Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Coupe 2024 Review – International

There’s no word yet on local pricing for the all-new 2024 Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Coupe, which is now on sale in Europe but isn’t expected to launch in Australia until early next year.

That’s several months later than the non-AMG Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupe models, which land in May priced from $103,900 plus on-road costs for the CLE 200, and from $124,900 plus ORCs for the CLE 300 4MATIC.

The CLE 53 ups the ante from these two 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol sports cars, befitting its AMG status with a turbocharged 3.0-litre six-cylinder mild-hybrid engine – an uprated version of the powerplant found in the previous E 53 Coupe – and a raft of other modifications.

That two-door E-Class was previously priced from $177,670 plus ORCs, and we’re not expecting the smaller CLE (which bridges the gap between the old E-Class and C-Class coupe lines) to be a whole lot cheaper.

Judging by the pricing applied to the CLE 200 and 300, we’d expect the CLE 53 to start from around $167,000.

That would place the CLE 53 well upstream of the BMW M440i Coupe (from $143,400) and Audi S5 Coupe (from $120,300), positioning it closer to the faster BMW M4 Coupe (from $168,700) and Audi RS 5 Coupe (from $169,100).

Equipment levels in the 2024 Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Coupe should be generous, commensurate with the expected high pricing and with plenty of AMG-specific items.

Count on standard gear extending to Mercedes-Benz’s latest 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a large 11.9-inch infotainment display that runs the latest MBUX operating system with AMG-branded menus and augmented reality navigation.

The infotainment unit will work with both wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and as we’ve reported elsewhere – including our reviews of the non-AMG CLE Coupe and the forthcoming CLE Cabriolet – there’s a broad range of other tech highlights including car-to-X communication capability with fast 5G connectivity.

The CLE 53 also features an AMG Performance steering wheel wrapped in Nappa leather, illuminated door sills, ambient interior lighting, a panoramic roof, automatic climate control and high-grade sports seats up front with black leather upholstery, full electric adjustment, heating and four different lumbar support settings.

While 19-inch wheels are standard in other markets, we expect Australian cars to ride on larger 20-inch light-alloy wheels. Advanced multibeam LED headlights with high beam assist should also be part of the package.

When it comes to options, expect Mercedes-Benz to charge extra for premium paint, higher-grade Nappa leather, more supportive AMG Performance front seats, a head-up display and Burmester 3D sound system.

There will also be at least two styling packs that add extra aerodynamic aids.

Tick the box for the AMG Dynamics pack and you’ll get an additional Race driving mode, drift mode and race start, plus a microfibre-wrapped steering wheel, red AMG brake callipers and active engine mounts.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupe and Cabriolet have yet to be crash tested by the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) or its European equivalent, Euro NCAP.

However, the latest Mercedes-Benz C-Class, which shares much with the new CLE Coupe, was awarded the full five stars for protection back in 2022.

As standard, the Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Coupe gets dual-stage frontal airbags for the driver and front passenger, side airbags in the front seats, a head-protecting curtain airbag for the first and second row and other airbags specifically protecting the driver’s knee and pelvis and aiming to prevent head-clash between the front occupants.

To avoid a collision occurring at all, the CLE incorporates a variety of advanced driver assist systems covering driver attention, braking, steering, lane keeping, blind spots, intersections, speed limits, and more.

The new 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupe, including the CLE 53 AMG, benefits from the same advanced technology introduced in the latest-generation E-Class.

This is headlined by a third-generation MBUX infotainment system that works wirelessly with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and also now boasts Android Automotive compatibility, paving the way to a broad range of integrated apps and games, plus video and online streaming.

A virtual assistant with artificial intelligence (AI) is also designed to provide a high level of interaction with the driver.

Expect a wireless phone charging pad to be fitted standard, supported by two USB-C charging ports on the centre console and, in the rear, a further two on the centre arm rest.

The 2024 Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 4MATIC+ Coupe is powered by an updated version of the M256 turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder mild-hybrid engine that powered the previous E 53 AMG Coupe, among others.

Renamed the M256M, engineers have renewed most of the internals to improve efficiency, lower emissions and raise power. There’s a new turbocharger, optimised fuel injection and the addition of a new electric supercharger.

The refreshed powerplant benefits from Mercedes-Benz’s second-generation integrated starter-generator that’s now packaged neatly within the transmission casing and can add a short burst of 17kW and 205Nm of torque when needed while allowing engine-off coasting and smoother start-stop functionality.

