New upmarket coupé aims to combine the best bits of the old C-Class and E-Class equivalents in one package On sale Now Price from £46,605
Neil Winn neil.winn@haymarket.com
UNLESS YOU’RE AN aviation geek, the concept of a ‘middle of the market’ aeroplane might be unfamiliar to you, but you’ve probably flown in one. This term refers to an aircraft designed to replace both smaller narrow-body jets, such as the Boeing 737, and larger wide-body jets like the 787, with one plane that does it all. Hence their popularity with airlines.
But could this concept work in the car world? Well, Mercedes-Benz is about to find out with the introduction of its new CLE. This indulgent coupé replaces not just one model but two. The theory is that buyers of the old C-Class Coupé now have a slightly larger, more practical machine to upgrade to, without a huge leap in price, while E-Class Coupé fans can move over to something as elegant and desirable as their old car, and a little bit more dynamic to drive.
Four versions will be offered at launch in the UK. The 201bhp CLE 200 and the 255bhp, four-wheel-drive CLE 300 4Matic use a 2.0-litre petrol engine, while the range-topping (for now) 375bhp CLE 450 4Matic features a 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine. There’s also a 194bhp CLE 220d with a 2.0-litre diesel engine. Each engine has mild hybrid electrical assistance and is paired with a nine-speed automatic gearbox.
While the four-cylinder engine in our CLE 300 test car sounds surprisingly agricultural at idle, it adopts a more agreeable timbre on the move that better suits its punchy performance. And we mean punchy. The sprint from 0-62mph takes 6.2sec – more than a second quicker than the equivalent BMW 420i Coupé – and the electric boost ensures that acceleration is immediate and strong when you plant your right foot. Combine this with the slick-shifting automatic gearbox and the CLE 300 is an effortless car in which to cover ground.
Speaking of which, the CLE 300 is a hushed cruising companion. Wind noise is minimal and the engine is almost imperceptible at motorway speeds. It’s only the big, 20in wheels that kick up a bit of a din on some surfaces.
The CLE handles in a more agile manner than the E-Class Coupé, but it isn’t as incisive as the 4 Series. While it feels stable and precise through quicker corners, with well-weighted steering and very respectable body control, it tends to pitch and roll more than the firmer 420i if you increase your pace further.
