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- Mercedes-Benz is slimming down its coupe-shaped offerings and combining the C-Class and the E-Class into one, now known as the CLE-Class.
- Updated for 2024, the Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupe will be offered with two mild hybrid powerplants and with only two trim levels, standard or Pinnacle.
- Starting at $57,650 for a standard trim CLE 300 and going up to $69,400 for a Pinnacle trim CLE 450, Mercedes aims to price into a large swath of the coupe marketplace.
With the C-Class and E-Class coupes on their way out, devout two-door buyers would be right to worry—that is, if Mercedes wasn’t continuing the lineage with the CLE-Class coupe for 2024. Offered solely in hardtop form for now, the CLE takes the best of its predecessors and merges them into a prime grand touring coupe.
With a base turbocharged 2.0-liter I4 making 255 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, or a 375 hp and 369 lb-ft 3.0-liter I6, Mercedes is trying to make sure its powertrains remain modern. In that same vein, both versions of the CLE-Class (known as the CLE 300 and CLE 450, respectively) feature mild-hybrid integration and standard 4Matic all-wheel-drive.
As its name classification suggests, the CLE draws its inspiration from both the C-Class and E-Class coupes, particularly in its dimensions. Measuring 191 inches in length and 73.2 inches in width, the CLE skews toward its C-Class predecessors with a 112.8-inch wheelbase.
However, the CLE-Class splits the difference in the pricing department. Offered in standard trim or Pinnacle trim, the wallet contrast between CLE 300 and CLE 450 is stark. In standard trim, the CLE 300 will start at $57,650 while the CLE 450 will ramp up to $66,800. That’s including a $1150 destination and delivery fee.
Standard trim features include Burmester 3D Surround Sound System, 12.3-inch Driver Display, 11.9-inch Central Multimedia Display, plus Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. All told, the standard trim is pretty well equipped, especially considering it comes with the 15-speaker sound system and a suite of advanced driver assistance systems like Active Brake Assist.
Top-of-the-line versions of the 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE 300 will start at $60,250, while Pinnacle trim CLE 450 units go up to $69,400. At nearly $70,000, what exactly does the Pinnacle trim get you?
Mercedes is banking heavily on technology to lure in more affluent buyers. Pinnacle trim models include MBUX Augmented Reality for navigational purposes, a surround view 360-degree camera, as well as MBUX Entertainment Plus.
On top of all that, Mercedes is also offering an optional Driver Assistance Package, which features active lane change assist and route-based speed adaptation.
The CLE-Class is carrying a lot of responsibility on its shoulders coming into 2024, a fact Mercedes seems keenly aware of. The coupe segment certainly isn’t the largest, but Mercedes aims to retain its leadership position. As such, the CLE is the benefactor of a short ramp-up, hitting US dealerships before March 31st.
Which of the two CLE-Class models would you pick? Why? Please share your thoughts below.
A New York transplant hailing from the Pacific Northwest, Emmet White has a passion for anything that goes: cars, bicycles, planes, and motorcycles. After learning to ride at 17, Emmet worked in the motorcycle industry before joining Autoweek in 2022. The woes of alternate side parking have kept his fleet moderate, with a 2014 Volkswagen Jetta GLI and a 2003 Honda Nighthawk 750 street parked in his South Brooklyn community.
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