Mercedes CLE AMG

Mercedes CLE AMG: which version to buy

The Mercedes CLE AMG is a one-generation Cabrio sold from December 2023 with four current versions: two gasoline CLE53 3.0 TCT entries (both 449 hp), the CLE53 PHEV 3.0 TCT (544 hp), and the CLE63S 3.0 TCT (612 hp). There is no second generation and no restyling window in the data, so the buying choice is not “which year” — it is which of these four cars matches how you use a Cabrio.

The Mercedes CLE AMG is a one-generation Cabrio sold from December 2023 with four current versions: two gasoline CLE53 3.0 TCT entries (both 449 hp), the CLE53 PHEV 3.0 TCT (544 hp), and the CLE63S 3.0 TCT (612 hp). There is no second generation and no restyling window in the data, so the buying choice is not “which year” — it is which of these four cars matches how you use a Cabrio.

Which CLE AMG version to buy

Buy the CLE53 3.0 TCT with 600 Nm if the priority is the lightest kerb weight (2035 kg), the strongest 0–100 figure among the 449 hp pair (4.4 s), and mixed consumption of 9.8 with 223 CO2. Buy the other CLE53 3.0 TCT (560 Nm) only if you accept 5.0 s to 100, 2300 kg, mixed 10.7, and 220 CO2 — it is the same name and the same 449 hp / 330 kW, but it is 265 kg heavier and 0.6 s slower. Buy the CLE53 PHEV 3.0 TCT if mixed consumption (1.5) and CO2 (33) matter more than mass: it is the heaviest car here (2725 kg kerb, 3330 kg gross) and the slowest 0–100 among the four (4.7 s) despite 544 hp. Buy the CLE63S 3.0 TCT if the numbers that move are peak power (612 hp / 450 kW), torque (850 Nm), 0–100 (3.9 s), and top speed (280 versus 250 on every other version).

CLE AMG 1 generation: four versions, one body

The only generation starts 2023-12-01 and has no end date. Body type is Cabrio. Count of versions: 4. All four share AWD, a 9-speed Robotic gearbox, a 65-litre tank, front longitudinal turbo engines of 2999 displacement, the same wheel set, independent spring suspension at both ends, and ventilated disc / Disc ventilated brakes. Ground clearance is not measured on every version. Eco class is not measured. City and highway consumption are not measured; only mixed is given.

What this generation does not give you is a choice of body or a choice of drive: if you want a CLE AMG Cabrio from these data, every row is AWD Cabrio.

CLE AMG specs: engine, gearbox, drive

Displacement is identical: 2999 on all four. Fuel grade is 98 on all four. Direct injection (direct) and 4 valves per cylinder are common. Compression is 10.5 on both CLE53 3.0 TCT cars and on the CLE53 PHEV 3.0 TCT; the CLE63S 3.0 TCT is the outlier at 8.6. Bore × stroke is 83 x 92.4 across the board.

Specific output from those figures (hp ÷ 2.999 L): CLE53 3.0 TCT 149.7 hp/L; CLE53 PHEV 3.0 TCT 181.4 hp/L; CLE63S 3.0 TCT 204.1 hp/L. The PHEV’s extra 95 hp versus either CLE53 is +21% power on the same 2999 and the same 6 Inline layout. The CLE63S’s extra 163 hp versus either CLE53 is +36% power; it is also the only version with 8 cylinders in the data.

Torque is not ranked the same way as power. The CLE53 3.0 TCT with 600 Nm beats the PHEV’s 560 Nm by 40 Nm even though it has 95 hp less. The second CLE53 3.0 TCT matches the PHEV at 560 Nm. The CLE63S 3.0 TCT at 850 Nm is +250 Nm versus the 600 Nm CLE53 and +290 Nm versus the 560 Nm cars — +42% and +52% respectively. Peak torque on the CLE63S also sits in a narrower window (2500-4500) than the 2200-5000 band on the three CLE53-named versions.

Performance, mpg and CO2: 0-100, top speed, consumption

The only top-speed step in the line is the CLE63S 3.0 TCT at 280; the other three are capped at 250 (+30, or +12%). The 0–100 spread is 1.1 s from slowest to fastest: 5.0 (heavier CLE53) → 4.7 (PHEV) → 4.4 (lighter CLE53) → 3.9 (CLE63S). The PHEV is 95 hp up on both CLE53 cars and still 0.3 s slower than the 2035 kg CLE53 and only 0.3 s quicker than the 2300 kg CLE53.

Mixed consumption: the PHEV’s 1.5 is 8.3 below the 9.8 CLE53 and 9.2 below the 10.7 CLE53 — about 85% and 86% lower on the mixed figure given. The CLE63S at 12.8 is +3.0 versus 9.8 (+31%) and +2.1 versus 10.7 (+20%). CO2 follows the same split: PHEV 33 versus 220 / 223 on the CLE53 pair and 291 on the CLE63S. The two same-name CLE53 cars differ by 3 CO2 (223 vs 220) despite 0.9 mixed consumption difference — the lighter, thirstier-on-paper-not: the 9.8 car emits 223, the 10.7 car 220.

