I guess you won’t be too surprised to read that, as a motoring journalist, buses and pubs don’t feature too regularly on my radar. But stick with me.  

I like pubs because they’re a great meeting place and, yes, I do like the odd pint of real ale. Consequently, if there’s going to be booze on the itinerary, I plan ahead, leave the car at home and use public transport.

Last month I popped into a pub to see a mate. One drink led to another and I had to leave my car - the Mercedes CLE you see here - in the pub car park. Needless to say, the following day I had to go back and get it and hopped onto a bus. I wasn’t familiar with the route but the bus had one of those voices, like on a lot of trains, which update you on the next stop.

During the bus journey, I reflected on how many pubs have actually closed in Britain. So many of the stops had names which corresponded with the pub that was once there but is no longer. When I picked up the Mercedes, I was in a reflective mood which was partly down to the car (a little down to the demise of the UK pub).

The Mercedes CLE Experience

There’s something very serene and rather classy about the Mercedes CLE. It’s quiet, comfortable and smooth riding. It also looks good with understated swooping lines. It’s also bigger than it looks in the photos. Mercedes has dropped the E-Class coupé so the idea is that this C-Class is big enough to satisfy any previous 2-door E-Class customers. Put it this way, it easily copes with four adults. Those in the back get a surprising amount of legroom although taller folk will struggle a bit in terms of headroom. There’s a decent amount of boot space too.

Engine Options

In terms of engine options, you can choose from between the entry-level CLE 200 2.0 litre mild hybrid unit which develops a total of 223bhp; CLE 300 which ups the power to 277bhp; 3.0 litre 398bhp CLE 450 or the thumping AMG version which squeezes 464bhp from its 6-cylinder 3.0-litre engine. There’s also a plug-in hybrid CLE 300 e which uses the smaller 2.0-litre petrol unit but, thanks to the additional oomph from the battery, boosts the combined power to 328bhp. You end up with a quick car and 0-60mph can be done in 6.3 seconds, but also with the potential to drive just over 60 miles in electric mode.  

The 450 models get 4Matic all-wheel drive which is also available on the CLE 300. A soft-top cabriolet has just arrived and gets all of the various engine choices.

The Diesel Option

All of the above use petrol, but now onto the one I tried. Shock horror, Mercedes still offers a diesel engine - the Mercedes CLE 220 d. The engine is a 4-cylinder 2.0-litre unit which develops 217bhp and Mercedes says it can give you a 0-60mph time of 7.5 seconds, a top speed of 148mph and a potential fuel return of just over 60 mpg.

Comparing Diesel and Petrol

In terms of performance, the CLE 220 d is very similar to the CLE 200, but the petrol version sees your consumption drop by close to 20 mpg.

It’s up to you whether you think the petrol model with AMG Line trim costing £46,220 is better value than the same trim in the 220 d which costs a further £2860. Do the sums. If you intend to do a lot of miles or travel regularly with a decent load the 220 d will probably work out better in the long run.

The CLE 220 d is a good choice. Diesel engines can sometimes sound rather agricultural but this one certainly doesn’t. It actually has a smooth rumble about it. Power goes to the rear wheels via a 9-speed automatic gearbox. The car also handles nicely, mainly due to it sitting fairly close to the ground; it doesn’t roll in corners. It’s not the sort of car you’d chuck around a country lane. Where it excels is cruising steadily along the motorway. You need to anticipate things when setting off from a junction or roundabout because if you try to nip into a space, you can be left wanting because there’s a bit of a delay between prodding the throttle and the car reacting.   

Interior and Features

The interior is a real stand out of the CLE and looks seriously smart and modern. The air vents, the 11.9-inch portrait central touchscreen and the 12.3-inch driver display look terrific. The central screen is used for just about everything so it takes a bit of getting used to but, after a couple of days in the car, I grew familiar with everything. It works really well. The touch-sensitive buttons on the steering wheel can be a little too sensitive at times (it’s easy to brush them with a finger) but they also work well and look the part.  

As with most premium car brands, if you start dipping into the options list, the price can climb alarmingly quickly. However, the entry-level AMG Line trim is more than acceptable. On the outside you get AMG body styling, sports suspension, front and rear parking sensors, twin exhausts, LED front and rear lights, and smart alloys, while inside you have powered sports seats, a swooping fascia, air con, sat nav, DAB radio and a host of safety wizardry.

Conclusion

As kerb appeal goes, the Mercedes CLE Coupé is bang on the money. It will thrive as a long distance cruiser rather than a point to point sprinter. If you fancy having a bit of dignified class in your life, this is a great place to start.

words: Graham Courtney
pictures: Mercedes-Benz