[Taboleo] MZ and Parents' 'Dream Car' Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupe and E-Class

Wider and Sleeker CLE Coupe
Trunk Fits 3 Golf Bags
Stable Without Shaking Even at High Speed
Elegant Luxury Sedan E-Class
Comfortable with Air Conditioning and Massage Seats
Capable of 100km on Pure Electric Mode

What is your dream car? It varies by generation or age. Younger people often prefer sleek and sporty designs. A car that is neither too big nor too small, with a bit of extra space. It’s questionable whether a vehicle exists that meets all these conditions. On the other hand, as people age, many dream of a dignified, sophisticated, and comfortable sedan. Mid-to-large sedans fit this criterion perfectly, but choosing the right one can be difficult.

Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupe
[Photo by Mercedes-Benz AG]

Like the meme “I prepared everything because I didn’t know what you’d like” (a popular online joke), Mercedes-Benz will launch vehicles next year that satisfy both preferences. These are the CLE Coupe and the fully redesigned E-Class plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) models. I had the chance to test drive both vehicles for the first time in Korea, in San Sebasti?n, Spain, and Munich, Germany, respectively.

I test drove the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) model for the first time in Korea on the 2nd (local time) in Munich, Germany.
[Photo by Oh Gyumin moh011@]

The ‘Dream Car’ for Young People: CLE Coupe

The name CLE Coupe (a 4-seater sedan with 2 doors) might sound unfamiliar because it is a completely new vehicle that did not exist before. This car replaces the existing C-Class Coupe and E-Class Coupe. In other words, those two models will no longer be produced, and only this coupe will be available. The vehicle was born after careful consumer surveys. Owners of the previous C and E coupes responded that “the C coupe is sporty but has limited space, while the E coupe has ample space but is not sporty.” Thus, the CLE Coupe was created by combining the strengths of both.

Gordon Wagner, Chief Design Officer (CDO) of Mercedes-Benz, is posing for a commemorative photo in front of the CLE Coupe.
[Photo by Oh Gyumin moh011@]

The exterior design reflects the sportiness of the C coupe. It inherits Mercedes-Benz’s traditional design elements such as a long hood and smooth roofline. Additionally, Gordon Wagner, Chief Design Officer (CDO), revealed that the CLE Coupe focuses on ‘love,’ one of Mercedes-Benz’s three core values (love, beauty, respect). The goal was to evoke a natural attraction when looking at the car. Inspired by the human body, the vehicle’s shoulders and rear were designed to be ‘captivating.’ Furthermore, the front features a ‘shark nose’ inspired by a shark’s snout. Two power domes on the hood give a strong impression.

The front of the CLE Coupe features a 'Shark Nose' inspired by a shark's snout. There are two power domes on the hood, giving it a strong impression.
[Photo by Oh Gyumin moh011@]

However, the size is as large as the E coupe. The rear seats, which require folding the front seats to access, are much more spacious than those in the C coupe. Although headroom is slightly limited, legroom is sufficient for short trips. The trunk can accommodate three golf bags, and in practice, it easily fit one large and one medium-sized suitcase.

The trunk easily accommodated one large suitcase and one medium suitcase.
Photo by Oh Gyumin moh011@

Inside, the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 11.9-inch vertical central display stand out. While it is not the super screen or hyper screen that Mercedes-Benz promotes, the carbon pattern applied prevents the space from feeling empty.

Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupe Interior
Photo by Oh Gyumin moh011@

The driving performance is especially notable for its high-speed stability. While driving on the Spanish highway, pressing the accelerator quickly brought the speed to 100 km/h. The acceleration was smooth, and the body did not shake, so there was hardly time to feel the acceleration. This vehicle’s powertrain will be available only with gasoline engines in Korea. It comes in two trims, a base and a premium, allowing customers to choose according to their preferences. The difference between the two trims lies in engine performance.

Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupe [Photo by Mercedes-Benz AG]

Comfortably Covers 100 km in Electric Mode... E-Class PHEV

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class is the company’s best-selling model. It has the highest sales among imported mid-to-large sedans in Korea. In fact, Korea is the country where the E-Class sells the most. There are reasons why many people choose it. Mercedes-Benz introduces this vehicle as a ‘luxury business sedan.’ Among these, the PHEV model meets these criteria.

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class underwent a complete redesign, featuring the three-pointed star logo on the rear lights. The same design was applied to the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) model as well.
Photo by Oh Gyumin moh011@

During the test drive, the main focus was on ‘how far it can go in pure electric mode.’ Mercedes-Benz states that this vehicle can travel 95-109 km in pure electric mode (WLTP standard). I drove a 90 km route entirely in pure electric mode, starting from downtown Munich and passing by FC Bayern Munich’s home stadium, Allianz Arena. When I got in, the instrument panel showed a range of 72 km. Under typical driving conditions, including using the air conditioner and massage seats, the vehicle performed as advertised. Once the battery was depleted, even if the driving mode was set to electric, the vehicle switched to hybrid mode, using both electricity and gasoline.

On the right side of the photo, there is a passenger seat display where videos can be watched. To prevent the driver from being distracted, the driver only sees a black screen while the video is playing. A Mercedes-Benz representative demonstrating a video conference [Photo by Oh Gyumin moh011@]

Noise insulation was also excellent. Even when driving at 100 km/h on the German Autobahn, the cabin remained quiet. Additionally, when driving steadily in electric mode, the engine does not engage, allowing for silent operation. Another feature is the passenger seat display, which can play videos. To avoid distracting the driver, the driver’s screen turns black while the video plays. The PHEV model is scheduled to be released in Korea in the first half of next year.

The front grille of the fully redesigned E-Class model is engraved with numerous three-pointed stars.
[Photo by Oh Gyumin moh011@]

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.