Is the Mercedes-Benz CLE 300 or CLE 450 Right for You?

Having an alluring two-door coupe like the CLE to get around Harrisburg and provide you with an exciting way to travel or cruise around at night can completely change how you spend your free time around town. Whether for an afternoon drive or for a spiffy dinner out with a special someone, having a gorgeous Mercedes-Benz coupe at your beck and call can be life-changing for some; an overall enhancement to the way you travel and appreciate luxury and performance when going from destination to destination. But if you're shopping for a CLE at Mercedes-Benz of Lancaster, your Mercedes-Benz dealer near Harrisburg, to indulge in the brand's upscale luxury and performance feature, which of the CLE models do you go with?

Apart from the Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 model, you have two different options available for the 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE. There is the CLE 300 4MATIC® and the CLE 450 4MATIC®. So, what are the differences between the two other than a numerical change in the name and a few alterations to the price tag? The answer is performance, styling, and feature set. We'll go over some of the details so you have a better understanding of which CLE model will fit in with your Harrisburg driving routines and whether one will fit you better than the other.

Are You Eager to Drive a Performance-Driven Mercedes-Benz?

Both the CLE 300 and CLE 450 are two-door coupes designed as all-wheel drive vehicles. Both models also come equipped with mild hybrid powertrains, so they're not full electric or full combustion-based coupes. However, their powertrain configurations give you very distinct differences in performance, and this is one of the key elements that separates the CLE 300 from the CLE 450. The CLE 300 comes with a turbocharged four-cylinder, while the CLE 450 comes with a turbocharged six-cylinder.

The CLE 300 features a 2.0L turbocharged inline four-cylinder with a hybrid 48-volt generator for additional on-demand torque. The 2.0L four-cylinder provides 255 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque with a nine-speed automatic transmission. You have a comfort-tuned suspension for a more relaxed and smooth ride, but you can purchase an AMG Line package to add sports-tuned brakes and a sports-tuned suspension. It's a powerful powertrain for such a small coupe, but if you want more power and more performance, there is the CLE 450.

The CLE 450 comes equipped with a 3.0L turbocharged six-cylinder, also featuring a hybrid generator that provides 25 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque on its own. This helps create a combined output of 375 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, giving you an added layer of performance that is significantly more than the CLE 300. It is also paired up with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The CLE 450 comes standard with the sports brake kit and a sports-tuned suspension to accommodate more aggressive driving.

If you're a casual driver in Harrisburg and you're looking for a good coupe with decent performance, then the CLE 300 has you covered. It's more powerful than what you would typically get out of an economy-class sedan but not quite on par with a higher-performance coupe. However, the CLE 450 improves the output significantly, putting it more in the range of the high-performance competitors without quite going into the Mercedes-AMG territory of being a pure high-performance sports car.

If you really have that drive to get more torque and instantaneous off-the-line acceleration out of your Mercedes-Benz, then a CLE 450 is probably going to be a lot more appealing to you, especially if you're keen on gunning down I-83 or Route 22 on the weekend for some high-speed thrills. Alternatively, if you're more laid back with how and where you cruise, the CLE 300 provides enough power and acceleration to make cruising throughout Harrisburg responsive and relaxing.

Is Fuel Economy an Important Aspect of Your Travels?

Fuel economy isn't just about the cost of gas at the pump; it's also about how much range you get out of the vehicle before you have to fill up. Good range can determine how frequently you have to take time out of your daily driving or occasional travel routines to keep the vehicle filled. Thanks to the hybrid technologies in both the CLE 300 and CLE 450, you don't have to worry about fuel economy as much as you would in a typical combustion-only performance coupe, as both offer a lot more range compared to some other segment competitors.

However, you do get slightly more range out of the CLE 300 compared to the CLE 450 simply due to the performance differences between the two versions. The 2024 CLE 300 provides an EPA-estimated 24 MPG in the city and 34 MPG on the highway, while the 2024 CLE 450 provides 23 MPG in the city and 33 MPG on the highway. Those are fantastic numbers for a performance all-wheel drive vehicle either way. However, if a more relaxed ride with optimal range is your preferred way to travel around Harrisburg, then the CLE 300 is likely going to be your preferred model. Still, if you don't mind giving up a bit of gas mileage for the extra power output from the CLE 450, then that will probably be the one you want to go with.

Do You Prefer the Mercedes-AMG Styling More?

Even though both versions are mostly the same, if you only glance at them briefly, there are some exterior and styling differences between them. With the CLE 300, you have 18-inch twin five-spoke wheels and the very obvious wind-swept exterior lines that many modern Mercedes-Benz cars adopt for their design. The CLE 450, however, comes with 19-inch AMG multi-spoke wheels featuring black accents and AMG body styling, with slightly more aggressive designs for the front fascia and rear valence.

The details are subtle enough that you might not entirely notice them at first, but the more time you spend looking at the vehicles, the more you will notice the differences. The more subtle styling of the CLE 300 might appeal to those who like a more refined Mercedes-Benz look and don't want anything too flashy. However, if you like more aggressive exterior lines on your sports coupe, then the CLE 450 is going to be your preferred choice. However, if you like the CLE 300's performance profile but like the way the CLE 450 looks, you can add the AMG Line package to the CLE 300, so you get the best of both worlds.

Are Extra Amenities Necessary for Your Experience?

Both the CLE 300 and CLE 450 come with plenty of luxury options and standard features, but there are a few differences in terms of how the interior looks between the two trims and a few extra amenities that separate the two. While both share the same conveniences, remote access, and many tech features, the CLE 450 comes with a leather-wrapped sport-steering wheel as opposed to the CLE 300's standard leather-wrapped steering wheel.

Additionally, the CLE 450 features an AMG Line interior, with an MB-Tex upper dashboard and Nappa-inspired grain, along with AMG floor mats. Now, it's possible to add these features to the CLE 300 via optional packages, but they are standard with the CLE 450. So, you get slightly more luxury elements with the CLE 450 than with the CLE 300 if you're willing to pay more for the higher-end model.

Have You Decided Which Mercedes-Benz CLE Is Right for You?

Now that you know the differences between the two CLE variants, have you already picked out which one you're ready to go with when you visit our Mercedes-Benz dealership near Harrisburg? Do you prefer the more relaxed styling and casual performance of the CLE 300? Or is the high-end output from the CLE 450 more appealing to you? Are the extra Mercedes-AMG design cues and interior luxury options worth the bump in the CLE 450's price? Or are you completely in love with the CLE 300's more relaxed and traditional wind-swept motif? If you need any help deciding, pay us a visit at Mercedes-Benz of Lancaster, or reach out through our website to find out more about both models and which one might appeal to you more.