2024 Mercedes CLE 450: The coupe is NOT dead!

[@oblio44]

I've had my CLE 450 for 2 weeks. I traded in my 2004 911 Porsche which I had for 18 years and loved it - manual transmission! But I was ready for luxury and still craved performance - without spending $100k+. I'll keep those short - I love my new CLE 450. Every time I drive it, again it is brand new, I am more and more surprised with the smooth ride and blown away with the power. Drivin in Comfort mode is great on freeways and city streets and shifting into Sport mode tightens the steering wheel and some other stuff to remind me of driving my old Porsche.

[@jim1013yyf]

this is NOT an E coupe replacement, no matter how MB wants to manipulate the marketing message. It is the C coupe.

[@JsnLwrnce]

Agreed. The whole thing looks real C Class-ish

[@TassieLorenzo]

Wasn't the combined C and E class coupe called the CLK before? On that basis, I'm surprised Mercedes enthusiasts are unhappy about the CLE being the direct evolution of the CLK (via the detour of briefly re-separated C and E coupes).

[@fastlife711]

All your comments make sense,I traded in the 2021 E class 450 4 matic cabriolet for a new 2024 CLE 450 4matic. I miss the Boss aspect of the EClass steering wheel and all. That being said I have a C300 cabriolet as well. I truly like this one new Everything and it's a hybrid of Both but I'm feeling it though.

[@z28camaro79]

I just hope we get a true S Class coupe one day again. Not mad at MB for condensing down their line up tho

[@mikemaslanka3786]

The idle sounds like a school bus but I do really like the center mount brake light….. Good to have you back MotoMan!

[@MotoManTV]

Good to be back!

[@reginaldking5972]

Put a smile on my face waiting for you to drive the CLE53

[@vindevhunta4905]

Looks nice But the facelift e53 coupe is beautiful ❤❤❤

[@clancep]

Mercedes needs to rethink the à la carte philosophy for options. Items like leather and ventilated seats should be standard at this price point. Speaking of price, Mercedes pricing has gotten outrageous and the quality hasn’t seemed to match the cost. Crazy that a GLE 450 optioned out is over $90k.

[@MotoManTV]

This one was a bit surprising. Can't say I have seen them go to that level before.

[@RoyalDudeness]

German here. Mercedes is not considered a luxury brand in germany. Upscale but not luxury. Most Mercedes you see on the streets are pretty basic with cloth seats, small wheels etc. and therefore not that expensive. The CLE starts around 52k $ as a CLE200. Discounts of 10-15% are pretty common

[@v12-s65]

@@RoyalDudenessyou're not German and Mercedes is very obviously still considered as Luxury for a wide majority! By far not everyone can afford this. Just because you share that opinion doesn't transfer to all others. Erzähle keinen Müll!

[@RoyalDudeness]

@@v12-s65 küsst du deine Mutter mit dem Mund?

[@wasdwasdwwasd]

Will many buyers actually pay MSRP for something like this or get tasty discounts as an ex-demo?

[@TerryFT86]

So nice to hear motoman dissect the car as he drive & review. :) it's a great episode love the new benz but i can't stand the current generation of tail light design & just how it look from the rear

[@EdStark-pf1se]

I have a 2019 E450 coupe. The CLE unfortunately is a C class. Not selling my E450 coupe. MB should have made the E and not the CLE.

[@v12-s65]

I have the E53 coupe which comes with a lot of options the CLE doesn't have. If it didn't have those I would consider an upgrade to the CLE53

[@musak.4068]

21 e450 not selling

[@chrisk525]

What is C class about it?

[@musak.4068]

@@chrisk525 the pillar windows and the car interior are c class

[@Foregrlz]

​@v12-s65 anything in particular? I'm digging the widebody approach of the cle amg 53

[@mikemaslanka3786]

I would have preferred an E coupe.

[@pokerfred68]

Options on a MB add up to be the price of a brand new Hyundai Elantra. I would personally choose either an Audi S5 coupe or BMW 4 series coupe. Audi being the best looking out of the group.

[@MediumBluWonder]

While I do think this new CLE is very impressive in it's own right, especially its higher level 53 AMG form, it is very heavily C class based. It reminds me of the CLK from the 90s and 00s. With the exception of the pillarless windows that are synonymous with the e class range of coupes for decades, it ran on C class platforms & shared a lot of engine choices, tech, and running gear with that model. While unlikely, I hope the e coupe/cab returns in it's proper form.