City mpg and highway mpg are not measured for every version; do not treat mixed as a city or highway number.

Dimensions, weight, tank, wheels

Ground clearance: not measured (all four). Fuel tank: 65 (all four). Wheels (all four): 265/40 R19, 295/35 R19, 265/35 R20, 295/30 R20. Front suspension Independent, spring; rear Independent, spring. Front brakes Ventilated disc; rear Disc ventilated.

Kerb spread is 690 kg from lightest CLE53 (2035) to PHEV (2725): the PHEV is +34% kerb versus the lightest car. Versus the heavier CLE53 (2300) the PHEV is still +425 kg. The CLE63S at 2420 sits +385 kg over the lightest CLE53 and +120 kg over the heavier CLE53, but 305 kg under the PHEV.

Mass per horsepower (kerb ÷ hp): CLE63S 3.0 TCT 3.95 kg/hp is the best ratio; lightest CLE53 3.0 TCT 4.53; PHEV 5.01; heavier CLE53 3.0 TCT 5.12. The heavier CLE53 has the same 449 hp as the light one and 265 kg more kerb, which is why its 0–100 is 5.0 versus 4.4. Payload (gross − kerb) is largest on the heavier CLE53 (750 kg), then CLE63S (700), PHEV (605), lightest CLE53 (455). If you need the biggest legal load figure in these data, that is the 2300 / 3050 CLE53 3.0 TCT, not the PHEV and not the 612 hp car.

Which version to choose (numbers only)

Same badge, two cars. Both CLE53 3.0 TCT rows are 449 hp / 330 kW, 2999, Gasoline, 6 Inline, Turbo, Robotic 9, AWD, tank 65, top speed 250. Separate them by torque, sprint, mass, mixed use, and CO2:

• 600 Nm, 4.4 s, 2035 / 2490 kg, mixed 9.8, CO2 223
• 560 Nm, 5.0 s, 2300 / 3050 kg, mixed 10.7, CO2 220

The 600 Nm car makes 40 Nm more (+7%), is 265 kg lighter kerb (−11.5%), 0.6 s quicker, 0.9 lower mixed, and 3 CO2 higher. Payload is 295 kg smaller (455 vs 750). If the job is open-top pace at the lowest kerb in the catalogue, take CLE53 3.0 TCT 600 Nm. If the job is the same name with more gross weight headroom, take CLE53 3.0 TCT 560 Nm.

Plug-in versus both CLE53 gasoline cars. CLE53 PHEV 3.0 TCT: 544 hp / 400 kW, 560 Nm, Plug-in, 4.7 s, 250, mixed 1.5, CO2 33, 2725 / 3330 kg. Versus the 600 Nm CLE53 you pay +690 kg kerb and +0.3 s to 100 for +95 hp, −40 Nm, −8.3 mixed, and −190 CO2. Versus the 560 Nm CLE53 you pay +425 kg kerb and gain 0.3 s (4.7 vs 5.0) for the same 560 Nm, +95 hp, −9.2 mixed, and −187 CO2. The PHEV is the consumption and CO2 buy, not the sprint buy and not the light-Cabrio buy. Its kg/hp (5.01) is worse than the light CLE53 (4.53) and far worse than the CLE63S (3.95).

CLE63S versus the rest. CLE63S 3.0 TCT: 612 hp / 450 kW @ 5750-6500, 850 Nm @ 2500-4500, Gasoline, 8 Inline, 3.9 s, 280, mixed 12.8, CO2 291, 2420 / 3120 kg. Versus the fastest CLE53 (4.4 s, 250): +163 hp, +250 Nm, −0.5 s, +30 top speed, +3.0 mixed, +68 CO2, +385 kg kerb. Versus the PHEV: +68 hp, +290 Nm, −0.8 s, +30 top speed, mixed 12.8 vs 1.5, CO2 291 vs 33, and −305 kg kerb. It is the only version that breaks 250 top speed and the only 8-cylinder row. Compression 8.6 versus 10.5 on the other three is part of the same spec sheet, not a different generation.

What “extra” does not buy in this catalogue. There is no second generation to jump to. There is no other body than Cabrio. There is no 2WD. Gearbox count is 9 Robotic on every row. Wheels do not change between versions. Tank is 65 even on the PHEV. Clearance is not measured, so none of these versions can be chosen on ride height from this dataset.

Short map. Lightest and quickest 449 hp: CLE53 3.0 TCT (600 Nm, 4.4 s, 2035 kg). Same name, more payload: CLE53 3.0 TCT (560 Nm, 5.0 s, 2300 / 3050 kg). Lowest mixed and CO2: CLE53 PHEV 3.0 TCT (1.5, 33, 544 hp, 2725 kg). Highest power, torque, 0–100, top speed, and hp/L: CLE63S 3.0 TCT (612 hp, 850 Nm, 3.9 s, 280, 204.1 hp/L).