Get in-depth info on the 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE 450 including prices, specs, reviews, options, safety and reliability ratings.
TENARIFE, Canary Islands – There's nothing quite like going for a leisurely, top-down drive. Sadly, convertibles continue to disappear from showrooms as shoppers' appetite for SUVs seems to be insatiable. In an effort to kill two birds with one stone, Mercedes-Benz has consolidated two of its previous models into one.
Styling-wise, the new CLE represents an evolution of current Mercedes-Benz themes. The grille could easily be mistaken for almost any sedan in the lineup, though around the back, the taillights are joined in the middle with a black plastic trim element. The familiarity isn't a bad thing as it still exudes class, luxury and refinement. As an all-new model, though, I expected just a little more pizzazz.
With a lift of a toggle on the center console, a mesh screen rises from behind the rear headrests while the windows rise to create an insulating bubble around me. Out of my sight, a narrow strip of wing also rises atop the windshield with a thin mesh material spanning the gap. What little turbulence that was present before was reduced to barely a breeze. This is as calm an experience I've had in any convertible. Full stop.
Inside, the CLE is nearly identical to the latest C-Class. A curving dashboard flows and tapers into the console, with a large, tablet-like, 11.9-inch touchscreen tacked onto the center stack. A smaller, horizontal digital instrument display sits just in front of the steering wheel. As expected, materials quality is excellent and every surface has a solid construction feel underneath.
The CLE further benefits from the latest MBUX infotainment system. It's easy to use and has some of the best voice recognition commands out there. The augmented reality overlays in the main touchscreen and in the available head-up display made navigating through the confusing island roundabouts stress-free, leaving very little guesswork. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard and pair well with the rubberized wireless charging pad tucked away in the center console.
For most interested parties, the rear seats will be useful when needed, but otherwise, the CLE makes for an excellent tourer for a luxury-minded couple. After many hours on the road, I handed back the keys with very little fatigue and an overall mellow attitude. To me, that's precisely what the CLE should accomplish. It takes very little effort to log hundreds of miles and the lack of top-down buffeting means you'll arrive looking and feeling fresh, if a little sunburnt.
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