2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE review: A refined top-down cruiser
Canadians celebrate the seasons better than anyone else. We know too well how fleeting warm summer sun and crisp autumn breezes can be. And when you really want to savour those beautiful days, nothing beats a top-down drive in a convertible. Mercedes-Benz makes a convertible purchase slightly more practical for Canadians with features like built-in neck warmers and wind-reducing technology that extend the top-down driving season a little longer. We look at the brand’s most approachable convertible in this 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE review.
We tested the 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE 450 during a recent road trip weekend getaway to Peterborough, Ontario. The vehicle was loaned to us for the purpose of this review by Mercedes-Benz Canada. Have questions about the 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE? Ask the automotive experts in our Road Trips in Canada Facebook community!
2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE pros and cons
2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE pros
- Quiet and refined
- Excellent technology
- Class-leading comfort features
2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE cons
- Throttle is inconsistent in comfort mode
- Lacks interior storage space
- Second row is too tight for tall adults
What’s new on the 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE?
For 2025, the Mercedes-Benz CLE 450 joins the line-up. It adds a middle-of-the-road powertrain option between the CLE 300 and AMG CLE 53, which have both been available since the new model’s launch in 2024.
What competes with the 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE?
New luxury coupes and convertibles are becoming rare. With Audi, Lexus, Acura, and Infiniti all out of the two-door game — and Genesis never made them to begin with — only two models remain south of ultra-luxury brands like Porsche, Aston Martin, Rolls-Royce, and their ilk. Those are the Mercedes-Benz CLE and its only direct competitor, the BMW 4 Series.
The BMW 430i is the equivalent to the Mercedes-Benz CLE 300, and the BMW M440i is a close match to the Mercedes-Benz CLE 450. The Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 is a step above those models power-wise that BMW doesn’t match, while Mercedes doesn’t market a direct competitor to the BMW M4, which is a track-ready car that’s currently unmatched in its class.
Size and exterior design
The Mercedes-Benz CLE arrived for 2024 as a replacement for both the compact C-Class and midsize E-Class coupes and cabriolets. The new CLE is 2.5 centimetres longer than the outgoing E-Class Coupe and 16.5 centimetres longer than the C-Class Coupe. It retains a look similar to both outgoing models in the current Mercedes-Benz style with an oversized three-pointed star logo in the grille, aggressive hood lines, clean and sweeping profile angles, and large integrated exhausts.
Interior design
Apart from the back of the centre console — which sort of looks like a screaming head — the interior design in the Mercedes-Benz CLE is top-notch. Our test unit came with Artico artificial leather, and most people would have a hard time distinguishing it from the real thing. Touch points all have an appropriate premium feel, and the large centre touchscreen and digital instrument cluster give the cabin a tech-forward appearance. The speaker covers for the optional Burmester audio system are works of art.
The main elements of the dashboard are angled slightly toward the driver to create a cockpit-like feel, which has become the norm in cars of this calibre but may not sit well with people who prefer symmetry. The pinstriped interior trim shown here, dubbed Flowing Lines Radiant Black Wood Trim by Mercedes, happens not to be my favourite, but there are other metal, open-pore wood, and fabric interior trims available.
How fast is the convertible roof on the Mercedes-Benz CLE?
The convertible roof on the Mercedes-Benz CLE retracts or returns in roughly 20 seconds and can operate at speeds up to 60 km/h.
The process is fully power-operated using three buttons on the centre console positioned just behind the cup holders. The left button lowers the roof, and the right button raises it. The centre button controls the AirCap system, which uses deployable screens behind the rear passengers and from the top of the windshield to reduce wind buffeting when the roof is down.
Interior storage in the 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE
Coupes and convertibles aren’t renowned for having heaps of interior storage space, and the CLE doesn’t improve on this. The usual centre console bin and door pockets are available, but neither is large enough to hold much more than a wallet or very small purse. The two front cup holders are different sizes, so the front passenger will need to hold their to-go cup if the driver ordered the same size.
Second-row passengers, on the other hand, have it a little better than usual. That’s because there’s no middle seat: instead, that space has two built-in cup holders and a small storage bin.
Seat comfort
The Mercedes-Benz CLE comes well-equipped for Canada. Heated front seats with power adjustment and memory functions are standard, as are a heated steering wheel, heated side mirrors, and a kinetic function that lightly adjusts the seat as you drive to reduce fatigue.
The Mercedes Air Scarf is also standard, which uses a vent built into the front headrest to blow hot air onto the back of your neck for direct warmth. The Air Scarf button can be activated using a button on the door next to the heated seat function.
Our test unit came with optional multi-contour front seats with a massage function, which are very comfortable and supportive and well worth the upgrade. Ventilated front seats are also available.
While there’s plenty of room in the Mercedes-Benz CLE’s front row, the second row isn’t as spacious and remains a space best reserved for children or smaller adults. The AirCap system goes a long way toward making this space more comfortable for passengers when the top is down on the highway. Heated rear seats are not available in the Mercedes-Benz CLE.
How many car seats fit in the 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE?
Car seats for children can be installed in the two outboard rear positions in the Mercedes-Benz CLE using the provided LATCH connections, which are easy to access. The middle rear position cannot be used for a car seat due to the permanent cup holders and storage bin.
How much cargo space is in the 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE?
If you opt for the Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupe, you’ll drive away with 420 litres of cargo space. In the CLE Cabriolet, cargo capacity is 295 litres when the roof is retracted and 385 litres when it’s up. A handy guide helps you load bags into the trunk so they won’t interfere with the roof’s function. If you want to keep the roof up, this guide can be pushed out of the way to maximize cargo space.
