Mercedes CLE Overview: Specs, Generations and Which Version to Buy
A guide to mercedes cle specs and generations: the 2023–present cabrio range from 170 to 381 hp, with the versions worth buying.
The Mercedes CLE is a cabrio produced from 2023 to the present, with power outputs ranging from 170 to 381 hp. If you are comparing mercedes cle specs, the lineup spans from a relaxed open-top cruiser to a genuinely quick all-wheel-drive six-cylinder, all with automatic transmissions — so it suits both easy-going drivers and those who want serious pace with the roof down.
Mercedes CLE generations
1 generation
The first generation Mercedes CLE has been built from 2023 to the present, exclusively as a cabrio, and covers a power range of 170 to 381 hp across 13 modifications. All versions use an automatic gearbox, with a choice of rear-wheel drive (RWD) or 4x4. The range opens with the CLE180 2.0 AT (170 hp) and tops out with the CLE450 3.0 AT 4Matic, whose 3.0-liter engine delivers 381 hp. In between sit the popular CLE200 2.0 AT with 204 hp and the CLE300e 2.0 AT, a 313 hp version rated at just 0.7 l/100km.
Which Mercedes CLE to buy
- CLE200 2.0 AT (204 hp) (1 generation): the mass-market choice — a 2.0-liter engine with 204 hp, automatic gearbox and RWD.
- CLE450 3.0 AT 4Matic (381 hp) (1 generation): the performance pick — 381 hp from a 3.0-liter engine, 0–100 in 4.7 seconds and 4x4 traction, with fuel consumption of 8.5 l/100km.
- CLE300e 2.0 AT (1 generation): the efficiency option — 313 hp, 0–100 in 6.3 seconds and a rated consumption of only 0.7 l/100km.
- CLE180 2.0 AT (170 hp) (1 generation): the entry point — 170 hp, 0–100 in 9.5 seconds and 7.3 l/100km, the simplest way into a CLE cabrio.
Buying used is straightforward in one respect: every Mercedes CLE dates from 2023 or later and belongs to a single generation, so there are no older, outdated versions to accidentally pick — the main differences between cars come down to the engine and drivetrain, not the model year.
Summary
The Mercedes CLE range is easy to navigate: one generation, one body style, one gearbox type. The real decision is the engine. The CLE200 2.0 AT (204 hp) covers everyday driving, the CLE300e 2.0 AT balances its 313 hp with a 0.7 l/100km rating, and the CLE450 3.0 AT 4Matic (381 hp) is the one to choose when the 4.7-second sprint to 100 matters. For buyers on a tighter budget, the CLE180 2.0 AT (170 hp) still delivers the same cabrio format with the lowest power output in the lineup.