Driving alongside the northern coast of Spain with the morning solar shining on the Atlantic Ocean outdoors San Sebastian, the 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupe comes into focus for me. That is the grandest of excursions, and the CLE Coupe is extra of a grand tourer than the E-Class Coupe luxurious cruiser it replaces.

Mercedes says the CLE is the alternative for each the midsize E-Class and compact C-Class—in each coupe and forthcoming convertible physique kinds—however there’s way more E than C right here. It’s not sized between the 2; this automotive is definitely barely greater than the outgoing E-Class coupe. However the brand new CLE takes a few of the C’s sporty soul, in addition to the present C’s inside.

At 191.0 inches lengthy, the CLE Coupe extends 0.6 inch longer than the 2023 mannequin and 6.5 inches longer than the outgoing C-Class Coupe. Its wheelbase of 112.8 inches is 0.3 inch shorter than the final E’s, although it’s an inch longer than the C’s. Different exterior dimensions are nearly spot on with these of the final E.

Regardless of the scale, the CLE is tuned for a sportier really feel. Mercedes says it requested C- and E-Class Coupe homeowners what they needed in a new-generation mannequin. C-Class consumers needed extra cachet, whereas E consumers needed sportier dynamics. The reply was to provide the CLE-Class the scale and look of the E-Class with C-Class dynamics.

2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupe

2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupe

2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupe

2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupe: E with the soul of C

I’m in a CLE 450 4Matic, which would be the prime mannequin when the CLE goes on sale within the first half of 2024, although it would definitely give approach to one if not two AMG fashions later. It’s a European mannequin with rear-axle steering and adaptive dampers that we gained’t get within the U.S., however its tuning foretells what American clients ought to anticipate.

The CLE 450’s adaptive dampers have normal Consolation and Sport settings, in addition to a Sport+ setting that’s accessed through the programmable Particular person drive mode. Each CLE comes with a typical four-link entrance and five-link rear suspensions, and within the U.S. we get passive dampers. In each fashions, the experience top is lowered 0.6 inch versus the E-Class sedan, and the 450 mannequin wears a sport tune for its springs, dampers, anti-roll bars, and bushings.

With the European tune, the Consolation setting makes the suspension a bit too tender. The physique takes a beat to calm down in lane adjustments and out of corners, however that’s rectified by the Sport setting, which makes the automotive really feel tied down and faster to react to inputs. Switching to Sport+ offers it even faster reactions however companies up the experience a lot that bumps and ruts turn into intrusive. In any other case, the experience is supple, even with this automotive’s non-obligatory 20-inch summer season tires.

These tires are 245/35 entrance and 275/30 rear Continental EcoContact 6 Qs—summer season tires for positive, however not precisely identified for his or her grip. The 450 will come normal with 19-inch all-season or summer season tires, and supply these 20s. The CLE 300 will get normal all-season 18s, and supply 19s as all-season or summer season tires.

So, grip is simply respectable, and the CLE coupe additionally lacks a few of the efficiency tools Mercedes presents. Along with the rear-wheel steering, it lacks a limited-slip rear differential and lively anti-roll bars. That doesn’t imply it’s not sporty. It simply means it’s extra a grand tourer aimed for this sort of coastal drive somewhat than a monitor automotive like an AMG CLE 63 could be.

The steering is typical Mercedes-with a light-weight really feel and fast reactions. The brakes have a predictable pedal and a assured really feel. Mercedes hasn’t detailed their dimension or the variety of calipers entrance and rear, however they will definitely match with the grand tourer theme: fantastic for the road or a jaunt on a twisty street however not trackworthy.

2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupe

2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupe: New energy for a brand new technology

The CLE is loads highly effective. Below the domed and rippled hood of the CLE 450 4Matic lurks a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 that spins up 375 hp, 13 hp greater than the 2023 E-Class Coupe 450 mannequin, and 369 lb-ft of torque. It’s aided by an built-in starter-generator that may add as much as 23 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque at low revs.

That is no AMG mannequin, however energy is shut. Mercedes quotes a 0-62 mph time of 4.4 seconds, however the prime pace is restricted to 130 mph. The turbo-6 has nice grunt from a cease, and retains pouring on the ability due to a chunky 1,800-5,000-rpm most torque band. It growls when pushed, however is in any other case docile and content material to stay within the background. If this had been an AMG mannequin, it could snap and crackle on overrun, however it’s too civilized for that in a standard-series automotive.

The lone transmission, a 9-speed computerized, is a prepared accomplice, too. Driving in Sport mode, it retains the gears low sufficient for frosty energy on nook exit, however not so low that the CLE feels prefer it needs to set a brand new lap document.

An earlier drive within the CLE 300 4 Matic entry-level mannequin revealed it’s no slouch both. Its 2.0-liter turbo-4 makes 255 hp and 295 lb-ft, which can be aided by the ISG’s further 23 hp and 151 lb-ft. An analogous engine with out the mild-hybrid enhance is out there within the outgoing C-Class Coupe, however not the E. Barely quieter than the turbo-6 with out as deep of an exhaust observe, it will get out of its personal method fairly effectively, thanks, posting a 0-62 mph time of 5.8 seconds. Passing any of the slow-moving Renault Clios and Twingos on these Spanish Basque nation roads poses no drawback for both engine.

2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupe

2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupe

2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupe

2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupe: A C cabin

That isn’t a letter grade. The CLE sports activities the sprint from the present C-Class, with the identical 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 11.9-inch touchscreen that runs the MBUX infotainment system. It additionally comes with heated sport seats with energy changes, navigation, wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wi-fi smartphone charging, a Burmester audio system with two audio system in every entrance headrest, 64 colours of ambient lighting, and a panoramic roof.

Inside choices embrace multicontour massaging and cooling entrance seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, augmented actuality for the navigation system, a head-up show, a surround-view digicam system, and a flat-bottom steering wheel that comes normal within the 450 mannequin.

It’s high-quality cabin with well-chosen and assembled supplies that begin with artificial leather-based upholstery and transfer as much as nappa leather-based with accessible perforated diamond shapes. Different accessible trim supplies embrace walnut, anthracite, or open-pore black wooden; a steel weave; a silver-mixed steel cloth; and aluminum. It’s not fairly as much as E-Class requirements, however there’s no disgrace in that.

The inside dimensions are marginally smaller than these of the final E Coupe. As an example, it has 1.7 inches much less rear legroom, 0.4 inch much less rear headroom, and 0.6 inch much less entrance headroom. Nonetheless, it’s bigger than the outgoing C Coupe.

2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupe

Whereas the entrance seat has good house in all dimensions, the rear seat will solely work for teenagers or for shorter adults in a pinch. Getting out and in additionally requires the seven fundamental yoga strikes.

Mercedes hasn’t introduced pricing for the CLE-Class but, however it’s already on sale in Europe the place it prices a number of thousand euros lower than the outgoing E-Class Coupe. Do you have to get the prospect, take one for a spin on a winding coastal street, preferable with the rising or setting solar because the background to your grand tour.

Mercedes paid for journey and lodging for Motor Authority to deliver you this firsthand report.