Mercedes-Benz CLE

The CLE has a finely crafted cabin, with quality materials and meticulous attention to fit. But some drivers may hope for a bit more panache for the price. The interior is modern, with its screens filled with bold graphics and accent lighting throughout. It’s visually busy, with many competing shapes and textures within the compact quarters. We love the optional dash trim with vertical stripes that remind us of a pinstriped suit (well worth the $200 upgrade). But then the shiny black plastic on the center console cheapens the presentation and causes reflections that make some controls hard to read.

Soft surfaces are present where they matter, with the notable exception of where the driver’s right knee rubs on the center console. Leather on the doors and seats, in particular, feels premium. The dash is surprisingly hard, but that doesn’t matter at all because you may never touch it. Of course, there’s fine stitching on the dash, doors, and seats—especially with the upgraded seats in our rented car.

Our testers universally praised the powertrain. The engine reminds us of the refinement so often found in inline sixes but seldom experienced these days in our tested fleet, as even luxury brands move to turbocharged four-cylinders.

The wonderfully smooth turbo six-cylinder has good midrange power, and it sounds even better the more it’s revved. Set to its Comfort drive mode, the CLE 450 is quite pleasing for everyday driving, though the transmission feels a bit busy as it juggles efficiency and performance. Sport mode makes the powertrain much more responsive, transforming the tourer into an entertaining sports car. The automatic stop/start system that turns off the engine at protracted stops in an effort to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions causes a delay when moving from a standstill. Our drivers preferred keeping it off, noting that at least the button is easy to reach.

Despite being fitted with winter performance tires, the CLE proved quite athletic in the corners, with quick steering and welcomed feedback. Even when pushing it hard on CR’s track, the CLE remained poised and balanced, with limited body roll. The stability control system can be customized for less intervention, allowing the car to be more playful. We did wonder how it would perform with all-season tires. The short answer: Even better.

One tester described the CLE as having “classic German ride quality.” Prior Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz owners will know that feeling, where the suspension manages to feel taut yet absorbs harsh impacts with alacrity. It’s like a good Mercedes sedan, controlled and supple in a way that befits a grand tourer like this one.

The CLE is very quiet and luxurious at idle. On the road, it remains hushed in Comfort mode, with some wind noise noted at highway speeds. Sport mode brings on a satisfying engine murmur, well-suited to the frisky driver-selected personality.

The seating position suited our range of drivers, with one noting that it felt similar to the C-Class sedan. A couple of observations were repeated by drivers and warrant an evaluation by buyers when test-driving: Right knees can rub on the aforementioned unpadded center console, and the steering wheel can block important portions of the instrument panel, such as the turn signals. Our CLE had the head-up display, which compensated for the visibility issues.

A majority of our drivers cited the good fit, attractive stitching, and impressive materials on the front seats, but some found them too firm. The shoulder seat belt moves forward, making it easier to reach and buckle up. Once fastened, the extension retracts and snugs the belt up.

The adaptive cruise control (ACC) system worked well, managing speed and adjusting distance from leading cars. When approaching a slower-moving vehicle on the highway, it smartly changed lanes on its own for passing. The lane keeping and lane centering assistance features operated smoothly. Collectively, these systems make long highway trips easier and less stressful.

They’re similar to the C-Class and GLC, meaning they cause similar frustrations. These are mostly related to features buried in layers and digital mazes within the infotainment screen. Odd shiny-black plastic touch capacitive controls on the steering wheel are hard to use with any precision. For example, raising the volume that way invariably moves it too loud, leading to overcompensating by making it too quiet. Drivers noted other situations, such as finding seat adjustments and seeking various safety systems, where challenges in finding and operating controls detracted from an otherwise positive experience.

Sitting low limits the view over the hood, and short glass all-around further hinders outward visibility. The windshield pillars are a bit thick, and the wide rear pillar causes a blind spot that’s noticeable when looking over your shoulder. For the most part, these limitations are inherent in the genre, and they’re somewhat offset by systems like blind spot warning, parking sensors, and the backup camera.

This may be the real story of the CLE. It’s a fine, desirable car, but it commands a premium price. It replaces the former C-Class and E-Class coupes and convertibles, though our consensus is that it seems more like a C than an E. Our as-driven price was almost $80,000. For that, you could get a whole lot more machine by purchasing a GLC or GLE SUV. Or you could buy a Mustang GT and plunk the extra $30,000 into a retirement investment. If you’re keen on buying the GLE (or really any Mercedes), the key is to watch out for the individual extras. They can add up quickly.

Most drivers noted that the brake pedal felt spongy at first, then became very responsive, making it feel grabby when partly depressed. The pedal action isn’t linear and takes some attention and practice to apply the brakes smoothly.

On a test-drive, a coupe or convertible can delight with its sensory experience, distracting from potential compromises. Be sure to assess how satisfied you would be with the following items flagged during our evaluation and largely inherent with this type of car.

Several drivers said that the long doors affected their access in parking lots. Getting into the low-slung car is easier when the door is open wide because it provides adequate space for the necessary gymnastic maneuvers to enter.

Entering this sporty coupe requires some flexibility, although it isn’t as low as some sports cars or even some sedans, like the Honda Civic. Entering the back seat is aided by the sliding front seats and seat belt presenter that moves the belt out of the way.

Think of the seats as more sporty than luxury. The torso bolsters were adjustable, but even some slender riders found them snug. The seat’s “comfort” settings, including massage adjustments, take a couple of screen touches and a swipe to access.

How well a passenger fits depends on their dimensions. Most drivers who tried the back seat felt it was too tight; their head hit the roof. The seat contouring is good, though the seats feel even firmer than the front buckets. There’s decent knee room, and feet can tuck under the front seats.

The rear storage is small, as one would reasonably expect, but it’s roomy enough for routine shopping and weekend trips.

Standard equipment for the CLE includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic warning, reverse automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and lane keeping assistance. Other available systems include forward cross traffic warning, active lane change assistance, and a driver re-engagement system that can brake the car to a stop in its lane if the driver is unresponsive. At speeds under 37 mph, the car will activate the hazard lights and call for emergency assistance.