The 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE is a gem among the few remaining luxury coupes in today's market. It's very comfortable and boasts an elegant cabin with top-notch tech. The CLE isn't as athletic as other coupes out there, but it offers plenty of power. Although the CLE is pricey, it's one of the best luxury two-doors you can buy.Read full review
Michael Cantu has worked in the automotive industry since 2014. He has written over 800 car-related articles and tested and reviewed over 100 vehicles over the course of his career. Michael is a contributor at Edmunds and has also contributed to MotorTrend, Digital Trends and InsideEVs. Michael was featured on a few InsideEVs YouTube channel videos on the topic of electric vehicles. Michael was a MotorTrend Car of the Year judge for 2019 and was a driver in MotorTrend's World's Greatest Drag Races 7 & 8.
Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at Edmunds in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at Edmunds and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.
Pros
Optional smooth, powerful and silent inline six-cylinder
Standard all-wheel drive across the lineup
Easy on the eyes inside and out
Cons
Costly engine is required to make it fun
More relaxed canyon cruiser than back-road athlete
Some interior finishes miss the mark in this price range
What's new
AMG CLE 53 Cabriolet arrives for 2025
Part of the first CLE generation introduced for 2024
Overview
You might not have heard of the CLE because it's one of Mercedes' newest models. Introduced last year, the CLE is available as a coupe or convertible and replaces the C-Class and E-Class coupe and convertible models that are no longer offered. The only other two-door models Mercedes makes are the expensive AMG GT coupe and SL convertible. The CLE's good looks, comfort, sporty driving dynamics and impressive tech features should please anyone shopping for a two-door luxury car and could even sway some shopping for a four-door. For 2025, Mercedes expands the CLE lineup with the addition of the new AMG CLE 53 Cabriolet.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE CLE 300 4MATIC 2dr Coupe AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 9A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.43 per gallon for premium unleaded in Illinois.
As you'll see in the Competitors section below, the BMW 4 Series is the CLE's only notable rival left in 2025. So saying the CLE is the best small luxury coupe and convertible — which it is — might not sound impressive. But what's impressive is the fact that it's one of the best small luxury cars you can buy, two- or four-door. If you don't need the practicality or space of a sedan, you'd likely enjoy owning the CLE more than a C-Class or E-Class. It's sharper-looking and more enjoyable to drive while offering the comfort, luxury and tech of its four-door siblings. It's hard to beat the CLE when it comes to luxury cruising, but if you need the space, stick to a sedan.
Competitors to consider
The number of small luxury coupes and convertibles has dwindled to just a few choices. The BMW 4 Series is worth a look if you want sharper handling and rear-wheel drive. (All-wheel drive is also available.) It's offered in a few models, including the high-performance M4. The Audi A5 used to be offered in coupe and convertible body styles, but they were discontinued for the 2025 model year, leaving just the Sportback model. Coupe shoppers can consider the more affordable Lexus RC, but it's very dated compared to the CLE. For a thorough review of the Mercedes-Benz CLE, check out our test team's Expert Rating below.
Edmunds Expert Rating
Our Verdict
The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.
Great
8.1
out of 10
edmunds TESTED
The 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE is a gem among the few remaining luxury coupes in today's market. It's very comfortable and boasts an elegant cabin with top-notch tech. The CLE isn't as athletic as other coupes out there, but it offers plenty of power. Although the CLE is pricey, it's one of the best luxury two-doors you can buy.
How does the CLE Coupe drive? The CLE is firmly in the luxury coupe camp, but that doesn't mean it's a snooze behind the wheel. Our CLE 450 4Matic test vehicle sprinted from 0 to 60 mph in a brisk 4.5 seconds, putting it near the top of the class. The turbocharged inline-six is smooth, with very little turbo lag and power all over the rev band. The automatic transmission is smooth and seamless in operation, and it never stumbles or seems to be in the wrong gear at the wrong time.
Overall handling is better than you might expect for a luxury coupe. The suspension is compliant, but the smooth ride doesn't lead to excessive body roll in a turn. The CLE's standard all-wheel-drive system puts the power down firmly to the pavement, so traction is never really an issue. Steering feel is a bit lacking, but the light effort and quick response to the driver's inputs make the CLE easy to park.
