2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE 300 Cabriolet, Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 straddle performance and daily-use

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Following the release of its 2024 mid-size CLE coupe, Mercedes-Benz will be offering two fresh flavours of this sport luxury two-door later this year — the Mercedes-Benz CLE Cabriolet and the Mercedes-AMG CLE 53. One is a cruiser and the other a bit of a bruiser, and I got to sample both over an action-packed few days in the Canary Islands.

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What is the Mercedes-Benz CLE 300 Cabriolet?

The CLE is a tweener, tucking in between the Mercedes C and E-Class cars, and this fresh cabriolet version furthers Benz’s long tradition of offering luxury four-seat drop-tops. The fixed back seats are cozy yet comfortable, and thanks to the standard Aircap (previously optional on the discontinued E-Class convertible), rear seat passengers will experience less wind turbulence. The clever air foil that rises from the top of the windshield redirects airflow in a large arc over the car (effective with the side windows up), thus reducing the chance of Uncle Reg’s toupee flitting down the road behind the Cabrio’s shapely derriere. Activating Aircap also deploys a wind deflector between the rear head rests. While the Aircap adds a bit of wind noise, it is impressively effective.

Another cool feature specific to the Cabriolet its central 11.9-inch central touchscreen that can be electrically tilted from 12 to 32 degrees. It works a treat to reduce sun glare. While Artico faux leather is standard, buyers can pony up for optional, specially-coated Nappa leather that reflects the sun’s rays, keeping the surface up to 12 degrees cooler in direct sunlight. The trunk holds 385 litres — 295 litres with the top down.

With the top down the cabin is ringed with brushed metal trim that gives off a decidedly nautical vibe. At night, this is accentuated by cool ambient lighting, that in the tradition of Mercedes can glow in any colour of the rainbow.

What powers the Mercedes-Benz CLE 300 Cabriolet?

Initially, we’ll be getting the CLE 300 Cabriolet that runs with a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder incorporating a 48-volt mild hybrid system. A nine-speed auto and 4Matic all-wheel drive are standard. The four-pot’s 255 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque proved perfectly adequate for this car’s mission as a comfortable cruiser, powering us along the scenic mountain roads with relaxed poise. Some journalists here were whining about a perceived lack of power, but for this car’s mission I’d say the four-pot is just fine. My only real complaint is the 300 Cabrio’s reluctance is to kick down when stomping on the go pedal. I felt flat footed a couple of times when passing and merging.

The Cabrio’s standard suspension is an adaptive steel-sprung setup, although the cars at this event were fitted with the optional E-Active Body Control featuring actuators at each corner that work independently, instantly reacting to road conditions. Either way you slice it, the Mercedes engineers softened the drop-top’s suspension marginally when compared with the Coupe to ensure a comfier driving experience. And comfy it was, even in Sport mode, although it must be noted the roads here in Tenerife are smoother than an appliance salesman’s pitch.

Four electric motors have the CLE Cabriolet’s five-layer fabric top powering up or down in about 20 seconds, with another three motors handling the powered latches. This replaces the previous E-Class Cabrio’s semi-hydraulic system. Top up, the CLE Cabriolet exhibits near coupe-like isolation. Compared with the CLE Coupe, the CLE Cabriolet weighs an additional 130 kg, with much of that coming from additional stiffening of the car’s structure. The car certainly feels drum tight, and I didn’t notice any structural shivers over the few rough patches we encountered.

The Canary Islands are owned by Spain, and this fascinating volcanic outcropping 100 km off the coast of Morocco proved to be a fine locale to show off Mercedes’ new ragtop. The scenery is breathtaking. Head inland from the coast with its endless banana plantations and you’ll be wending your way up through pine forests to a bizarre moonscape that is the Teide National Park, dominated by the 3,718-metre Mount Teide volcano. Although still classified as active, it hasn’t erupted since 1909.

This journey can bring some pretty drastic swings in temperature, so while it felt near tropical along the coast at times (optional ventilated seats activated and A/C on crush, thank you), the higher altitudes had us using heat and the standard AirScarf that blows warm air across the base of the neck. Under all conditions, with the windows up and AirCap activated, the cabin remained comfortable and largely climate controlled.

How much is the Mercedes-Benz CLE 300 Cabriolet?

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE 300 Cabriolet will be available in Canada just in time for summer. Pricing details will be announced closer to its sale date.

