Mercedes-Benz CLE Cabriolet Review 2025

You only need to spend a few minutes plying any stretch of the UK road network to appreciate how much SUVs of all shapes and sizes have captured car buyers’ imaginations. Most brands now produce at least a couple of them, but constrained resources and an ever-narrowing chance of profitability with other, more niche bodystyles means some have fallen by the wayside. That’s bad news for convertible fans in particular — read our full Mercedes CLE Cabriolet review to find out it if give them reason to celebrate.

It's not that many years ago when almost every mainstream car company sold a convertible based on one of their smaller family-sized model ranges, several latterly with complex, heavy and unreliable multi-section folding hard-tops.

Whether most of those who ploughed money into such coupe-convertibles were put off to such a degree they vowed never to do so again, or pragmatism weighed heavily on their collective consciences realising they rarely peeled the roof back anyway, sales soon tailed-off dramatically. Now the breadth of choice for new convertible buyers is very slender outside the sphere of massively expensive supercars.

Even Mercedes has scaled-back its wares with the advent of the CLE Cabriolet. As with its closed-roof CLE Coupe twin, this soft-top replaces not only the previous Mercedes C-Class Cabriolet but also the larger Mercedes E-Class Cabriolet.

It's worth noting that the Mercedes CLE Cabriolet is a smidgen longer overall than the outgoing E-Class Cabriolet, but rear seat space is tight for adults. At least they fold to expand its boot capacity when required.

Elsewhere inside the CLE Cabriolet it feels almost identical to the Mercedes C-Class, with a large, portrait-aspect multimedia screen swooping at a reclined angle on the dash. That's not ideal on sunny days with the roof down, so thoughtfully Mercedes has enabled it to be adjusted to a more upright position to ensure its contents remain visible in all conditions. 

Following the decision not to replace the now discontinued Audi A5 Cabriolet, the soft-top CLE only currently has one direct rival in the guise of the BMW 4 Series Convertible. Open-topped alternatives on the horizon are currently limited to 2026’s electric Polestar 6, although its rear seats are expected to be even tighter for space.

Apply a dash of lateral thinking and other convertibles that can just about lay claims to being alternatives to the CLE Cabriolet range from the Ford Mustang Convertible at the faster end of the performance scale, with the SUV-based Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet at the other.  

Powering the Mercedes CLE Cabriolet is a suite of five mild hybrid-assisted combustion engines, all with nine-speed automatic transmissions. Disappointingly the CLE300e Coupe’s plug-in hybrid set-up hasn’t made it across to the soft-top but there’s good news for diesel fans — the 2.0-litre CLE220d Cabriolet is the only convertible now sold in the UK that’s fuelled from the black pump.

It's rear-wheel drive, as is the 2.0-litre CLE200 petrol, while four-wheel drive is standard for the CLE300 4Matic (also a 2.0-litre) and the CLE450 4Matic, which is a 3.0-litre — do keep up at the back.

At the top of the performance tree, the Mercedes-AMG CLE53 4Matic+ Cabriolet models additionally feature more aggressive styling including a more muscular bonnet, vertical vanes for the front grille vanes and bulging wings front and rear to accommodate wheels that are set wider apart than on less powerful CLEs to benefit the AMG's handling characteristics. These CLE53s also lose 10 litres of boot capacity compared with their less powerful rangemates.

Trim levels in the CLE Cabriolet range are similarly bewildering to those of other Mercedes models. AMG Line is the entry-level specification but that can only be paired with the CLE200 and CLE220d engines. Both the CLE300 4Matic and CLE450 4Matic are additionally available in AMG Line Premium, AMG Line Premium Plus and Premier Edition grades. We reckon that AMG Line Premium hits a sweet spot as that’s the trim that nets you both a heated steering wheel and a 360-degree parking camera.

Specifications specific to the Mercedes-AMG CLE53 4Matic+ Cabriolet are different again, starting with AMG Premium, progressing to AMG Night Edition Premium Plus and crowned by Limited Edition.