Comfort
8.5/10
How comfortable is the CLE Coupe? Comfort and ease are the name of the game here. Ride quality is excellent overall. The CLE soaks up bumps and imperfections with easy, sending very few vibrations or shocks through the cabin, even on rougher road surfaces. CLE 450 models like our test car come standard with a sport suspension setup (optional on the CLE 300), but it's fairly compliant as far as these things go. Seat comfort is nice with our car's optional seats offering tons of adjustment for lumbar, bolstering and more. It might take a second to dial in a good position, but few people will have trouble finding a comfortable setting.
Like most current Mercedes models, the CLE uses touchscreen controls for the climate system. They're easy to reach, but the low placement on the screen and lack of physical controls mean taking your eyes off the road to make adjustments or using voice commands, neither of which is ideal. Heated and ventilated seats work well, though. The fans, like the CLE as a whole, are quiet even at full blast. Very little wind or road noise intrudes into the cabin.
Interior
7.5/10
How’s the interior? The CLE is one of the more spacious coupes in this class. The CLE is fairly easy to get in and out of for a coupe, though the long doors can make it difficult to slip in and out of in tight spaces. The front should offer plenty of room for passengers of every size, while the rear is tight for adults but offers more space than rivals from BMW, Audi and Lexus.
The driving position is comfortable, and most of the controls are easy to see and reach. The controls themselves aren't our favorite. The steering wheel's capacitive touch controls haven't grown on us over the years, and the touchscreen is responsive but comes with a steep learning curve. Controls for the heated seats can be hard to see, too. The tall beltline and long hood hurt outward visibility, but an available surround-view camera system offers high-resolution images that make parking much easier.
Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below
Save as much as $3,687 with Edmunds Click on the trim you’re interested in to see what Edmunds suggests you should pay to get a good deal. Savings vary by trim; $3,687 refers to estimated savings off of MSRP for the CLE 300 4MATIC trim.
2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupe pricing in Peoria, IL
How’s the tech? The learning curve can be steep, but Mercedes' infotainment and technology are among the best in any car on the road today. The navigation system is clean and easy to use, with large maps and clear turn-by-turn directions. You can use voice commands to input an address, adjust the climate control, or even have the car tell you a joke. If you prefer to use your own device, the CLE features standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. Both work wirelessly, and there are a handful of USB-C ports for charging and connection. There's a wireless charging pad in front of the cupholders too.
The CLE is available with a wide array of driver aids, including standard features like an automated parking system, automatic emergency braking and blind-spot warning. Our test vehicle was equipped with a few other options, including adaptive cruise control. Everything worked well in practice, with no false readings or phantom jabs of the brake.
Storage
7.5/10
How’s the storage? The CLE is a bit longer than rivals like the BMW 4 Series or Lexus RC, but that affords the Mercedes slightly more trunk space. While the cargo area isn't as spacious as what you'll find on a similarly sized sedan, it's large enough to fit a sizable load of groceries or a week's worth of luggage for two. The rear seat folds down for additional storage, too. Storage up front isn't quite as good. The door pockets are long but shallow, and the cupholders are deep and tightly spaced. It can be a pinch to get a drink out if both cupholders are in use.
The rear seat offers Isofix anchors for a child's seat, though the sleek roofline and limited rear space make getting larger seats in difficult or even impossible. You could get a smaller seat inside in a pinch, but there's not much space to work with.
Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below
Fuel Economy
8/10
How economical is the CLE Coupe? The base four-cylinder CLE 300 has EPA fuel economy estimates of 27 mpg combined (24 city/33 highway). Our six-cylinder CLE 450 test vehicle has a slightly lower figure of 26 mpg combined (23 city/33 highway). We saw a solid 27.4 mpg on Edmunds' testing route. Those figures aren't quite class-leading, but they're near the top of the segment and fairly good considering the CLE's performance.
Value
7.5/10
Is the CLE Coupe a good value? With a base price that's pushing $60,000, the CLE is one of the more expensive cars in its class. A no-option CLE 300 starts thousands of dollars above cars like an equivalent BMW 4 Series or Lexus RC. Our well-equipped CLE 450 test car came in at a cool $77,090. The CLE's list of standard features is generally better than what you'll find elsewhere, especially when you consider things like standard all-wheel drive. We think the interior feels a bit more premium in the Mercedes, too, with nicer materials for the trim and upholstery than in the competition. Still, there are cheaper ways to get into a luxury coupe.