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How does the 2024 Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Coupe differ from the standard CLE?

The 2024 Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Coupe flips the script, bringing a hard-top driving experience that blends aggression, pace and adept handling. You’ll definitely notice the CLE 53 coming thanks to its AMG-specific gaping maw, aggressive lower valance and ready-to-pounce stance. The latter is no illusion. AMG swelled the wheel arches of the standard CLE to accommodate the 53’s wider track (58 mm at the front and 76 mm at the rear). Standard are 19-inch wheels, although these testers wore the optional 20-inchers, with the rears sporting the deep-dish look. Also available is an AMG Performance Studio package that spruces up the proceedings with a more pronounced lip spoiler on the trunk, rear diffuser and extra “flics” on the front and rear fascia. Two AMG Night packages and two AMG Carbon Fiber packages are also available.

Sliding into the CLE 53’s optional heavily bolstered AMG performance seats, it feels all business in here. There’s specific AMG trim and a multi-function AMG steering wheel with two rotary controllers for quick access to vehicle dynamic settings and drive programs. As with the Cabriolet, we are presented with a 12.3-inch configurable gauge cluster and 11.9-inch central touchscreen, accessed by the latest generation MBUX system. The 53 gets AMG-specific displays and functions that include engine data, suspension and transmission settings, vehicle telemetry date and more.

While the AMG performance seats look aggressive, they proved comfortable for my few hours behind the wheel, be that dicing along B-roads or cruising the highway. The two contoured rear seats are cozy, but sufficiently roomy for six-footers. This coupe is a true four-seater – there is no middle spot for a third person in the back.

What powers the 2024 Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Coupe?

Under the CLE 53’s hood (yes, those are functional extraction vents) lies a turbocharged inline 3.0L six-cylinder engine good for 443 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque (443 lb-ft with 10 seconds of overboost). A single turbocharger pairs with an auxiliary electric compressor, the latter operated almost continuously to provide higher torque at a wider range of engine speeds. Turbo lag is a non-issue.

This performance coupe is billed as a mild hybrid with its 48-volt integrated starter generator (ISG) living within the gearbox bell housing. It acts as electrical generator, recuperator and starter motor, while also adding short-term power boosting — 23 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque at lower speeds. AMG claims the CLE 53 Coupe will scoot to 100 km/h in 4.2 seconds. Standard are AMG-tuned fully variable 4Matic all-wheel drive, rear-wheel steering and adaptive damping. The Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Coupe will not drive on electric power alone.

What it does do is slice up these twisting Tenerife roads with precision and a sense of confidence-inspiring balance. Dial up the most aggressive Sport+ mode and the CLE 53 becomes your willing dance partner. Its tidy size and nimble moves sidestep the bigger V8-powered AMG’s more brutish and ballistic approach to speed for a more nuanced and joyful experience. And with “only” 443 horses under foot, you’re less likely to catapult yourself off a cliff.

Granted, there’s no classic AMG V8 bellow, but the engineers have enhanced the natural sound of this robust straight-six by bringing a pretty gnarly soundtrack into the cabin when in Sport or Sport+ modes. The nine-speed AMG Speedshift TCT 9G transmission with traditional torque converter is a smooth and clever operator. In Sport and Sport+ modes, it picks the gears well but shift paddle response is not up there with the best dual-clutch transmissions.

When you’re done playing hooligan, the Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Coupe settles into a decent cruiser, showing a firm, controlled and compliant ride in Comfort mode. Again, I couldn’t find any bad roads in Tenerife so the jury is still out on how it will handle our crap Canadian roads. We’ll see the 2024 Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Coupe in the latter half of 2024; pricing to come at a later date.

What competes with the Mercedes-Benz CLE?

The high-performance, six-cylinder, four-seat, mid-size coupe occupies a tiny slice of the automotive pie, but the legacy German automakers all got ‘em, and it’s a prestigious little sandbox. Anyone in this game is gunning for the benchmark BMW M4/M3, a car that has essentially ruled the roost since… well, forever. There’s also the smaller and equally desirable BMW M2 Coupe. The other major player here is the aging Audi RS5 that in recent Competition guise has upped its game considerably.

So the 2024 Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Coupe, as the new kid on the block, has got some stiff competition, but initial impressions are favourable. It’s a fine all-rounder that adroitly straddles both the performance and daily-use worlds, and perhaps most importantly, is a hoot to fling along a sinuous stretch of tarmac.