All soft-top CLEs are fitted as standard with the Cabriolet Comfort package which includes the Aircap spoiler which deploys from the top of the windscreen surround when the roof’s lowered to direct air more effectively over passengers’ heads. It works in conjunction with a rear air deflector that rises vertically from between the rear headrests.

Also part of the package is the Airscarf system integrated into the front seats. It blows warm air towards the back of their occupants' necks, ensuring extra cosiness when going for a top-down jaunt in cooler months.

Orderable since the start of 2024, prices currently start at mid-£54k for the entry-level Mercedes CLE200 Cabriolet, while in the upper echelons of the pricing scale the most expensive Mercedes-AMG CLE53 Cabriolet is just north of £94,000.

Think upon the Mercedes CLE Cabriolet is a comfort-biased open-topped cruiser and you'll find it more rewarding and fit for purpose than if you're expecting it to be a sports car with a dash of extra practicality. That's not a criticism of what the CLE is — since the dawn of motoring convertible cars have more often been about enjoying the open-air experience than they have handling thrills.

This makes Mercedes' decision to only fit UK market CLE Cabriolets with 15mm lower sports suspension a curious one, because the drop in height reduces the arrangement's vertical travel, restricting its ability to soak up undulations more typically found on winding B-roads.

By way of compensation the damping firmness can be varied using the Dynamic Select function. Comfort generally feels more pleasing than Sport, softening-off the sharper ruts and ridges in the road surface more deftly.

Also bear in mind that entry-level CLE Cabriolets are fitted with the smallest available wheels at 18-inches, together with the chunkiest tyre sidewalls with greater bump absorption qualities than those enveloping the 19- and 20-inch rims.

Despite being rear-wheel drive, the lower-powered CLE Cabriolet doesn't feel lairily tail-happy when you're enthusiastic with the throttle pedal exiting corners. Its predictable, safe and feels balanced, with high levels of front-tyre traction to ensure the steering traces the arc of the bend in tune with your inputs at the wheel.

In its Sport setting the steering feels meatier in its weighting than the too-light Comfort levels of assistance, although the latter is an understandable selection for high-mileage drivers who wish to arrive at their destination feeling relaxed after hours of plying motorways. Neither setting is notably communicative.

It's a testament to how much rigidity that Mercedes' engineers have blessed the CLE Cabriolet with that there's precious little difference in how it goes about its business regardless of whether the roof's up or down. What you'll notice more readily than any nuances about its handling characteristics is that its quieter with the roof raised — hardly an earth-shattering revelation.

While body control is good, with most of the bodywork flex and shimmying kept in check with this suspension set-up, we reckon a more comfort-biased focus would feel closer to the CLE Cabriolet's ethos. More suppleness without ushering in wallow would elevate it from 'good' to 'aaah, lovely'.

There's an unusually wide array of engine choices for the Mercedes CLE Cabriolet, all of which are turbocharged and electrically assisted with mild hybrid technology, conveying their output to the driven wheels wheels via a nine-speed automatic gearbox. 

Smallest by virtue of its 1993cc capacity is the four-cylinder diesel-sipping CLE220d. Its rear-wheel drive and produces 197PS and 440Nm of torque, which is particularly rich in the lower rev range based on our experiences of it in other Mercedes models and a welcome source of urgency for making effective overtakes. Top speed is 145mph with a 7.9-second 0-62mph time.

Slightly larger is the 1999cc petrol motor installed in the CLE200. It's also RWD but while it's slightly more powerful at 204PS, its far less torquey mustering 320Nm. Being around 76kg lighter than the CLE220d enables its top speed to be 2mph higher, while its 0-62mph time is identical despite that torque deficiency.

It's not an especially sparkling engine, either in terms of its power delivery or its aural delights, but its performance overall is adequate. Paired with the nine-speed automatic, gear changes are barely perceptible, with only a brief, but inherent hesitation when pulling away from standstill blotting its copybook. 