[@darrinbourret1848]

How are you just parked on a main road and filming?

[@itslorenzo]

Lol I would love to know the answer too!

[@TheLastRide88]

Private road.

[@MotoManTV]

Movie magic = closed road.

[@darrinbourret1848]

@@MotoManTV yeah I figured

[@Dillingham-]

I fear that if this fails to sell MB will blame the market rather than themselves. Only two of the 'coupes' on the MB website have two doors. Give us a big luxury V8-powered thing, like the yellow beast Hemingway drove around Cuba.

[@TassieLorenzo]

"big luxury V8-powered thing" That's the S class coupe or SL, isn't it?

[@Dillingham-]

@@TassieLorenzo I believe the S-class coupe has been discontinued. A RR Spectre-sized MB would be fun.

[@wasdwasdwwasd]

@@Dillingham- I don't anyone's going to buy that.

[@GregoryWJones]

#BRP my friend. Took Drivers Ed on that road- really teaches you lane positioning. Thanks for the memory.

[@MotoManTV]

My pleasure!

[@IceDree]

Accountants and Regulators (not the Warren G type) are the reason why we can't have nice big coupes anymore. Speaking of coupes, M, did you see the Cadillac Expressive concept Garbage Motors debuted last week during an event in Detroit. It was designed in 2018 during Johan's tenure & was meant to succeed the ATS Coupe, but the accountants never signed off on it. Excellent work like always, M.

[@ElitistIntellectual]

Really??? So there’s going to be a M6?

[@MotoManTV]

It was at Eyes on Design . . . great annual event in The D . . . Not nearly as good as Bob's annual 'Cars in My Yard' . . . coming up on July 26, and yes, I will be there. That said, did see the car and do love the design. I am adamant that Cadillac needs to bring the El Dorado back. Stat.

[@IceDree]

@@MotoManTV oooooh just in time for the show's anniversary, looking forward to it, M! Too bad it's all the way up in the D, otherwise it would've been a perfect opportunity for Eva to make an honorary appearance. ;)

[@MotoManTV]

@@IceDree Bob wanted Eva there as well, but she is afraid of 2,500 each way . . . As such, arranged for something special that is also from that region of the world . .

[@NomenClature-o8s]

@@MotoManTVHave you disappeared? We miss ya !!

[@patrickrk44]

Was on the fence for a E53 coupe, now I must wait for a possible amg cle

[@Foregrlz]

The widebody addition on 53 amg coupe is very enticing ❤

[@BabyKobeeee]

The AMG cle is already out

[@patrickrk44]

​@BabyKobeeee Yea? Do you just settle for what's at the dealer or do you order?

[@wicked_smaaht]

Wasn’t the E class coupe always based on C class and not E class sedan?

[@MotoManTV]

Nope. Last car was based on the E Platform when there was both a C and an E coupe. Lovely car. kzbin.info/www/bejne/imrCe3epidWSgtk

[@philreynolds6018]

Why add front wheel drive ?

[@RaufAbasquliyev]

For some reason, the manufacturers nowadays feel sorry to add one more seat to the rear row of the coupe. It is clear that two people sit more comfortably than three, but let people decide for themselves how many of them will sit there.

[@expat1902]

Tested one of these a couple of weeks ago. Very nice, but felt much too expensive for the necessary package, more like a C than an E, felt small inside too. Same day sat in a new E450 sedan and that felt like this price should.... Decided against buying new, will see the AMG hopefully and look at used once there's a market.

[@nickywong767]

It reminds me of the previous CLK’s , regardlessly I’m getting one 😊 450 it is

[@jordantarver8953]

Thanks for the great review, as always! I know they are not in the same price range (the 53 will be closer,) but how does the CLE platform compare to the LC500?

[@Boguardis]

I've grown to actually like the screen a bit more. I prefer everything physical but at least the screen is angled correctly, and also DOWN and not in your field of view. I agree the 450 is a hard sell when the competition is so strong right now. This is getting into m4 territory and M2/m240i +$15,000 territory.

[@Foregrlz]

When are you doing AMG 53 CLE coupe?

[@MotoManTV]

No idea. Have asked them for a while now when they plan to have one stateside and all I get is crickets.

