Perhaps it’s indicative of the - how best to put it - traditional PH mindset more than anything else, but it doesn’t half feel nice to be presented with a Mercedes Benz that’s exactly the car it was expected to be. This new CLE isn’t trying to reinvent the coupe, or the three-pointed star, or personal transportation as a concept. Quite the contrary in fact, because here is a Benz like they used to be: a large, stylish, upmarket two-door, as suave as a tailored suit and built like a bunker. Perhaps C236 will one day be recalled in the coupe back catalogue like C124 and C140.
So first impressions are very good. Now the model has the task of replacing both C- and E-Class coupes, it has a design identity more of its own. Where previous C (and to a lesser extent, E) derivatives most closely resembled two-door saloons, this immediately looks like a more desirable prospect. Perhaps the rear is a little droopy and EQ-like, but the profile is spot on, the details - including the three-pointed stars in the grille - are lovely and the front end in particular really handsome. The CLE isn’t trying too hard to stand out, just as the great Mercedes never did. Moreover, our test car arrived on the day that BMW showed the new 4 Series; it’s easy to see why the Mercedes might be preferred as far as style goes.
Much has been said about Mercedes interiors of late, and it’s definitely worth taking a few minutes to get familiar with the CLE. The same could be said of many new cars, of course. Once your phone is paired (very easily), the steering wheel spokes deciphered (left-hand side for infotainment, right-hand side for the driver’s display) and the finger sensor that looks like a home button identified (and ignored - it needs the Mercedes ME app), you’re good to go. It feels solid, most encouragingly, there are no complaints about the driving position and the sense of occasion is fitting for a £60k Mercedes. Some might prefer the swankier new E-Class cabin to this C-based architecture, but this remains a very good interior. The only slight gripe is a cramped footwell (and the cheap plastic a shoeless foot might find down there while flailing around).
The CLE is a terrific car for the motorway. The standard ambient lighting is a real treat, enveloping the interior to make it feel more club than car. We’d recommend Malibu Sunrise as a colour theme. The Burmester stereo (again included) performs well to these non-audiophile ears and, if anything on the 11.9-inch MBUX portrait screen needs adjusting, the icons are large and the response swift.
With nine gears, the 2.0-litre mild-hybrid turbo can spin along near silently at 70mph showing just 1,500rpm; perhaps the auto can be a tad reluctant if you’re unreasonable (treating the finish of average speed zones like the end of a pit lane), though in more considered use there is little issue with its obliging nature. Same goes for the engine, with a useful boost at low revs thanks to the electrification and decent smoothness throughout the rev range.
Progress is pretty serene, truth be told, isolated well from the outside world and the CLE is a model of composure at three-lane speeds. Even the assists aren’t too irritating, which feels like a minor miracle for a modern Mercedes. When the roads are a little smaller, it continues to impress with its balance and poise through higher-speed turns. The CLE feels very Mercedes, very assured, and that’s a good thing. Shame about an overly long brake pedal.
When familiar with driving Mercedes-AMGs that offer up so much configurability, the CLE 300 is a welcome respite. Oh sure, the steering weight and engine behaviour can be tweaked, but there’s no AMG Dynamic Select or, interestingly, any suspension modes. All the CLEs sold in the UK are AMG-badged (AMG Line, AMG Premium, AMG Premium Plus) which means they get passive ‘Agility Control’ sports suspension as standard, 15mm lower than would be there on a non-AMG-lite CLE. Which probably helps the 300 look as good as it does on the 20-inch wheels.
As for the ride, there’s a tangible firmness at low speed. Snapper Harry doesn’t grumble much, though having been impressed with how much space there was in the back of a CLE (six-foot adult behind six-foot adult, no less), he did note it was busier than expected on the move. Honestly, it hadn’t really registered before, though as with so many of these things it becomes impossible to ignore once someone has pointed it out. Perhaps the CLE is a little tough going slowly, though it takes very little away from its high-speed, long-distance manners. It deals with every imperfection in a precise, subdued fashion, though you’ll perhaps feel more of them than expected.
There’s an upside, of course, and that’s a regular Mercedes coupe that’s decently direct and positive when the road is no longer a motorway. It isn’t an out-and-out drivers car, though its balance, grip (helped by Goodyear Eagle F1s) and accuracy can’t be meaningfully faulted. Again, in that time-honoured Mercedes tradition, the CLE feels capable and accomplished, yet doesn’t choose to advertise the fact too outlandishly. Whatever road it’s on and whatever is asked of it, the CLE does a fundamental job of being very good indeed. Though you might just want to try a car on 19s to be absolutely sure on the ride-handling compromise. And to check it still looks as good. Won’t have to worry about six suspension settings on the test drive, at least.
That said, there wasn’t a time on the motorway (or anywhere else, for that matter) where it felt like anything needed changing. The CLE really does feel like an old-school Mercedes in the best way possible. Although this might not be the best version of it: if you're intent on sticking with four cylinders, the temptation would be to go for a CLE 200 (which keeps the mild hybrid, just with less overall power), save some money, reduce the wheel size and embrace its abilities as a cruiser. But the tautness evident here is probably better matched to the brawnier six-cylinder models higher up the range, either the CLE 450 or imminent 53.
Whatever the case, the CLE feels like exactly the sort of car Mercedes should be offering in this segment - it being a nicely struck compromise between C-Class size and E-Class luxury. It feels plush and contemporary while also reassuringly familiar, and is at its best when amenable company is required, whatever the backdrop. Frankly, it’s nice to have a new two-door coupe around, so rarely seen are they launched. Everything points to the CLE being a lovely car to live with every day, and there's easily enough here to like that we can look forward to an engine with 50 per cent more capacity and cylinders with a sense of anticipation. By which time that new 4 Series ought to be around, too.
SPECIFICATION | 2024 MERCEDES-BENZ CLE 300 4MATIC AMG LINE PREMIUM PLUS
Engine: 1,999cc four-cyl turbo plus mild hybrid assist
Transmission: 9-speed automatic, all-wheel drive
Power (hp): 258@5,800rpm (plus 23hp hybrid boost)
Torque (lb ft): 295@2,000-3,200rpm
0-62mph: 6.2 seconds
Top speed: 155mph
Weight: 1,855kg (EU, with driver)
MPG: 39.2-39.8
CO2: 161g/km
Price: £59,745 (price as standard; price as tested £60,670 comprising Manufaktur Patagonia Red paint for £925)
1 / 13
