2026 Mercedes-Benz CLE

It’s OK to wonder what the CLE is exactly. After all, this is only the car’s third model year, and with everything else going on in the world, you might not have had time to keep current with everything produced by Mercedes-Benz. You might also have dreamed about owning a C-Class or E-Class coupe or convertible and wondered why they’re no longer around. Here’s your new dream car.

It fills the gap in the Mercedes-Benz portfolio left by the erstwhile C-Class and E-Class coupes and cabriolets (cabriolet is another word for a car with a soft-top, like a convertible). Wearing that famed 3-pointed star does tell us a lot, though. For example, the ride quality is suitably luxurious, while the tech is about as fresh as it gets, including many advanced safety features. The CLE is an elegant car capable of insulating its occupants or inviting them to enjoy the fresh air of a coastal road or a clear, starlit night. Not many cars could be described as romantic, but the CLE should surely be one of them.

We’ve logged hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of luxury coupes and convertibles, including the Mercedes-Benz CLE.

An optional Black Fine Structure Center Console replaces the standard piano black with a kind of satin finish, and should be more scratch-resistant. Mercedes-Benz also adds an Engineering package to the CLE’s options list, consisting of an adaptive suspension and rear-wheel steering.

The 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLE has a starting sticker price of $60,800, with the range-topping CLE 450 4Matic Cabriolet kicking off at $78,650.

We recommend the popular CLE 300 4Matic and buyers can make up their own minds whether they want a metal roof or not. Our reasoning is that this model has sufficient power and equipment, while looking just as elegant as more expensive variants.

The closest rival is the compact BMW 4 Series, whose all-wheel-drive 430i xDrive Coupe comes in below its CLE counterpart. It’s the same story with 4 Series Convertible contenders.

Before buying a new Mercedes-Benz CLE, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. Most people in the market for luxury coupes and convertibles probably don’t have resale values high on their list of priorities. However, the more specialized Mercedes-Benz models tend to fare quite well. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

The 255-horsepower CLE 300 4Matic has plenty of muscle for most situations on public roads. You know, how normal people drive. We also found it agile and easy in that usual, pleasurable, imperturbable Mercedes-Benz way. Sport mode makes the steering a little firmer and the engine a touch more responsive to throttle inputs. That’s fun. The dash from a standstill to 60 mph happens in a respectable 6.2 seconds — almost a second slower than the BMW 430i xDrive Coupe, but the CLE 300 is more about serenity than alacrity. For a faster sprint, the CLE 450 4Matic gathers its 375 hp to stop the clock at 4.2 seconds.

The new Engineering package this year brings an adaptive suspension and rear-wheel steering. The former can create a sportier setting while also offering comfort, while the latter enhances maneuverability and agility. This bundle might be better suited to variants with more power, but still worth test-driving if possible.

Fuel Economy

The CLE 300 4Matic Coupe achieves 27 mpg in combined city/highway driving. To compare, a BMW 430i xDrive Coupe gets 30 mpg combined. The CLE 300 Cabriolet manages 26 mpg combined. As does the CLE 450 4Matic, regardless of body style. We’d say that’s not much of a penalty given the difference in power.

One aspect of the latest C-Class that has migrated into the CLE is the overall cabin design. There’s the same large (11.9-inch) center touchscreen oriented vertically and angled slightly toward the driver, along with a trio of air vents just above it. The driver has a 12.3-inch instrument cluster, and gets to really enjoy the standard surround-sound system because that seat has speakers in its headrest.

We’ve always liked the extending arms in Mercedes-Benz coupes that bring the seat belt into a more reachable position. They’re present and correct in the CLE. There’s plenty of room up front, with comfortable and well-shaped seats. And we appreciate how the CLE even provides soft places for our elbows to land. Naturally, the cabin materials are high-quality, although we can predict that the piano black on the center console of our test car will eventually look less classy with fingermarks and scratches. Choose another option if possible, like the new-for-2026 Black Fine Structure Center Console (see our What’s New section above).

We’ve found outward vision in the coupe to be quite acceptable, although we’re pleased that blind-spot monitoring and parking sensors are standard. We won’t gripe about tight rear legroom, since adults are unlikely to be sitting in the back regularly. Most of the time, that part of the car will be where bags and jackets are kept. The coupe’s 11.2 cubic feet of trunk space is kind of cozy, but fold down the back seats and there’s room for a couple of golf bags. The CLE Cabriolet’s trunk area measures 9.6 cubic feet.

Speaking of the cabriolet, its optional leather upholstery has a special coating to stay cooler in direct sunlight than the regular stuff. We also like how this car’s infotainment touchscreen can tilt to help reduce reflections. And how the neck-warming Airscarf feature is standard, enabling top-down driving during clear winter weather.

Based on the current C-Class platform, but about half an inch longer than the erstwhile E-Class coupe, the CLE straddles the line between compact and midsize. The 2026 CLE is available as either a fixed-roof coupe or a cabriolet (4-seater convertible) model with a power-folding fabric roof.

The riskiest aspect of the styling is how traditional it seems. That’s fine with us, though. The CLE has a typical Mercedes-Benz elegance, and we think all the proportions are judged well. We also love the multi-spoke alloy wheels.

Artificial Intelligence
The CLE’s infotainment system (also found in the latest E-Class) can recognize and learn behavior patterns. For example, it can suggest a navigation destination that’s visited regularly or make a phone call that’s usually done at a particular time. It can even go beyond this to create a cold-weather setting (activating the heated front seats when the outside temperature falls below a certain point) or a date night ambience — playing romantic music and selecting rose-colored cabin lighting.

Burmester audio
Often on the options lists of Mercedes-Benz vehicles, a 710-watt, 17-speaker Burmester surround-sound system is standard in the CLE. To make it especially immersive, there are speakers set into the headrest of the driver’s seat. Dolby Atmos — which really enriches the sound — is also part of the setup. We think that once you’ve heard this in all its glory, you’ll be disappointed by virtually everything else.

Just talk
Technology develops so quickly. A couple of years ago, just saying “Hey Mercedes” to prompt the digital assistant felt futuristic. Now the system in the CLE knows when there’s a solo driver and is always listening out for instructions. So there’s no need to begin commands with those two words if you’re by yourself.

Apps
Mercedes-Benz calls the CLE the most intelligent 2-door car to wear its famous star badge. This aptitude includes the ability to download third-party apps like Zoom, TikTok, and the Angry Birds video game — that’s intelligent, right?

Driver Assistance
This optional bundle helps with things like busy intersections and evasive steering, while moving the front seats closer to the center if a side impact is about to happen. We think this would be a good addition.

Active Parking Assist
The newest Mercedes-Benz self-parking function performs its tasks more quickly than past iterations.

Both engines in this 2026 CLE lineup have a mild hybrid arrangement where an electric motor provides a quick boost of 23 hp and 148 lb-ft of torque to help reach peak output quickly and efficiently. It also smooths out the fuel-saving, emissions-reducing, engine stop/restart function.

The CLE 300’s engine is a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder unit that makes 255 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The CLE 450 has a 3.0-liter turbocharged 6-cylinder engine that generates a punchy 375 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque.

A sweet-shifting 9-speed automatic transmission is standard, along with all-wheel drive (known as 4Matic).

We cover the high-performance Mercedes-AMG CLE models in a separate review.

4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty

Like most luxury German marques, the new-car and powertrain warranties provided by Mercedes-Benz last four years or 50,000 miles, whichever happens first.

Safety Ratings

The CLE hasn’t been crash-tested by any independent agencies, which is quite common with luxury cars. Standard safety features include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring. Cabriolet models also come with rollover protection.