Mercedes-Benz has a substantial lineup. More than any of its luxury rivals, Mercedes tries to fill every niche in the automotive marketplace and carve a few more. It got a little out of control – coupes with two or four doors, multiple sedans with overlapping prices and similar sizes. So, a year ago, the company started pruning.
Pruning can turn a tangle into a work of art.
The 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE is one of the better early results. It replaces 2-door versions of both the C-Class and E-Class. Available as a coupe or a convertible (“Cabriolet,” if you speak Benz), it’s one of the loveliest cars the company has designed in a minute.
We’ve known details on the Coupe for a while. This week, Mercedes provided details on the Cabriolet.
Beautiful Inside and Out
We love the Coupe’s organic lines and the long-hood, sportback-rear look coupe designers often lean into. However, the hood and beltline have a curve that sets them apart from past Mercedes designs, looking more like muscle than sculpted steel.
Convertibles lose a bit of that slips-the-air feel, but a long-tonneau-cover look gives them a high-luxe air, like a Bentley or Rolls Royce design in miniature.
Inside, they borrow the C-Class’s stylish look, with a deep center console dividing the front seats into separate cockpits.
Many automakers now place their driver’s instrument screens and central touchscreens in a single housing. We like the look, but it’s grown so common that the CLE stands out by keeping them separate. A freestanding 12.3-inch digital driver display and 11.9-inch driver-oriented central display in portrait format don’t touch. Have we had car screens long enough to call that “old school?”
“On hot days, a special coating on the available leather upholstery enables seat surfaces to remain cooler in direct sunlight by up to 53 degrees Fahrenheit compared to untreated leather,” Mercedes says. A Burmester 3D Surround Sound system is standard and incorporates speakers in the headrests, showing that Mercedes has been in this convertible game long enough to know what works.
The Airscarf system produces a warm airflow around the necks of front-seat passengers. That’s magic. People who’ve never owned a convertible tend to think they’re built for mid-summer. But the most glorious top-down driving comes in the cool of early spring or fall. Airscarf extends the number of days you can comfortably enjoy that.
“The power-operated top opens or closes in as little as 20 seconds and can be operated at vehicle speeds up to 37 mph,” Mercedes says.
255 or 375 HP
Power options include a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that produces 255 horsepower and a turbocharged 3.0-liter straight-6 good for 375. Both use a mild hybrid setup, sending power to all four wheels through a 9-speed automatic transmission.
A “comfort suspension” is standard and probably suitable for many buyers, but an available sport suspension lets drivers select the firmness they’d like.
2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE Cabriolet Pricing
When Mercedes first announced the model, our biggest question was the price. We assumed that replacing both the C and E meant a sticker sitting somewhere between them. Would it lean higher or lower?
Sensibly, they landed about in the middle. All prices include the mandatory $1,150 destination and delivery charge.
| Trim Level | MSRP (Including Destination Charge) |
| CLE 300 4Matic | $65,500 |
| CLE 300 4Matic Pinnacle | $68,100 |
| CLE 450 4Matic | $75,000 |
| CLE 450 4Matic Pinnacle | $77,600 |