Even more seamless is the mild hybrid's operation, particularly when operating as a glorified stop-start system. So well-managed and jolt-free is the transition when the combustion engine fires back into life that you'd swear it was simply the sound of one being piped through the speakers until the mechanical vibrations become apparent through the CLE's controls.

The remainder of the engines are all petrols with the additional security of four-wheel drive traction. Despite its CLE300 4Matic badge this model continues with the the 2.0-litre unit, albeit uprated to 258PS and 400Nm of torque. Its top speed — and that of the remaining models — is electronically capped at 155mph, although it's able to dart from a standstill to 62mph in 6.6 seconds without restriction.

For many car buyers, Mercedes is synonymous with larger capacity engines, meaning the six-cylinder, 3.0-litre CLE450 4Matic has undoubted appeal. Assisting it on its way to a 4.7-second 0-62mph time are outputs of 381PS and 500Nm.

Topping the range is a breathed-upon version of the same engine found under the bonnet of the Mercedes-AMG CLE53 4Matic+. Although power's up to 449PS and torque's boosted to 560Nm, diminishing returns at this performance level see the 0-62mph time only marginally reduced compared with the CLE450 at 4.4 seconds.

Note that if you opt for the Mercedes-AMG CLE53 4Matic+ in flagship Limited Edition guise, the equipment roster includes the AMG Driver's package which increases the top speed to a still-governed 168mph.

As the Mercedes CLE Cabriolet hasn't been independently assessed for crash- and safety-worthiness by the experts at Euro NCAP, it's impossible to be definitive about how well-protected its occpuants are.

What can be said with confidence is that Mercedes has an enviable reputation for making its cars very safe and there's no reason to think the CLE Cabriolet will be any different.

Standard safety and driver assistance features across the range include Automatic Emergency Braking, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Blind Spot Assist and Traffic Sign Recognition.

CLE Cabriolets not fitted with the Driving Assitance package Plus as standard — which includes Distronic adaptive cruise control and Evasive Steering Assist among other features — can be added at the point of ordering for an extra £1695.

All versions of the Mercedes CLE Cabriolet are approved for towing, with an 1800kg braked trailer capacity universally applicable across the range.

Practicality isn't usually a key consideration when people are considering buying a convertible, although it's fair to say that the Mercedes CLE Cabriolet isn't especially compromised in this regard.

Front seat space is as near as makes no difference identical to the CLE Coupe, meaning it feels sufficienty roomy despite the shape of the dashboard with its high centre console, complemented by the elevated window line, doing their best to create a sense of snugness. It's reminiscent of a sports car in that regard, but don't mistake the CLE Cabriolet for one — that's not what its about.

It's very easy to find a very comfortable driving position thanks to electrically ajustable seats and a similarly powered steering column with a wide range of positions, both for angle and reach. And yes, Mercedes' famous automated seatbelt presenters are present and correct here — a robotic extender ensures that you don't have to dislocated your shoulder while reaching behind you to grab the restrain't buckle.

At a minimum length of 4850mm, the Mercedes CLE Cabriolet is a smidgen longer than the previous soft-top E-Class, although its 2865mm wheelbase — the distance between the front and rear wheels — represents a slight reduction.

As a result, the rear pair of seats are a squeeze for taller adults, particularly if those up front are similarly long-limbed. Restricted legroom might be tolerable for shorter journeys but limited headroom with the roof in place is trickier to deal with — fold it down and the sky's your literal limit.

It's important to note that due to the hood's electrically operated mechanism and the need to strengthen the car's structure, the Cabriolet's rear seats are not only narrower with shorter cushions than those in the CLE Coupe, the seatbacks are also at a more upright angle. 

They do at least contain Isofix child seat mounting points, although access to them is awkward with the roof up. A loop on the top outer corners of the front seats acts as a switch to glide them further out of the way when their seatbacks are tipped forwards.

