toyota Supra, Nissan Z and Ford Mustang.
For those who don’t value big hits of straight-line performance and an accompanying aural orchestra, then the Mercedes-Benz CLE200 is more car in terms of spec, comfort, features and appeal than you’ll probably ever need.
It’s certainly fun to drive, but those who need a little more motivation under the hood would weigh the roughly $20,000 jump to the CLE300.
The next step in the shopping adventure is to check the Mercedes-Benz inventory of your favorite Mercedes-Benz variant. You can also locate Mercedes-Benz cars for sale on Drive Marketplace.
We strongly recommend taking a trial run at a brokerage before committing, as private wishes and tastes may differ. Find your nearest Mercedes-Benz broker here. We also suggest looking at the Audi S5, which is available for the same price but offers higher levels of performance.
If you want to stay updated with everything that’s happened to this car since our review, you’ll find all the latest news here.
Performance
6. 5
Safety Technology
7. 5
Driving quality
8.0
Infotainment and connectivity
8. 0
Handling & Dynamics
7.5
Energy Efficiency
8. 0
Driver Technology
8. 0
Value for Money
7.0
Interior comfort and packaging.
8.0
Fit for purpose
8. 0
All-terrain editor