Automotive Alchemy: The All-New Mercedes-Benz CLE 300 Attempts the Impossible
Mercedes-Benz is attempting what many thought impossible: mixing oil and water. The German automaker’s 2025 CLE 300 aims to fuse two very different products — the compact, athletic C-Class coupe and the stately, opulent E-Class coupe — into a single model. On paper, it seemed like an automotive alchemy doomed to fail. These two model lines have historically served entirely different drivers: one is built for sporty dynamics, the other for grand touring luxury. Yet after driving the CLE 300 first-hand, it appears Mercedes’ engineers in Stuttgart have managed to create a rather wonderful emulsion out of these two opposing ingredients.
Drop into the CLE’s low-slung driver’s seat and you’ll be struck immediately by two things: one is the swanky and decidedly tech-forward interior; the other is just how spacious it feels. (Anyone who wears a smaller size than LeBron James should fit just fine.) And, unlike most luxury coupes, which treat the rear bench as a leather-wrapped parcel shelf, the CLE actually offers usable space for real humans. Whisper it, but this new two-door Benz is a surprisingly practical machine.
We admit that the third generation of Mercedes’ MBUX infotainment system does take some getting used to. For example, there’s no traditional volume knob, which feels a bit like a trendy restaurant replacing menus with QR codes. On the other hand, the voice recognition system has become properly useful, meaning you’ll often be able to avoid the touchscreen entirely and simply talk to the car.
Under the hood, the entry-level CLE 300 packs 255-horsepower from a turbocharged four-cylinder aided by a mild hybrid system; think of it as having an espresso shot with a splash of milk. It’s energetic, but it won’t get your pulse racing like the upcoming AMG fettled variants. (The lineup starts behind us for the Mercedes-AMG CLE 63, rumoured to debut sometime later this year.)
So, who is this new Mercedes CLE for, exactly? It’s an ideal second or third car for someone (or some family) who already has a dedicated sports car for weekends but needs something more civilized for client meetings and weekday dinner reservations. It’s not the most powerful or the most expensive car in the Mercedes lineup, but it might just be the smartest one for the right buyer.
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