2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE 300 4MATIC review

Mercedes-Benz had too many coupes on offer, and decided one would do. The CLE is that two-door, one with unique charms in this market.

The Mercedes-Benz line-up was once chock full of coupes. Some of them might have had four doors but there were plenty to choose from.

It seems there were too many though and not enough buyers so the rationalising axe has now fallen on many of them. But Benz still offers a proper four-seater two-door, now called the CLE.

Think of it as a morphing of the old C- and E-Class coupes, and you get the picture.

It’s styled to impress with classical coupe proportions; a long bonnet up front with a cab-rear stance that flows into an elegant tail end. It’s sizeable at 4.85m long but then it has genuine room for four-up cruising.

Two CLE models to choose from

It lands here initially in CLE 200 and CLE 300 guises, the former with a 150kW/320Nm four potter going for $109,300. That’s all inclusive pricing too, no haggling any more at the Benz shop as it operates the agency model.

Pictured here is the CLE 300 4matic, which has a feistier tune of Merc’s 2.0-litre four with 190kW and 400Nm. That is sent to both axles via the nine-speed auto.

It costs more, at $126,700 drive away, while the only addition to the 300’s spec sheet sees real cow hides covering the seats.

Part of the NZ spec is the AMG Line with its sportier styling. That also adds sports suspension, Merc’s passive selective damping system featuring a slight firming of the springs and shockers, while it sits 15mm lower.

There is a Sports Direct-Steer system too, the quick rack with just two turns between the stops. Along with a ‘sporty engine sound’ the front brakes are a little larger.

Is four enough?

The 2.0-litre has a decent spread of urge, with enough pull from 2000rpm, and the auto slips through the gears to keep things relaxed.

While you’d never call it effortless, it’s quick enough when whipped, and able to scamper to the speed limit in 6.4sec.

This boosted four cylinder has similar numbers to what a six cylinder might have had a decade ago. However, it’s not as creamy and can sound a bit gruff too.

While there is a CLE 450 with a 280kW/500Nm straight six in Europe, we’ll likely only see the AMG 53 version here. Along with a beefed-up look, it comes with 335kW and 600Nm.

But back to reality, and the CLE 300’s 48v mild hybrid – it has a belt drive starter generator – adds a dollop of torque to get things going. It also ensures the engine doesn’t waste energy idling, while the restarts are quick and silky.

Fuel consumption is stated as 8.2L/100km on rightcar.co.nz, though our average was in the 10L/100km zone with more suburban miles covered than those on the motorway.

Though it rides on sports suspension, the progress you wouldn’t describe as overtly sporty. Neither is it plush; you feel the blemishes out there but it’s otherwise agreeable.

For a coupe, the outward vision is sorted, save for that chunky C pillar. But you have hi-def cameras front and rear and, along with the around-view image, they help line up those car parks.

Also handy is the quick and breezy steering, and the friendly turning circle.

This has most of Merc’s safety kit on board, the lane keeping giving subtle warnings by vibrating the wheel, only taking action when you have indeed wandered out of the lane (or not indicated your intentions).

The rest sit in the background and rarely sound off unnecessarily.

A sports coupe?

Think of this as a competent GT sort of Coupe rather than a keen sportster. It rounds up bends in a commendable, if not quite engaging fashion. The steering is accurate, though a little muted.

CLE is well balanced, neither pushing too much at the front nor rolling at the rear. Punting along in Sport mode, the transmission is livelier, so too the throttle response.

You can gas it out of a bend early, knowing everything will stick as the AWD pulls it right. The suspenders do the job too, soothing highway bumps and ensuring body movements are minimised, without adding any harshness to the ride.

Tyre noise gets louder on coarse chip at 100km/h however. That’s where the CLE feels best; at 80km/h the ride isn’t quite as cosseting.

Strange, but that’s sometimes the case with these frequency selective dampers. And there is no adaptive or air sprung option for those after a smoother ride.

Practical but?

As far as genuine Coupes go, it really is. This is a four seater rather than some 2+2 contraption. Yeah, it’s a bit of a trick for older bodies to get in the back, but the front seat motors out of the way quickly.

Once in, there is adult-friendly legroom while the two individual seats ensure there is no squishing involved. Taller types will find headroom compromised, while it’s dark back there with the all-black interior and tinted (small) window.

The boot space is good too. Okay, the opening is a bit mean but the hold is deep and wide. And there’s a split-folding rear seat.

This is divided into three parts (shall we say 45/10/45), the middle section dropping down to allow something long but not too girthy to poke through.

Up front, and this is typical of modern Benz interiors, the big display and shiny details dazzle.

The dash treatment (a wood-like surface) and the lining of the upper half of the cabin with its convincing fake leather and real stitching help you overlook the harder bits beneath. Generally it’s well made but some parts just feel too plastic.

The seats could do with some additional plushness as the cushioning is a bit mean. They do, however, facilitate easy entry (no OTT bolstering) while the belt presenter avoids pulling a shoulder muscle when trying to reach back.

The other thing with coupes is the big door issue; opening them in tight spaces is not easy.

The haptic buttons on the wheel will likely drive some crazy as they require a certain touch. You do get used to it. Thanks to the size of the dash-dominating screen, operations are made easier as the touch points are sizeable.

The response is quick and the menus well ordered. A ‘Hey Mercedes’ voice concierge is smart enough to handle most common operations too.

There’s reasonable storage, though the siting of the phone charger isn’t ideal, tucked up under the console but it does put the phone out of your sight. There are three other charge ports too.

What else is there?

Nothing really, no direct rival. There’s no more Audi A5 while Lexus only has its RC F which is sportier, but more expensive and less practical.

And same for the BMW 4 Series, only offered here as the angry M4. So those after a luxury four-seater coupe that’s not designed primarily for track driving, the CLE has your number.

This article first appeared in the September 2024 issue of NZ Autocar Magazine.