{"id":76334,"date":"2024-08-30T06:03:35","date_gmt":"2024-08-30T10:03:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/autosector.com\/?p=76334"},"modified":"2024-08-30T06:03:35","modified_gmt":"2024-08-30T10:03:35","slug":"6-thoughts-about-the-2024-mercedes-benz-cle-450-coupe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/?p=76334","title":{"rendered":"6 thoughts about the 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE 450 Coupe – Autoblog"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Mercedes<\/a> math: What\u2019s a C-Class<\/a> Coupe plus an E-Class<\/a> Coupe, minus them both? Answer: The 2024 Mercedes-Benz<\/a> CLE. This model replaced the coupe and cabriolet versions of both the longstanding C- and E-Classes. Makes sense to consolidate; coupes just aren\u2019t as popular anymore, fewer choices needed. And while all kinds of SUVs are calling themselves coupes, and Ford<\/a>\u2019s even kicking around the idea of a four-door Mustang<\/a> (other than that other four-dour Mustang<\/a>), the CLE actually has just two doors.\u00a0<\/p>\n

That makes it one of only two actual coupes in the Mercedes lineup, along with the AMG GT<\/a>. It’s the only one with a back seat.\u00a0<\/p>\n

MSRP is $66,800 including the destination fee; the CLE Coupe I drove for a week was optioned up to $77,090. Who’s the CLE for? Presumably someone who is looking back on a career and ahead to a nice car for retirement, someone with some gray in his hair who doesn’t care about utility or hauling kids anymore. He, or she, wants an elegant personal luxury coupe that’ll look good parked in the portico of the clubhouse. Here are a few thoughts after a week in a Mercedes-Benz CLE 450<\/a> 4Matic Coupe. My colleagues in Detroit are driving the CLE Cabriolet right now, and you’ll soon be hearing from them too.<\/p>\n

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1. It\u2019s pretty<\/span><\/h2>\n

There\u2019s just something lovely about a coupe. They\u2019re sleeker with fewer doors to junk up the lines. They flow. They’re a skipping stone.<\/p>\n

Obviously, you have to make compromises \u2013 longer doors are harder to get out of in tight parking spaces. You sit lower. It\u2019s harder to enter and exit the back seat, though the CLE makes it as easy as possible with a seatback lanyard on a seat that glides forward. With the sloping roof, the headrests back there nearly touch the back glass. So, sure, you\u2019re giving up some ease of use. But what price beauty?\u00a0<\/p>\n

There\u2019s still some utility. There\u2019s a surprisingly large trunk (even on the convertible<\/a>). I didn\u2019t try to put golf clubs in there, but it sure looks like they\u2019d fit, at least longways. That\u2019s probably an important consideration for the target demographic.<\/p>\n

The AMG<\/a> multispoke 20-inch wheels dress the car up nicely, for a reasonable $850. For some reason, this car also had AMG-logo floor mats<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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2. Ahoy!<\/span><\/h2>\n

This CLE Coupe was dressed in Starling Blue Metallic, a nice color<\/a>, and a no-charge one at that. The white Nappa leather, however, was a $2,590 option. There was also a $950 charge for Multicontour seats with massage function, and $450 more to ventilate them, so in all they cost $3,590. But they were the perfect complement to the blue exterior. The black woodwork with vertical aluminum trim in the dash rounds out the nautical look.<\/p>\n

Mercedes has been lighting the way with LED accents in cabins, and the CLE is decked out. The side mirrors project a huge puddle light with the Mercedes star. Inside, someone had thoughtfully set the color scheme on this car to blue, to match the exterior. Door control panels stand proud so as to emit a backlit glow, and blue light even spills out from the air vents. The white leather reflects it all. The lighting scheme makes the car seem special, even futuristic, assuming coupes have a future.<\/p>\n