[@Foregrlz]

@MotoManTV well I LOVE your perspective on all things BENZ and especially coupes as I'm soooooo in the market for one ..... and I re-watched your overview of this and a few other YT vids on the AMG coupe..... just the stance along with the pseudo luxury element over both M440i/M4 or S5/RS5 ..... just more to me .....only drove a 23 E450 cab for comparison.

[@kristy77a]

A luxury M-B coupe versus a BMW M4? Yes, you are crazy.

[@AaronBluestone]

if a mercedes coupe has a b pillar then it's dead to me. pillarless coupes are the best.

[@MotoManTV]

Agreed.

[@MrAzul99]

To MotoMan: Love you from Yiayia Evelyn

[@MrSchn3ll]

This car is like Ambien, only marginally less so than EV's. The poor sales will be certain to kill off the last remaining attainable Benz coupes. Benz has really fallen hard of late.

[@OldSkoolUncleChris]

I believe Mercedes deliberately designed the first generation of electric cars to be unattractive, anticipating that the technology would initially be underwhelming. They likely planned for the second generation to be much more desirable. Regarding your point about their cars being boring, I find this particular model absolutely beautiful and magnificent, especially with the inline-6 engine, which has been missing from their lineup. It marks a bit of a renaissance for them.

[@sufyanshareef6302]

Yes, please 63 must with V8

[@mikemaslanka3786]

Where are you? Haven’t seen a post in forever!

[@MotoManTV]

Hi Mike! Working on some behind the scenes projects for the show . . . back soon!

[@mikemaslanka3786]

@@MotoManTV just glad you are ok. I know you will bring us some good “stuff” very soon.

[@MotoManTV]

@@mikemaslanka3786 Appreciate you checking in . . .

[@harleyquebecenrevue3580]

The CLÉ in my view has its place. The CLE53 is the desired model but I doubt a V8 CLE63 is on the way as emissions is the obstacle. I think they should add 2 more doors and make a CLS comeback, like a CLS450 and CLS53. This time they need to get the platform right, offer a 4 bucket seat configuration and not make a CLA look alike.

[@Foregrlz]

I'm hearing V8 CLE63 is coming

[@dash-ryan]

Should have kept the E-Class coupe. CLE is not luxurious enough to pass as a replacement for the E-Class. But then I'd also like to have Mercedes release the E53 wagon in N America too, but I'm just one man, and without sufficient likes on this comment, why would Mercedes give a crap about what I think.

[@MotoManTV]

I've been asking for that and a Golf R wagon in the US and no one listens to me!

[@dash-ryan]

@@MotoManTV Bean counters, ugh. Let's hope my last comment/post gets enough likes for Mercedes to take notice. The less costly E53 Wagon is a better buy, by far, than the AMG GT55, IMHO. Given that it's also a hybrid, I don't see why they wouldn't immediately sell every single one they bring over.

[@waltertomashefsky2682]

CLE review drinking game: take a shot every time he opens the hood or the trunk operates automatically.

[@TheSiliconSoul]

Less coupes, more especially in the budget friendly segments. I imagine however that I will never have the income to afford any automobile with the Mercedes badge unless it's a plastic model kit or a Hot Wheels.

[@byronrideaux]

This is really just a CLK all over again

[@A5TRO_IN4NIMAT3]

And that was a really good car

[@jeffs6090]

When you just sit there in the middle of the road, or parked and outside the car in the middle of the road, is the road closed for your filming? Or are you just thinking, "no one ever drives on this road, I'll be fine"?

[@MotoManTV]

Movie magic = closed road.

[@garyclark6747]

I couldn’t keep up with all the cross referencing with letters and numbers of other vehicles so pardon me in advance for my only comment. Stunningly it sounded much better inside than outside so I’m assuming that Burmester radio is doing a great job. 🚗🔈🔉🔊🫤 13:35

[@MotoManTV]

1,000% agree!

[@warrenrusso8849]

Should have kept the E Coupe as a stand-alone model, and just dropped the C coupe.

[@inomad]

I am tired of mandatory AWD. What is wrong with RWD as an option?

