2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE450 4MATIC Cabriolet

In a world in which greater numbers of motorists than ever are predisposed to buy SUVs, American manufacturers have all but abandoned the car. Chevrolet has one car left on its roster—the Malibu. Ford is also down to one car—the

. Cadillac is down to a pair—CT4 and CT, Buick’s lineup is all SUVs. Chrysler is all minivans and Dodge has but one car — the new Charger. What’s more, a large swath of builders whose identities once represented the very antithesis of SUVs—yes, Porsche, Ferrari and Lamborghini, we’re looking at you—have embraced them.

While most Asian manufacturers are still building quite a few cars, it might come as something of a surprise that drop tops as sweet as the Mercedes CLE Cabriolets still exist. After all, even the Asian builders have pretty much turned away from four-seat convertibles. With that said, in order to survive, the CLE bridges the divide between Mercedes’ C- and E-Class two-doors. Fortunately, the 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE 450 4MATIC Cabriolet remains, every inch, a Mercedes-Benz product.

2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE 450 4MATIC CabrioletFirst Impressions

Long, low, sleek and swoopy, the CLE Cabriolet is also a very pretty car—a fact upon which there is universal agreement. Pleasantly capable of ocular incarceration, the CLE Cabriolet is just as attractive with its roof deployed as it is with the top stowed away. That’s a good thing too, because the CLE-Class Mercedes Cabriolet is now the sole two-door four-seat convertible offering in the marque’s lineup. What’s more, the CLE Cabriolet is one of but two remaining convertibles in the MBZ lineup—period. The other being the SL-Class roadster.

Even with its unmistakable Mercedes styling, the CLE offers a number of exterior cues touting its provenance. Look closely at the grille; the three-pointed star repeats more times than I cared to count. The same is true of the front lower valence. The headlight housings are signed “Mercedes-Benz” too.

Exterior Dimensions

Driving Impressions And Performance

One of the things I’ve always admired about cars from Mercedes is their “sleeper” nature. Looking at the CLE 450 4MATIC Cabriolet, you might get the impression it’s a genteel motorcar. Luxurious to be sure, but its performance potential is not overtly telegraphed.

Meanwhile, the 3.0-liter turbocharged straight six under the hood is capable of generating 375 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. All-wheel drive and a nine-speed automatic transmission are also incorporated into its drivetrain, which is supplemented by a 48-volt hybrid system.

The result is just over four-seconds zero to 60 runs. Getting back to the 48-volt hybrid system for a moment, its electric motor is also set up to silently crank the CLE’s engine at startup. Thus, when you press the start button, the 3.0-liter straight six spins into life without the cranking noise of a traditional starter motor.

Underway, you’d be hard-pressed to say the CLE 450 Cabriolet is a convertible. There’s no body flex and the windshield is completely free of cowl shake. As a result, the stiff platform helps the CLE go like a GT car on twisty back roads. Steering is precise, gear changes are seamless, braking is solidly reassuring and the ultra-smooth powertrain delivers what seems to be limitless thrust.

Wind noise is minimal, with the roof deployed or folded away. The former is owed to the Mercedes AIRCAP system, which features a spoiler built into the windshield frame. This is paired with a windscreen, which rises from behind the rear passenger seats. The spoiler deflects the slipstream above the cabin, while the screen blocks turbulence from the rear. Activate AIRCAP, raise the windows, and it’s almost like the car is running with the roof closed.

Performance Specifications

2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE 450 Fuel Economy

EPA gas mileage estimates are 23 MPG in the city, 32 on the highway and 26 combined. I beat that combined number with 27 MPG over a mix of city streets, freeways and back road driving. That’s pretty good when you’re talking about a luxuriously equipped all-wheel-drive coupe with just under 400 horsepower.

Interior Design And Comfort

Tastefully opulent, the CLE’s interior design radiates money—albeit in a sophisticated manner. Of course, it helps that the appearance of nearly every other contemporary Mercedes passenger compartment is similar. You’ll feel right at home if you’ve been in a Mercedes lately.

With that said, the CLE’s seats were all new for the 2024 model year. Handsomely sculpted, they incorporate Mercedes’ AIRSCARF system, which blows warm air on the back of your neck to help make top-down driving more comfortable in cooler climates. And, in fact, AIRSCARF is very effective when activated in conjunction with the AIRCAP system.