With the roof down the Mercedes CLE Cabriolet's boot space is a modest 295 litres, growing to 385 litres when it's raised and the well it folds into is reduced in depth. That latter figure is the same as the BMW 4 Series Convertible, while the Ford Mustang Convertible has 310 litres available, roof up or down. Cleverly, if you have so much luggage on board that the roof well can't be extended, the CLE's roof won't fold and crush the boot's contents.

A switch in the boot releases the split-folding rear seat backs in the Mercedes, although no figures are quoted for its carrying capacity in that guise.

Storage spaces for odds and ends around the interior are fine, with the cubby beneath the front central armrest being especially useful. Ahead of that is a sliding cover that hides the smartphone wireless charging pad and twin cupholders.

This space is less well-designed than is ideal — the left cupholder's smaller than the right one making it tricky to fit two drinks adjacently, plus when they're occupied access to your phone's all but impossible. Not that you should be using it when driving but it makes for a faff when using it for contactless payments at toll booths and drive-through food outlets.

With the side windows raised and the roof lowered, the Mercedes CLE Cabriolet's interior is generally calm and unruffled by passing air at speeds of up to 30mph or so. Beyond that you'll want to take advantage of the standardised Cabriolet Comfort package's Aircap system.

It's made of two elements — a spoiler that rises from the top of the windscreen surround and a sturdy mesh panel that extends upwards from between the rear headrests. Aesthetically the two components spoil the CLE Cabriolet's unfussy styling, but they're very effective at reducing in-car turbulence.

Combined with the standard heated seats and the Airscarf system which blows warm air around the neck of the front seats' occupants from vents below the headrests, there's no excuse to drive the CLE Cabriolet with the roof up unless it's raining. 

There's a vibe to the Mercedes CLE Cabriolet's interior that's common to many cars from the brand launched in recent years. It looks impressive — if a tad glitzy and tech-heavy — but several of the surfaces feel underwhelming to the touch.

Some components, such as the dashboard airvents, appear to be metallic yet are plasticky in operation, while the wood- and carbon fibre-look appliques to many of the surfaces sound thin and hollow when tapped.

Those gripes aside, the quality of the CLE's assembly nevertheless feels impressive, with no squeaks or rattles from any of the fixtures and fittings even with the roof lowered to introduce a modicum of flex into its structure.

More impressive when driving the CLE Cabriolet after sunset is the extent of its interior LED ambient lighting. Not only are there a multitude of colour options, you can choose different hues for various parts of the cabin and have them animated to cycle through sequences of them. The transitions are gentle ensuring it doesn't seem remotely as distracting as it sounds.

What the lightshow doesn't hide is that the CLE's interior doesn't feel as imperiously special as Mercedes models of old.

Essentially a facsimile of that fitted to the C-Class, the Mercedes CLE Cabriolet's dashboard is dominated by a wide centre section that's home to an 11.9-inch, portrait-oriented multimedia touchscreen swooping up at an angle from the centre console.

It's skewed slightly towards the driver for ergonomic convenience and its reclined angle can also be adjusted to a more vertical setting to reduce the chances of being dazzled by the sun's reflection when the roof's down. That's especially useful because most of the CLE's functions are operated via the touchscreen, including the dual-zone climate control. 

That's particularly disappointing given Mercedes' former physical buttons for those functions are far easier to operate without taking your eyes momentarily off the road. 

There's a similarly retrograde step with the haptic touch-sensitive areas on the spindly steering wheel spokes used for operating functions including the cruise control. We would still prefer dedicated physical buttons instead — and the extra column stalk Mercedes used to fit for models with cruise control — but these perform better than similar systems in rival brands' cars. What's harder to fathom is the angle of the controls, which makes thumb operation of them less comfortable than taking a hand off the wheel to use a fingertip instead.