[@MotoManTV]

What I am about to type is not fact . . . just a guess: 1.) Cost. Product planners know well it is MUCH easier to sell a RWD based vehicle with an AWD option in cold weather climates - much of the market for these types of cars. When you are dealing in low volumes like this, it really does not pay to offer both so they amortize the cost of the AWD option by making it a 100% take rate deal. Some markets may go RWD but it is rare. Exceptions are performance cars. 2.) Liability. This one is most likely a much lower priority, but it is harder to kill yourself in an AWD car in inclement weather, which the OEM lawyers prefer. In vehicles like M5s and E63s . . . they make it an AWD only car because the power is so high and the propensity to careen off the road is strong. Again, just my two shekels.

[@TassieLorenzo]

@@MotoManTV "2.) Liability. " That doesn't explain the various 800hp rear wheel drive-only Ferraris offered by Ferrari! Perhaps Ferrari are less cautious?

[@2Bunphettered788]

Looks good, appears comfy and sounds great!! 🫨😁❤

[@ALXXR63AMG]

If Mercedes wants to make an El Dorado they should make an opulent 6 Seater out of the Maybach 6 …and where is the Maybach 7 , 8 and 9 ?

[@MaryGreenbaum]

This is hard bc he is right but what sells

[@dash-ryan]

Everyone, like this comment if you want the new E53 Wagon in North America! Let's make a difference and force Mercedes take notice!

[@NomenClature-o8s]

Has MotoMan disappeared ?

[@JRB41]

I can’t get over everything except the rear and side profiles. Horrible! The prior gen E class looked worlds better

[@TJG239]

it's a modern-day CLK. Actually looks ok but I couldn't live with a 130mph top speed

[@TomK-ti8kp]

Mercedes is the new Infiniti

[@MotoManTV]

A bridge WAYYYY too far.

[@TomK-ti8kp]

@@MotoManTV well… Mercedes does use Renault/Nissan 4-cylinders 😂 I love Mercedes classics, though. Built like tanks

[@Deibote]

This is one stressful video, I keep imagining some car is going to crash into you

[@MotoManTV]

Thanks for thinking me . . . but it is movie magic: A closed road:)

[@korges2590]

5:05 what the fuck...

[@loseerich493]

I just can't get past the horrid ipad flat glass sections of the dash they're doing nowadays. Damn shame they're sticking to this. Big sections of high-gloss black surfaces are bad enough, but the afterthought-looking flat glass surfaces are just a big fail. FWIW, for the $ your test car costs, I'm going M3/4 all day long & double time on Sundays. Complete no-brainer

[@tool8337]

Too bad the interior is a dealbreaker.

[@mattlittlej]

This makes me glad I’m no longer in the market for a new car. What you get relative to the price seems extremely shallow, especially with the insane decline in reliability and quality through Mercedes’s generations of C class

[@jea1034]

That D-Class interior is still terrible.

[@robb5516]

The “L” in MBZ nomenclature stands for “Licht” which is German for “light”. It never stood for “long”.

[@MotoManTV]

In the SL parlance . . . but in this and the S, the 'L' traditionally denoted the longer wheelbase: I.e. 300 SE v 300 SEL . . .

[@javim2589]

Politicians are what make things more expensive and manufacturers sweat bullets to fit all in a package that may appeal most buyers. I think the car is going to sell somewhat well but I would go more info an even comfier setting and a cabrio version of it. Oh and either phev or straight v6, anything in the middle says too much I'm doing the minimum to comply with regulation.

[@MotoManTV]

Driving the Cabrio in late July.

[@javim2589]

@MotoManTV will watch that then 👍

[@nikst7463]

In EU this is 100k€ crazyy

[@timothyburnside3229]

The biggest problem is when you split hairs long enough you have nothing exceptional just a mishmash of mediocrity that cost too much and pleases no one! Great show, by the way I would take my chances with a Alfa, yes it has 4 doors but at 90,000 it at least gives you sex appeal and 595 HP!

[@lkkaz1]

Nope. Too much C-class in looks and the interior. Looks like we’ll have to hang onto our E53 Couple for awhile longer.

[@jareknowak8712]

Rear end still ugly.

[@ALXXR63AMG]

The CLE is for fine taste Lady drivers…so you need Handbags and Boutique Bags in fine composition with the intern leather of the Mercedes CLE

[@AntLive29]

very expensive. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!

[@neelkrishna]

I like to remind magas that all of the inflationary triggers and stimuli of 2020 were enacted by the trump administration

[@JRB41]

Literally nothing to do with the car - has to do with manufacturers being greedy.

[@JasonMilesComic]

This is like the CLK it was a C class that they marketed as an E class