Mercedes CLE review: Is it really worth £75,000?

Check out the best Mercedes CLE deals on carwow: https://bit.ly/Buy-Sell-WOW Is the new Mercedes CLE actually a "best of both worlds" masterpiece, or is £73,000 simply too much for a car with fake exhausts? Mat Watson is getting stuck into the 381hp CLE 450 to see if this straight-six grand tourer can actually justify its price tag over a BMW 4 Series or an Audi A5. We’re putting the "What Car? 2026 Award Winner" platform to the test, diving into the "Truth" about the 69-mile plug-in hybrid range, and finding out if the interior quality really matches the E-Class or if it’s just a C-Class in a fancy suit. From the silky-smooth 3.0-litre engine to the reality of those controversial fake exhausts, here is the definitive verdict on the last great Mercedes coupe. Chapters 00:00 Intro: Is the CLE the best of both worlds? 00:23 Engine Guide: 69-mile Hybrid or the Straight-Six? 00:51 0-60mph: How fast is the 381hp CLE 450? 01:27 Design: Does it have more "Star Power" than a BMW? 02:30 Driving: Is it more "Comfort" than "Sport"? 04:07 Interior Truth: Is it E-Class luxury or C-Class quality? 04:50 Town Driving: Is it too big for UK city streets? 07:42 Infotainment: Is the 3rd-Gen MBUX actually lag-free? 08:55 Price Check: Is £46k-£75k too much for a coupe? 09:31 Back Seats: Can adults actually fit in the rear? 10:44 Motorway Driving: Is this the ultimate 2026 Cruiser? 13:04 Boot Space: Why the Hybrid loses 140 litres! 14:03 Storage & Practicality: Where do you put your phone? 15:16 5 Annoying Features: Why the fake exhausts must go! 17:10 5 Cool Features: Did you spot the "Star" grille? 18:53 Verdict: Should you buy, sell or avoid? Sell your car for free with Carwow: https://bit.ly/Sell-Your-Car-For-Free-2111 Check out Mat's preferred trim & engine for each car: https://bit.ly/Mats-Engine-Choice

Added 20 May 2026