Is the 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE300 Coupe a Good Car? 4 Pros, 3 Cons
Two-door coupes like the new Mercedes-Benz CLE300 have long been a popular choice among aspirational buyers more concerned with style than practicality, although that has changed somewhat as buyers migrate toward trucks and SUVs. Introduced for the 2024 model year, the CLE300 is one of just two coupes still offered by the German luxury automaker, down from six just a few years ago. But the CLE makes an excellent choice for traditional buyers looking to chew up the miles in a swift, refined and well-equipped luxury coupe.
Related: 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE300 Coupe Review: The Merits of Calmness
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Shop the 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE 300 near you
Also available as a convertible, the base CLE300 combines the styling elements and components of the previous C- and E-Class coupes, and it’s meant to replace both while being closer in size to the latter. The CLE300 largely succeeds at its mission and holds its own against competitors that include the Audi A5, BMW 4 Series and Lexus RC, even if it costs a little more. For 2025, the CLE is mostly unchanged.
Cars.com Detroit Bureau Chief Aaron Bragman had some time with the new CLE300 and found it to be an appealing and accommodating choice. Tap the link above for his expert review, or keep reading for a quicker look at four things we like about the Mercedes-Benz CLE300 and three things we don’t.
What Do We Like About the Mercedes-Benz CLE300?
1. Capable Powertrain
The base powertrain combines a 255-horsepower, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine matched with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Power is more than sufficient to get the coupe up to speed, though its estimated 6.2-second 0-60 mph time is not all that quick by current standards. If that’s not quick enough, the CLE450 gets a 375-hp, turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder and is a couple of seconds quicker to 60 mph. Both engines are paired with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system and standard all-wheel drive.
2. Quality Interior
Much of the CLE’s interior has a look and feel like that of the old Mercedes C-Class. Well put together with quality materials, the look is both modern and similar to what’s found in other recent Mercedes-Benz models. The CLE300 gets a vivid reconfigurable digital instrument cluster, and the latest version of the MBUX infotainment system works well enough with practice. Other standard equipment includes a 17-speaker Burmester audio system and a panoramic glass moonroof.
3. Decent Room
There’s plenty of room for the driver and front passenger, with more legroom than in either of the old C- or E-Class coupes. Rear-seat room is somewhat less generous, but access is easy thanks to front seats that slide forward when a leather strap on top of the seatback is pulled. Cargo space is decent for a coupe, too, and can be expanded as the rear seatbacks can fold forward for bulkier items.
4. Calm Cruiser
True to its mission, the CLE300 rides and handles more like a touring car than a sports model. The suspension is tuned more for comfort than performance, delivering a coddling and absorbent ride even with low-profile tires. There’s notable body lean in corners, though, but the CLE300 remains composed over varying road conditions, with direct, if heavily boosted, steering and little feedback from the brakes.
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What Do We Dislike About the Mercedes-Benz CLE300?
1. Coupe Compromises
The CLE300 may be sufficiently roomy for a coupe, but there’s no getting around a few compromises in the interest of style. The low roofline intrudes on headroom, especially with the standard moonroof. And while the CLE300 offers more rear-seat room than the old C-Class coupe did, a sedan remains a better choice for carrying passengers.
2. Pricey Competitor
With almost $13,000 in options, our tested 2024 CLE300 came in at just over $70,000 (including destination). That’s not an insignificant amount, especially considering our test car was the base variant and well-equipped competing models can be had for less. Stepping up to the CLE450 gets you more power, features and a more opulent cabin, but that will cost you even more.
3. Control Issues
We’ve gotten somewhat familiar with the Mercedes-Benz MBUX multimedia interface, which has a significant learning curve but provides lots of configuration options and vivid graphics. However, we’d still like to see physical controls for frequently used functions, such as the radio volume. We’re still not fans of Mercedes-Benz’s infuriating and overly sensitive steering-wheel-mounted controls, either.
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