New Mercedes CLE comes in both coupé and convertible forms, and features TikTok-compatible infotainment. Here’s everything else you need to know...
On sale November 2023 | Price from £57,000 (est)
Just as the Samsung Galaxy Fold was created to replace a buyer’s smartphone and tablet with one do-it-all device, the new Mercedes CLE Coupé blends two existing Mercedes coupés into a single model.
It’s been designed to replace the current Mercedes C-Class Coupé and E-Class Coupé, and will go up against those cars’ key rivals from Audi and BMW. A Mercedes CLE Cabriolet is also on the way, but this won’t go on sale until 2024.
Initially, the CLE will be available with a choice of four engines, each connected to a nine-speed automatic gearbox as standard, and featuring mild hybrid technology to improve fuel economy around town.
Entry-level 2.0-litre petrol and diesel models have 201bhp and 194bhp respectively. Both are rear-wheel drive as standard, although you can opt for four-wheel drive with the petrol version.
Moving up the range, there’s a more powerful 255bhp 2.0-litre petrol, while a 3.0-litre, six-cylinder petrol – producing 375bhp – crowns the line-up. Both of those engines are only available with four-wheel drive.
Mercedes also offers the CLE with rear-wheel steering. This turns the rear wheels in the same direction as the front wheels at high speeds to improve stability, and in the opposite direction to the front wheels at low speeds to aid manoeuvrability.
With rear-wheel steering fitted, the turning circle of rear-wheel drive CLEs decreases to as little as 10.7m. That’s a tighter turn than an Audi A5 or BMW 4 Series can manage, despite both being shorter than the CLE.
Mercedes has said that a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) option will be available in future. While details are yet to be confirmed, it’s likely the PHEV setup will be similar to the systems found in the Mercedes E-Class and C-Class saloons. Those cars get a 2.0-litre petrol engine, combined with an electric motor and battery which allow each to officially travel around 70 miles on electric power alone.
The design of the CLE is similar to that of the current Mercedes C-Class saloon, although the CLE’s sloping roofline, tweaked front bumper and new headlight design give the coupé a sleeker look.
Inside, the C-Class similarities continue; like that car, the CLE has a 12.3in digital driver’s display and portrait-oriented 11.9in infotainment screen. These use the latest version of Mercedes’ ‘MBUX’ operating system (as found in the new E-Class). This system is compatible with a number of Android apps, allowing you to use Zoom, TikTok or Angry Birds on the car’s central touchscreen.
However, it’s not all fun and games. There’s little in the way of physical infotainment controls, with MBUX instead forcing you to rely on the touchscreen, touch-sensitive steering wheel buttons and voice commands. This means that the system is more distracting to use while driving than the iDrive system in the BMW 4 Series, which also gives you a rotary controller and proper buttons.
Like many of the latest Mercedes models, you can get the CLE with clever headlight technology, which projects information about potential hazards onto the road ahead. This system was shortlisted for the Technology Award at our 2023 Car of the Year Awards.
Of the two models it replaces, the CLE Coupé is closer in size to the Mercedes E-Class Coupé. However, despite being bigger overall than the A5 or the 4 Series, the CLE’s 420-litre boot is smaller than either of those rivals’.
While UK specifications are yet to be confirmed, pricing for the Mercedes CLE is expected to start from around £57,000. That’s considerably more than either the Audi A5 or BMW 4 Series, which cost from £41,870 and £43,470 respectively.
Keyword: 2023 Mercedes CLE revealed