2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE Price and Release Date – Find the best Mercedes-Benz CLE deals!
Photo: Mark Takahashi
The CLE coupes are already arriving in Mercedes dealerships, with the CLE 300 4Matic starting at $57,650, including the $1,150 destination charge. It has a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque paired with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system that adds up to 23 hp and 151 pound-feet. A nine-speed automatic transmission and Mercedes’ 4Matic all-wheel-drive system are standard.
The CLE 450 4Matic coupe starts at $66,800 and upgrades to a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder that’s good for 375 hp and 369 pound-feet and benefits from the same hybrid boost as the CLE 300.
The cabriolet versions of the CLE 300 4Matic and CLE 450 4Matic will arrive in the spring of 2024. The CLE 300 Cabriolet starts at $65,500, while the CLE 450 Cabriolet costs quite a bit more, starting at $75,000.
The AMG CLE 53 Coupe will debut in the summer of 2024, but Mercedes has yet to announce pricing. Output from the six-cylinder in the AMG version increases to 443 hp and 413 pound-feet of torque. A new electric auxiliary turbo compressor increases boost for 10 seconds, delivering up to 443 pound-feet of torque in addition to the extra power from the hybrid system.
I drove both the CLE 450 4Matic Cabriolet and the AMG CLE 53 Coupe for several hundred miles on various roads and left with very favorable impressions.
Independent Expert Opinion: Design, Comfort, and Utility – Find the best Mercedes-Benz CLE deals!
Photo: Mark Takahashi
The 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE doesn’t break any new ground stylistically. From most angles, it looks very similar to the existing C-Class, though the back features a black plastic element joining the taillights.
The AMG CLE 53 Coupe enhances the exterior with a more pronounced grille and rounded bodywork surrounding it. The hood is more muscular, with a heat-extraction vent adding flair. More significantly, the AMG model increases its width with flared fenders that envelop the wider tires. It’s 3 inches wider in the rear and 2.3 inches wider up front, making for a much more athletic stance.
The CLE’s interior also mimics the C-Class’s design, with a wide dashboard that channels gracefully into the center console. A digital instrument panel and 11.9-inch central infotainment touchscreen look more like afterthoughts, mounted more like separate tablets rather than integrated into the dashboard.
The AMG CLE 53 Coupe dresses up the cabin with sport seats featuring deep side bolsters to keep you in place. Faux suede upholstery inserts and contrasting red stitching add a racier attitude, as does a flat-bottomed sport steering wheel.
Both the standard CLE front seats and the AMG’s sport seats provide ample comfort for long trips, though the AMG’s side bolsters may be confining for wider passengers. They also interfere with my elbows, forcing me to move the steering wheel a bit more forward than I preferred. Available seat ventilation and massage functions further reduce fatigue, and a special reflective coating on the Cabriolet’s leather upholstery keeps them cool.
The Cabriolet impressively reduces buffeting thanks to improvements made to Mercedes’ Aircap wind deflectors. A mesh screen rises from behind the rear headrests and a thin spoiler emerges from the top of the windscreen, channeling the airflow around the passenger space. At highway speeds, you can still maintain a conversation in hushed tones.
With the top up, the multi-layer roof eliminates wind noise, and creaks are nonexistent. The mechanism deploys or stows in 20 seconds and operates at speeds up to 37 mph.
It’s a tight squeeze in the coupe or with the top up to access the rear seats, but there’s enough room to fit two average-sized adults. At 5 feet 10 inches, my head bumps into the headliner, but my legroom is adequate. The seatbacks fold to provide a narrow pass-through in the Cabriolets. This could be helpful since trunk space is limited to only 13.6 cubic feet of capacity or 10.4 cubic feet with the top down. The coupes can hold as much as 14.8 cubic feet.
For smaller items, a rubberized wireless charging pad keeps your phone secure. Moderately sized cupholders, bins, and door pockets should be able to accommodate the rest of your personal effects, but they’re not particularly generous.
Independent Expert Opinion: Driving the 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE – Find the best Mercedes-Benz CLE deals!
Photo: Mark Takahashi
The CLE 450 4Matic Cabriolet I drove should easily satisfy a wide swath of drivers. It demands little effort and remains comfortable in any situation, making it an excellent drop-top tourer. Power is plentiful when merging onto a flowing highway or passing slower traffic.
On winding roads, the CLE is composed and confident but doesn’t encourage sporty driving past a certain point. Instead, Mercedes tuned the suspension for compliance and a smooth ride, which it delivers in excess. It’s a wonderful way to see the scenery in calming luxury, and I ended that drive feeling relaxed and mellow.
I count myself among the minority of drivers who desire more performance, and the AMG CLE 53 Coupe proved satisfying. In addition to a noticeable bump in power, the louder engine and exhaust add some excitement. That said, handling is where the AMG distinguishes itself, allowing me to charge through curves with sporty aggression.
Thankfully, this doesn’t come at the expense of ride comfort. While the AMG has firmer tuning, the suspension smooths over road imperfections to keep them from feeling harsh. Selecting the sport drive modes sharpens throttle response and stiffens the suspension but doesn’t fundamentally change the CLE’s character.
Independent Expert Opinion of the 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE – Find the best Mercedes-Benz CLE deals!
You can’t do much better for comfortable luxury touring than the 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE. The Cabriolet models are a joy to drive, and you won’t find this kind of interior refinement or convenience anywhere close to its price.
The BMW 4 Series is similarly priced and is tuned more for spirited drivers, but you’ll have to sacrifice some ride comfort and interior opulence. The AMG CLE 53 isn’t as reactive or inspiring to drive as the M4, but it is a worthy alternative to the M440i xDrive model.
Audi‘s aging A5 and S5 convertibles have neither the comparable performance nor interior refinement of the BMW or Benz, but they are more affordable. If you’re seeking an even more luxurious or athletic alternative, you’d have to greatly increase your budget to step up to a BMW 8 Series, Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, or Porsche 911. Graduating to more exotic choices from Aston Martin, Bentley, or Maserati will set you back even more.
Whether you fall toward either end of the luxury or performance spectrum, you’d do well to consider the 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE for its well-rounded set of skills and overall quality. In its dwindling segment of coupes and convertibles, it’s the leader in comfort, technology, and overall excellence.
Mark Takahashi has been in automotive publishing for over two decades, contributing detailed written and video reviews for Edmunds, Car and Driver, Autoblog, CarGurus, and Capital One. His portfolio includes everything from affordable economy hatchbacks to otherworldly exotic sports cars and everything in between.
