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Coupe Vs. Cabriolet: The Nitty-Gritty How Does The CLE Compare To Rivals?
If you are in the market for a two-door luxury car, Mercedes has two new models. The 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupe and 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE Cabriolet take over from where the C-Class and E-Class left off, culling those two models and merging them into one that serves a dual role. But, other than the obvious, what’s the difference between the Coupe and Cabriolet? How do they stack up against the vehicles they replace, and are they better than other luxury vehicles on the market?
CarBuzz recently had the opportunity to drive the CLE Cabriolet in Nappa, California, then spend a week in the CLE Coupe around local roads in Florida. With ample time behind the wheel of both vehicles, we can confidently point out the pros and cons of each to determine which one you should purchase.
What Is The CLE?
Mercedes had as many as six coupes and convertibles in its lineup at one point, which is why the C-Class and E-Class models have been combined into one. The CLE takes elements from the C-Class, including the underpinnings and interior, and a few from the E-Class – mostly the size and engines. Speaking of size, the CLE is actually longer overall than the outgoing C-Class and E-Class, though the wheelbase is a bit shorter than the latter. It also splits the difference in terms of width and height.
Exterior Dimensions Comparison: CLE vs. C-Class/E-Class
Model
Length
Wheelbase
Width
Height
CLE
191 inches
112.8 inches
80.4 inches
56 inches
C-Class
184.5 inches
111.8 inches
79.4 inches
55.3 inches
E-Class
190 inches
113.1 inches
80.9 inches
56.3 inches
You can order the 2024 CLE as a fixed roof coupe or a soft top cabriolet, both of which have four seat configurations. It feels like Mercedes wanted the CLE to feel nimble like a C-Class from behind the wheel, but keep the comfort and elegance of the E-Class, which sounds like a really good recipe.
Coupe Vs. Cabriolet: The Nitty-Gritty
Coupe Interior
It may not have a convertible roof, but the CLE Coupe comes standard with what Mercedes calls a Panorama roof, which is essentially an oversized moonroof. It provides an enormous opening that allows a ton of air into the cabin, as well as a powered blind when you don’t feel like soaking in the sun. Sadly, the lowering rear windows in the E-Class Coupe were not retained for the CLE. The coupe also holds a practicality advantage over the cabriolet with 14.8 cubic feet of space, and the ability to fold the rear seats to get more space.
Convertible Interior
The CLE Cabriolet sacrifices almost nothing in terms of cabin quietness thanks to a thick soft top. This roof can raise or lower in around 20 seconds at speeds of up to 37 mph. To maintain a relaxing experience even with the roof down, the CLE Cabriolet comes standard with an “Aircap,” which is a pop-up wind deflector above the windshield and behind the rear seats. With the windows raised, the Aircap does an excellent job reducing buffeting to keep the cabin calm and quiet.
Folding down the roof reduces trunk space marginally, with 9.6 cubic feet available when it’s folded. When the roof is in place, you get up to 10.4 cubes in the trunk. You can still fold down the rear seats in the cabriolet to accommodate longer items, but the gap between the cabin and the trunk is slightly smaller than it is in the coupe.
Engine > Roof
Mercedes will offer the CLE with two engines, not including the AMG-powered CLE 53 model and the upcoming CLE 63 model. The CLE 300 gets a mild-hybrid 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that should be fine for most drivers. It produces 255 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, taking 6.2 seconds to hit 60 mph. The CLE 450 upgrades to a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six, also a mild-hybrid, producing 375 hp and 369 lb-ft. With the six-cylinder, the CLE takes 4.2 seconds to hit 60 (the coupe and convertible have identical 0-60 times).
In our opinion, the $9,150-$9,500 price difference between the four- and six-cylinder engines is money well spent. In fact, we’d prefer to get the CLE 450 Coupe for $1,300 more than the CLE 300 Cabriolet. The inline-six sounds throaty and delivers the smooth performance that a sports coupe deserves. You don’t even have to pay a massive price at the pump, as both engines in the convertible have the same fuel economy numbers of 23/32/26 mpg city/highway/combined. The coupe gets slightly different figures: 24/36/28 mpg for the base engine, and 23/33/26 mpg for the inline-six.
Paying For Sunshine
Unless you genuinely value open-top motoring, the CLE Coupe is the better value buy of the two, based on what you get for the money. It starts at $56,500 for the CLE 300 4MATIC Coupe, which is $7,850 less than the CLE 300 Cabriolet at $64,350 – both have a $1,150 destination and delivery fee. This difference increased to $8,200 between the six-cylinder models:
2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE Pricing At A Glance
CLE 300 4MATIC Coupe
$56,500
CLE 300 4MATIC Cabriolet
$64,350
CLE 450 4MATIC Coupe
$65,650
CLE 450 4MATIC Cabriolet
$73,850
Both the coupe and convertible get the same engine options with the same outputs – differences are all linked to that drop-top roof. There are some minor practical sacrifices to be made with the convertible, which we delve into further below. That means you need to decide if the experience of driving with the roof down is worth $7,850 – $8,200.
How Does The CLE Compare To Rivals?
With the Audi A5 currently out of the picture, the 2025 BMW 4 Series is the closest competitor to the CLE. BMW undercuts Mercedes in price for the four-cylinder 430i, even when factoring in the additional cost for xDrive AWD. The script flips for the six-cylinder models, where the M440i xDrive Coupe costs a bit more than the CLE 450 4MATIC. This also rings true for the convertibles.
Pricing Comparison
Mercedes-Benz CLE
BMW 4 Series
CLE 300 4MATIC Coupe
$56,500
430i xDrive Coupe
$52,700
CLE 300 4MATIC Cabriolet
$64,350
430i xDrive Cabriolet
$60,700
CLE 450 4MATIC Coupe
$65,650
M440i xDrive Coupe
$66,250
CLE 450 4MATIC Cabriolet
$73,850
M440i xDrive Cabriolet
$74,250
BMW’s B48 four-cylinder matches the Mercedes M254 on power with 255 hp and on torque with 295 lb-ft, but the 4 Series is quicker to 60 mph in both rear-drive and xDrive configurations. The six-cylinder B58 outclasses the Mercedes M256 with 382 hp and 398 lb-ft of torque, but the CLE 450 keeps up with the M440i at a sprint to 60 mph. The M440i xDrive Coupe matches the CLE 450 Coupe’s time, but the RWD model and convertibles are slightly slower.
Having driven both vehicles, the BMW feels sportier and more involving to drive than the Mercedes, but the CLE is the more comfortable and luxurious car. The price difference between the two becomes more negligible when you start to add options, so the choice boils down to what you want in a two-door luxury vehicle. If you want a sharper but compliant sports coupe, the BMW 4 Series might be your preferred option. If you like a softer ride with a bit of sporting pretensions, the Mercedes CLE is a great choice.