On a more positve note the MBUX operating system for the touchscreen is a doddle to use, with near-instant responses, sharp graphics and intuitive menus. Although the integrated navigation looks smart we suspect most drivers will still take advantage of using a phone-based alternative once wirelessly connected using Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.

Immediately ahead of the driver is a further 12.3-inch display screen, providing digitised instrumentation in a variety of configurations. More expensive trim levels additionally replicate key information to the driver via a head-up display package with direct windscreen projection.

Unless you've existed in a parallel universe with evidence to the contrary, soft-top cars proudly adorned with the three-pointed logo have never been paragons of monetary value, so it's no surprise that the Mercedes CLE Cabriolet continues that trend. At least levels of standard equipment are more sensible than they were in times gone by.

Entry-point to the line-up is the £54,495 Mercedes CLE200 AMG Line Cabriolet, with the diesel gateway opening with the CLE220d in the same specification for £56,075.

If you're craving more grunt plus the additional traction afforded by four-wheel drive, you also need to go up a rung on the trim level ladder — £61,370 will net you a CLE300 4Matic AMG Line Premium Cabriolet, while the punchier CLE450 4Matic upgrade starts at £72,325.

For the highest levels of performance available you'll need to turn your attention to the Mercedes-AMG CLE53 4Matic+ models. Entry to that club starts at £79,660 for the AMG Premium specification, with the priciest Limited Edition model topping the range at £94,160.

While the BMW 4 Series Convertible is the CLE Cabriolet's most direct alternative it's available in far fewer configurations — three versus the Mercedes' 17. It costs £52,780 for the 420i M Sport rising to £95,420 for the M4 Competition M xDrive.

Of the outsiders, the 5.0-litre V8-only Ford Mustang Convertible is £61,970 for a manual transmission model and an extra £2k for the automatic. By contrast the Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet is available for £34,925 in Style 1.0 TSI form with the R-Line 1.5 TSI DSG flagship crowning the range at £40,760.

Unlike its CLE Coupe sibling, the Mercedes CLE Cabriolet isn't available with a plug-in hybrid drive system, meaning it's highly unlikely to be remotely attractive to Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax-paying company car drivers. From that perspective the entry-level CLE220d AMG Line is the least costly by dint of falling into the 31% taxation band. Ouch.

Before sharing the WLTP Combined cycle fuel efficiency figures of the CLE Cabriolet range it's important to note that these are the results of lab-condition tests with the roof raised for the best aerodynamic efficiency. As a rule of thumb we found the real-world roof-down results were typically around 20% lower than we were able to achieve with the soft-top erected.

Those offical fuel consumption figures highlight that the sole CLE220d diesel option is the one to go for if you want to minimise visits to filling stations to top up the Mercedes' 66-litre fuel tank — 57.7mpg is the headline figure.

Next up, albeit with a large gap between them, is the CLE200 petrol which returns 41.5-42.2mpg depending on trim level. Although also a 2.0-litre, the extra power and four-wheel drive system of the CLE300 4Matic has barely worsened its fuel efficiency, evidenced by its 39.2mpg figure.

Onto the 3.0-litre petrols and the best of 35.3mpg belongs to the CLE450 4Matic — the rortier Mercedes-AMG CLE53 4Matic+ posts 29.1-29.4mpg.

Mercedes servicing packages are worth considering when buying a CLE Cabriolet as they represent good value buying them as bundle. That's useful as consumables such as braking components and tyres will prove expensive, particularly on more powerful models wearing larger-diameter wheels.

Insurance groupings are on the high side with all models within the 40E to 48E window.  

At first glance, the trim level structure of the Mercedes CLE Cabriolet range seems riddled with complexity, but in truth it's not as tricky as it first appears to get your head around.

Mercedes CLE200 and CLE220d versions can be specified in entry-level AMG Line specification, with the CLE300 4Matic and CLE450 4Matic joining them in AMG Line Premium, AMG Line Premium Plus and Premier Edition trims.

