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.