Both comfortable and supportive, the seats are also heated—as standard equipment. My test car’s seats were fitted with the optional ventilation and massage too. “My” CLE Cabriolet also had the optional leather upholstery, rather than the MB-Tex high-end vinyl, which is standard. Legroom is more than sufficient for front-seat passengers, while those seated in the rear will rely upon the generosity of front-seat passengers for the amount of legroom they’ll enjoy.

Interior Dimensions

Technology And Ease Of Use

A 12.3-inch, horizontally oriented, reconfigurable digital monitor behind the steering wheel keeps tabs on the CLE’s operating parameters. Meanwhile, an 11.9-inch vertical touchscreen serves as the interface for the MBUX infotainment system. Borrowing a page from the SL’s design brief, the angle of the touchscreen can be adjusted to minimize glare when the roof is folded. MBUX functions can be accessed by touch-sensitive controls on the steering wheel too.

The infotainment system also responds to voice commands, which can be activated by saying, “Hey Mercedes.” A seventeen-speaker Burmester surround audio system is standard, as is a sixty-four-color ambient lighting system.

The current iteration of the MBUX operating system supports TikTok, Angry Birds, Webex and Zoom as native apps. Apple Music, Spotify and Tidal are also treated natively. Wireless

and Android compatibility are standard too. Driver assistance features include automated emergency braking, lane-keeping assist and a driver-attention monitor. “My” CLE was also fitted with optional driver assistance upgrades, which brought adaptive cruise control and blind spot monitoring. The car also had a reconfigurable head-up display.

Cargo And Storage Space

As it is perhaps to be expected, the CLE Cabriolet’s ability to provide open-air driving comes at the expense of trunk space. Where the CLE Coupe offers some 14.8 cubic feet, the well into which the Cabriolet’s roof retreats consumes some 5.2 cubic feet of the trunk. Still, the resulting 9.6 cubes are sufficient for a couple’s soft luggage weekend getaway. And yes, the requisite pair of golf bags will also fit. Inside, the usual array of door pockets, center console storage and cubbies can be found.

2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE 450 Cabriolet Vs. Its Competitor

With all the attrition in this category—including the recent demise of the Audi A5 Cabriolet—the 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE 450 4MATIC Cabriolet has but one direct competitor, BMW’s M440i xDrive Convertible. The only other offerings that come close are the Lexus LC convertible, which costs some $30,000 more and the Ford Mustang GT Convertible, which costs some $20,000 less. Thus, neither of those models could be considered direct competition.

How The Mercedes-Benz CLE 450 4MATIC Cabriolet Compares to the BMW M440i xDrive Convertible

Unburdened with Mercedes’ reputation for providing a luxurious driving experience, the BMW M440i Convertible is far more performance-oriented than the Merc. Now, this is not to say the BMW is lacking amenities. In fact, it is both handsome and nicely equipped.

However, the BMW is also more powerful than the Mercedes and handles better. As a result, it offers a more rewarding driving experience for those for whom performance is a greater consideration. On the other hand, the Mercedes does offer a quieter top-down experience and a suppler ride.

Then again, while the BMW M440i Convertible makes do with an eight-speed transmission—compared to the Mercedes’ nine-speed—its 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six serves up 386 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque. Like the Mercedes, the BMW employs a 48-volt hybrid system and BMW quotes sub-four-second zero to 60 times for its drop top four-seater. Remarkably, the BMW returns better fuel economy than the Mercedes, with a 30-MPG combined EPA rating. Its agility is also superior to that of the CLE.

Our Recommendation For Which Model You Should Buy

Ultimately, the difference between the two cars comes from the way their dominant traits are prioritized. The BMW M440i Convertible is more sports car than a luxurious convertible, even though it’s quite nice inside. Meanwhile, the Mercedes is a more luxurious convertible than a sports car, even though it performs admirably.

Thus, your choice will largely depend upon the way your dominant traits are prioritized. The BMW will serve you well if sheer driving pleasure is foremost on your list of priorities. However, you’ll probably be happier in the 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE 450 4MATIC Cabriolet if style and comfort matter more to you than sheer performance potential.