Mercedes' four-year/50,000-mile basic and powertrain warranties are average for the class. The CLE also comes with four years/50,000 miles of roadside assistance, but we're surprised by the lack of any included service visits, a common feature in this class.
Wildcard
8.5/10
The CLE stands out merely by being a coupe in an age where proper two-doors are becoming few and far between. It's handsome and distinctly Mercedes, with clean lines and sharp details. Unlike cars like the divisive BMW 4 Series, the CLE is unlikely to offend, even if it isn't the most standout in a crowd. The interior offers much more personality than the exterior suggests, especially with details like the standard 64-color ambient interior lighting.
This isn't the sportiest coupe out there, but it's not trying to be. It's plenty quick and handles well enough, but this is a car that aims to be comfortable, quiet and cool. There it exceeds.
Which CLE does Edmunds recommend?
As much as we'd like to recommend the CLE 450 for its additional 120 horsepower and sporty upgrades, most luxury coupe and convertible shoppers will be happy with the performance and generous list of standard features the CLE 300 offers. Add the Pinnacle Trim package for more tech features or the Driver Assistance package for a long list of additional advanced driver aids.
The Edmunds experts tested the 2025 CLE both on the road and at the track, giving it a 8.1 out of 10. What about cargo capacity? When you're thinking about carrying stuff in your new car, keep in mind that carrying capacity for the CLE ranges from 11.2 to 9.8 cubic feet of trunk space. And then there's safety and reliability. Edmunds has all the latest NHTSA and IIHS crash-test scores, plus industry-leading expert and consumer reviews to help you understand what it's like to own and maintain a Mercedes-Benz CLE. Learn more
What's new in the 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE?
According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE:
AMG CLE 53 Cabriolet arrives for 2025
Part of the first CLE generation introduced for 2024
To determine whether the Mercedes-Benz CLE is reliable, read Edmunds' authentic consumer reviews, which come from real owners and reveal what it's like to live with the CLE. Look for specific complaints that keep popping up in the reviews, and be sure to compare the CLE's average consumer rating to that of competing vehicles. Learn more
Is the 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE a good car?
There's a lot to consider if you're wondering whether the 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE is a good car. Edmunds' expert testing team reviewed the 2025 CLE and gave it a 8.1 out of 10. Safety scores, fuel economy, cargo capacity and feature availability should all be factors in determining whether the 2025 CLE is a good car for you. Learn more
How much should I pay for a 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE?
The least-expensive 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE is the 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE CLE 300 4MATIC 2dr Coupe AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 9A). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $58,000.
Other versions include:
CLE 300 4MATIC 2dr Coupe AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 9A) which starts at $58,000
CLE 450 4MATIC 2dr Coupe AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 9A) which starts at $67,450
AMG CLE 53 2dr Coupe AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 9A) which starts at $74,300
What are the different models of Mercedes-Benz CLE?