The result is an engine that can pump out 330kW and 560Nm – although that torque figure increases to 600Nm for up to 10 seconds, thanks to an overboost function.

If you select Race Start (optional with the AMG Dynamics pack), Mercedes-AMG says the CLE 53 will launch from 0-100km/h in 4.2 seconds, on its way to a limited 270km/h top speed.

By comparison, the old V8-powered W205 C 63 S Coupe was only marginally quicker at 3.9sec from 0-100km/h.

The 2024 Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 4MATIC+ Coupe is capable of 9.3L/100km on the WLTP combined-cycle economy test, according to the manufacturer.

Climb behind the wheel of the 2024 Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 and it really does feel like a huge leap forward over both the C 43 and E 53 coupes it effectively replaces.

Despite loosely sharing the same engine, the CLE 53 feels much quicker than the previous E 53 and even quicker than its official figures suggest. It sounds good, too.

On a tight and twisty road, AMG’s 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive is unflappable, offering high levels of traction, while the rear-wheel steer does a great job of both sharpening up steering responses and disguising the CLE 53’s 2000kg kerb weight.

Occasionally, the nine-speed automatic is a bit obtrusive, petulantly refusing a down-change, but overall the powertrain is slick and efficient at hurtling the heavy coupe down a country road.

Instead of opting for air suspension, AMG chose to blend steel springs with adaptive dampers and the ride is well-judged.

Where the CLE 53 falls down is its handling repertoire isn’t that engaging, even in the 100 per cent rear-drive Race mode, although the dusty, slippery roads on the launch drive meant we didn’t try the ESP Sport setting.

Then there’s the brakes. With rotors measuring 370mm up front (clamped down by four-piston callipers) and 360mm at the rear, the brakes soon wilted under the pressure we applied on tight and twisty roads.

AMG engineers said a lack of proper cooldown runs caused the overheat that resulted in the front discs badly warping.

“AMG technicians have assessed the vehicle you were driving and concluded that the decrease in braking performance was not due to a vehicle failure, but rather a combination of factors,” a spokesperson said. “These may include heavy braking in a mode other than Sport + or insufficient cooldown time for the brakes when bringing the vehicle to a stop. It’s important to note that so far no other vehicles during the press test drive exhibited similar issues.”

We think the standard brakes should have coped better and expect the performance division to soon offer a carbon-ceramic option for those who occasionally venture out on track.

In the end, despite getting closer to the old C 63 for performance, the CLE 53 still leaves plenty of room for a more powerful, even faster and more engaging sibling.

The 2024 Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Coupe has an impressive cabin, especially if you’ve optioned the supportive AMG Performance bucket seats and Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel.

You can almost convince yourself you’re sitting in the far pricier AMG GT.

It’s also hard not to be impressed by the crystal-clear digital displays used for both the instrument panel and the infotainment system, and even with the cliched carbon-fibre trim on our car it all feels well-executed.

In the rear there’s lots more space than the old C-Class Coupe and a surprising amount of legroom, but what rules out the CLE for long drives with four adults is the limited amount of headroom.

As far as luggage space goes, the 420-litre boot is good but around 20 litres smaller than what you find in the BMW 4 Series.

In the second row, if you need to install child restraints, there are ISOFIX mounting points and a top tether strap point for both seating positions.

Prospective Australian buyers have some time on their hands before the new 2024 Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Coupe arrives, which could be instructive as we’re still unsure what exactly AMG has in store for its much-anticipated C 63 S Coupe replacement.

Recent spy photographs have suggested there could be two higher-performance CLE AMG versions in development – a manic four-cylinder plug-in hybrid CLE 63 S E Performance (as already seen in C 63 sedan form), which few will buy, as well as a wilder, though slower and good old-fashioned CLE 63 S with the much-loved 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8.

It’s the latter we crave because, as it stands now, the new CLE 53 is a good, but not a great, sports coupe.

It’s quicker and better to drive than its direct predecessors (C 43 and even E 53) – and, braking issues aside, it’s a better car all-round.

It looks wonderful, too, but feels like it’s missing one final piece of the puzzle – an unruly V8.

2024 Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 4MATIC+ Coupe at a glance:
Price: $167,000 est (plus on-road costs)
Available: Early 2025
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 330kW/560Nm (plus 17kW/205Nm of EQ boost)
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel: 9.3L/100km (WLTP)
CO2: 212g/km (WLTP)
Safety rating: Not tested