Arrangements for the Mercedes-AMG CLE53 4Matic+ models are slightly different, comprising AMG Premium, AMG Night Edition Premium Plus and Limited Edition.

Standard features found on the Mercedes CLE AMG Line Cabriolet include:

• 18-inch AMG 5-twin-spoke alloy wheels in black with a high-sheen finish
• Agility Control sports suspension
• Dynamic Select driving modes
• Fabric acoustic soft-top
• Cabriolet Comfort package incorporating Aircap, Airscarf and an automatic boot separator
• LED High-Performance headlights with automatic main beam
• Electrically adjustable and folding door mirrors
• Keyless entry and starting
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Reversing camera
• Heated and electrically adjustable front seats with memory function
• Leather upholstery
• Thermatic dual-zone automatic climate control
• 11.9-inch high-resolution multimedia touchscreen
• 12.3-inch configurable digital instrument display screen
• Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone connectivity
• Wireless smartphone charging pad
• Anthracite linestructure wood trim for main dashboard panel
• LED interior Ambient Lighting Premium
• Auto-dimming interior rear-view mirror
• Automatic seatbelt feeder
• Illuminated door sills with Mercedes-Benz lettering

Upgrading to the Mercedes CLE AMG Line Premium Cabriolet adds:

• 19-inch AMG multi-spoke alloy wheels in black with a high-sheen finish
• Digital Light LED headlights with automatic main beam
• 360-degree parking camera system
• Heated leather-wrapped steering wheel
• MBUX augmented reality navigation system

A further rung up the ladder to the Mercedes CLE AMG Line Premium Plus Cabriolet brings:

• 20-inch AMG multi-spoke alloy wheels in black with a high-sheen finish
• Multi-contoured and ventilated front seats
• Head-up display
• Burmester 3D surround sound system
• Black open-pore wood trim with aluminium lines for main dashboard panel

Spend more on the Mercedes CLE Premier Edition Cabriolet if you fancy:

• 20-inch AMG multi-spoke alloy wheels in black with a high-sheen rim flange
• Night package — reduced levels of exterior chromework
• Nappa leather upholstery
• Carbon fibre trim for main dashboard panel

For the highest performance levels you'll need to start with the Mercedes-AMG CLE53 AMG Premium Cabriolet with a kit roster that includes:

• 20-inch AMG Y-spoke alloy wheels in matt black with a high-sheen finish
• AMG Ride Control suspension
• Rear axle steering
• Mercedes-AMG-specific bodywork
• Grey-painted brake callipers
• Digital Light LED headlights with automatic main beam
• Mercedes-AMG-specific interior
• AMG leather upholstery
• Nappa leather-wrapped and heated AMG Performance steering wheel
• Anthracite linestructure wood trim for main dashboard panel
• Illuminated door sills with AMG lettering

That can be improved upon if you go for the Mercedes-AMG CLE53 AMG Night Premium Plus Cabriolet with:

• 20-inch AMG Y-spoke alloy wheels in matt black with a high-sheen rim flange
• AMG Exterior Night package — reduced levels of exterior chromework
• Multi-contoured and ventilated front seats
• Nappa leather and Microcut microfibre-wrapped and heated AMG Performance steering wheel
• Head-up display
• Burmester 3D surround sound system
• Carbon fibre trim for main dashboard panel

At the pinnacle of the line-up the Mercedes-AMG CLE53 Limited Edition Cabriolet also features:

• 20-inch AMG Y-spoke alloy wheels in matt black with a high-sheen finish
• AMG Exterior Carbon Fibre packages I and II — reduced levels of exterior chromework
• AMG Dynamic Plus package
• AMG Driver's package including a top speed increase to 168mph
• Mercedes Manufaktur spectral blue magno paint
• Editon bodywork decals
• AMG Performance Seat package High-End
• AMG Nappa leather upholstery in white and black
• Carbon fibre and Microcut microfibre-wrapped and heated AMG Performance steering wheel