If you're interested in the Mercedes-Benz CLE, the next question is, which CLE model is right for you? CLE variants include CLE 300 4MATIC 2dr Coupe AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 9A), CLE 450 4MATIC 2dr Coupe AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 9A), and AMG CLE 53 2dr Coupe AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 9A). For a full list of CLE models, check out Edmunds’ Features & Specs page. Learn more
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="1200" height="588" fill="none" preserveAspectRatio="none"%3E%3Cmask id="b" width="1200" height="588" x="0" y="0" maskUnits="userSpaceOnUse" style="mask-type:alpha"%3E%3Cpath fill="url(%23a)" d="M896 513c116 45.015 222 64 304 75V0H0v501c40 36.024 154 76 340 76s344-146.269 556-64Z"/%3E%3C/mask%3E%3Cg mask="url(%23b)"%3E%3Cpath fill="url(%23c)" d="M896 513c116 45.015 222 64 304 75V0H0v501c40 36.024 154 76 340 76s344-146.269 556-64Z"/%3E%3Cpath fill="url(%23d)" fill-opacity=".15" d="M581.718 62.893c42.993 1.53 86.281 5.888 129.704 13.204 311.828 52.485 552.538 242.016 657.698 483.656-149.97-147.971-450.891-226.33-789.375-232.079-338.534.839-640.434 74.572-792.746 220.292 108.75-240.047 352.255-425.97 664.832-473.803a1041.548 1041.548 0 0 1 129.887-11.27Z"/%3E%3Cpath fill="url(%23e)" fill-opacity=".5" d="M611.247 209.93a1458.84 1458.84 0 0 1 139.573 27.692c333.61 83.239 577.16 267.208 668.67 475.188-148.93-138.63-468.279-241.218-835.209-290.421-367.6-43.915-702.265-24.445-881.281 72.561 140.567-178.524 422.355-295.817 766.181-293.074 47.867.484 95.274 3.212 142.066 8.054Z"/%3E%3Cpath fill="url(%23f)" d="M735.039 879.394c48.524-6.62 97.023-16.967 145.3-31.2C1227.03 746.059 1475.76 472.327 1564.28 145c-151.17 209.633-482.23 344.436-865.05 388.31C315.515 568.571-35.93 504.564-227 330.342-73.333 632.61 226.169 849.617 586.429 878.604c50.15 3.871 99.74 4.07 148.61.79Z" opacity=".3"/%3E%3Cpath fill="url(%23g)" d="M694.222 783.712c50.956 12 103.317 20.27 156.946 24.578 385.102 31.013 738.232-146.76 952.062-439.434-231.22 151.216-613.24 158.795-1012.047 55.796C394.784 312.716 68.643 114.101-55.211-133c37.44 360.528 253.087 691.895 601.449 858.946 48.557 23.091 97.963 42.302 147.984 57.766Z" opacity=".9"/%3E%3Cpath fill="url(%23h)" fill-opacity=".5" d="M896 513c116 45.015 222 64 304 75V0H0v501c40 36.024 154 76 340 76s344-146.269 556-64Z"/%3E%3C/g%3E%3Cdefs%3E%3ClinearGradient id="a" x1="1005" x2="989.087" y1="23" y2="552.522" gradientUnits="userSpaceOnUse"%3E%3Cstop stop-color="%23007EE5"/%3E%3Cstop offset=".333" stop-color="%231561D4"/%3E%3Cstop offset="1" stop-color="%230A4AAB"/%3E%3C/linearGradient%3E%3ClinearGradient id="c" x1="1005" x2="989.087" y1="23" y2="552.522" gradientUnits="userSpaceOnUse"%3E%3Cstop stop-color="%23007EE5"/%3E%3Cstop offset=".334" stop-color="%231561D4"/%3E%3C/linearGradient%3E%3ClinearGradient id="d" x1="675.999" x2="879.999" y1="648.999" y2="120.999" gradientUnits="userSpaceOnUse"%3E%3Cstop stop-color="%23fff"/%3E%3Cstop offset="1" stop-color="%23fff" stop-opacity="0"/%3E%3C/linearGradient%3E%3ClinearGradient id="e" x1="656.5" x2="637.602" y1="213" y2="622.259" gradientUnits="userSpaceOnUse"%3E%3Cstop offset=".115" stop-color="%23fff" stop-opacity="0"/%3E%3Cstop offset=".944" stop-color="%23017D8D"/%3E%3C/linearGradient%3E%3ClinearGradient id="f" x1="398" x2="737" y1="599" y2="387" gradientUnits="userSpaceOnUse"%3E%3Cstop stop-color="%2300ABB5"/%3E%3Cstop offset="1" stop-color="%2300A0B5" stop-opacity="0"/%3E%3C/linearGradient%3E%3ClinearGradient id="g" x1="1051.5" x2="271" y1="567" y2="575" gradientUnits="userSpaceOnUse"%3E%3Cstop stop-color="%230098C2"/%3E%3Cstop offset="1" stop-color="%23033E96" stop-opacity="0"/%3E%3C/linearGradient%3E%3ClinearGradient id="h" x1="1005" x2="986.038" y1="23" y2="587.43" gradientUnits="userSpaceOnUse"%3E%3Cstop offset=".813" stop-opacity="0"/%3E%3Cstop offset=".972"/%3E%3C/linearGradient%3E%3C/defs%3E%3C/svg%3E)