The rear seats split in a 40-20-40 configuration by default, and seatback releases mounted in the trunk make it convenient to drop them out of the way. However, the gap into the rear of the cabin is very small, so this is more practical for transporting long items than for adding meaningful cargo capacity. A handle built into the inside of the trunk lets you close it without touching the outside of the decklid.
Infotainment and technology features
Mercedes-Benz currently offers some of the best infotainment technology in the industry. In the CLE, this takes the form of a 12.3-inch configurable digital instrument cluster and an 11.9-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen running the MBUX infotainment system. In the CLE Cabriolet, the centre screen can be tilted between 15 and 40 degrees to help reduce reflections while the roof is down.
Many of the screen’s important built-in functions such as climate control and the home button are at the bottom of the display, which makes them difficult to adjust without becoming distracted from the road. Fortunately, the MBUX infotainment system offers natural language voice control. For example, if you say, “Hey Mercedes, I’m a bit cold,” it will respond by turning up the heat.
MBUX also comes with a new Routines function where you can program it to turn on the seat cooling or heating at a specific outside temperature or to play the same song every day on your way to work. If you prefer to run an app from your smartphone, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both standard.
The steering wheel looks more complicated than it is. Each of the four horizontal spokes controls a different function such as the digital instrument cluster, adaptive cruise control, and media. They take a while to get used to, but they’re more intuitive than the thumb pads found on other recent Mercedes-Benz models. Note there’s no volume knob, so this needs to be adjusted either from the steering wheel or the touch slider at the bottom right of the infotainment screen.
How much power does the 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE have?
In the Mercedes-Benz CLE, mild hybrid technology is standard. It doesn’t do much to save fuel, but it does help improve low-speed power delivery.
The Mercedes-Benz CLE 300 has a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that generates 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, while the CLE 450 comes with a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six-cylinder engine good for 375 hp and 369 lb-ft.
The most powerful version of the CLE is the Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 which uses the same 3.0-litre inline-six engine to produce 433 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque. It has a 0 to 100 km/h acceleration time of 4.4 seconds and a top speed of 250 km/h.
Regardless of which engine you choose, a nine-speed automatic transmission transfers power to standard all-wheel drive (AWD) in Canada. The CLE 300 and 450 Coupe and all Cabriolet models use the 4Matic AWD system, which constantly delivers power to all four wheels. The AMG CLE 53 Coupe is the only CLE model in Canada equipped with 4Matic+ AWD, which is more performance-oriented and can send up to 100% of available torque to the rear wheels on demand.
2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE driving impressions
Canadians tend to gravitate heavily toward AMG models. However, for nearly $15,000 less than the AMG CLE 53, the 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE 450 delivers plenty of power for winding back roads and everyday commuting. Moreover, this powertrain is exceptionally quiet. My daughter asked if it was an electric vehicle, and she knows her way around cars. If you’re looking for roar then the AMG may be more your speed, but the CLE 450 absolutely excels at luxe refinement.
My one quibble: the CLE 450’s throttle input feels unnaturally tamped and indirect in comfort mode. It feels as though it’s not doing enough until you press two-thirds of the way down, and then it lets rip all at once. Sport mode fixes this, but if you’d rather not drive around in Sport mode full-time then you’ll want to thoughtfully test whether this behaviour matches your driving style.
How fuel-efficient is the 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE?
The 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE 300 Coupe is rated by Natural Resources Canada at 8.6 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving, while the equivalent Cabriolet is rated at 9.1 L/100 km combined. Step up to the CLE 450 and you can expect to burn 9.0 L/100 km combined in the coupe or 8.9 L/100 km combined in the convertible. The AMG CLE 53 is expected to consume 10.4 L/100 km combined in coupe format and 10.8 L/100 km combined as a convertible.
In our real-world test of the 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE 450 on a balanced mix of highways and city streets, we nearly matched the NRCan estimate with a result of 8.8 L/100 km combined across 500 kilometres of driving.
Safety features
Standard safety and driver assistance features in the 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE in Canada include forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, automatic high beams, blind spot monitoring, a driver attention monitor, safe exit warning, traffic sign assist, heated and rain-sensing wipers, and a parking assistant.
The available Driver Assistance Package adds an active blind spot assist feature, adaptive cruise control, intersection turning collision mitigation, active lane keep assist, evasive steering assist, an emergency stop function, lane change assist, and other features. This provides some highway driving assist functionality, but Mercedes does not offer fully hands-free driving capability.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) have not rated the crashworthiness of the Mercedes-Benz CLE as of this writing.
How much is the 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE in Canada?
The 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE has a Canadian starting price of $62,500 for the CLE 300 4Matic Coupe. The CLE 450 4Matic Coupe is priced at $73,900, and the AMG CLE 53 kicks off at $81,900. Convertible versions start at $72,400 for the 300, $85,150 for the 450 and $93,800 for the AMG CLE 53. Note these prices do not include destination charges or other applicable fees as Mercedes-Benz Canada permits dealers to price these fees individually.
The Mercedes-Benz CLE is assembled at the Mercedes-Benz facility in Bremen, Germany.
Is the 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE worth buying?
With only two coupe and convertible models left at this tier of the luxury market, the Mercedes-Benz CLE and the BMW 4 Series, the answer of which to buy lies in what you’re looking for. The BMWs deliver a more viscerally performance-oriented experience, particularly in the track-ready M4, which Mercedes doesn’t currently match.
But between these two product lines, the Mercedes-Benz CLE provides a more refined and opulent style of luxury. If a relaxed Sunday afternoon backroads cruise with the top down while riding in complete comfort is more your speed, the Mercedes-Benz CLE has what you’re looking for.
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