The new Mercedes-Benz CLE engages in a drag race with the BMW 4 Series and a head-to-head race
Photo: Sam CarLegion on YouTube / edited
Sam CarLegion recently had the opportunity to pit Mercedes’ new CLE against BMW’s tried-and-tested 4 Series. Both coupes feature all-wheel drive, 2.0-liter turbo I4 engines, and torque converter automatic transmissions.
The CLE was introduced in the U.S. for the 2024 model year with mild-hybrid support as standard, while the 4 Series received a mild-hybrid system for 2025. Unfortunately, Sam couldn’t find an equivalent 4 Series coupe for this drag race, which starts off with a better start for the CLE.
Slowly but surely, the 430i catches up with the CLE 300 and it becomes a neck and neck race. If you push them a little, the BMW redeems itself with a dominant win over the Mercedes.
The 430i Coupe pictured is a 2022 model that uses the Bavarian automaker’s B48 TwinPower Turbo inline-four. In this application, it puts out a respectable 255 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 294 pound-feet (nearly 400 Nm) at 1,550 rpm. Those resources are sent to all four wheels via a ZF-supplied transmission with eight forward speeds.
The curb weight is 3,708 pounds (1,682 kilograms) before options, making the Bimmer significantly lighter than its main competitor. In the United States, and not Canada, where Sam lives, the CLE’s stated curb weight is 300 4MATIC is 3,924 pounds (1,880 kilograms).
Photo: Sam CarLegion on YouTube
Its engine is connected to a nine-speed gearbox developed by Mercedes, with the 2.0-liter turbo developing 255 hp. Its maximum torque is estimated at 400 Nm. In the new edition of the BMW 2025, presented in January 2024, the 430i switched to the Miller cycle, which offers better efficiency than the Otto cycle.
BMW didn’t mention any additional horsepower or torque from the mild-hybrid drive, but promised 11 horsepower from the 375-hp 440i’s electric assist, resulting in a peak output of 386 horsepower at 5,200 rpm. For some reason, BMW has refrained from giving the M4’s M-specific S58 engine any kind of hybrid assistance. For comparison: The 2024 Mercedes-BenzAMG The CLE 53 is a mild hybrid with charging via an exhaust gas turbocharger and the support of an additional electric compressor.
AMG also switched from the 9G-TRONIC of the non-AMG versions to the AMG SPEEDSHIFT TCT 9G, an automatic transmission with a torque converter that promises faster gear shifts than 9G-TRONIC. Similar to how BMW upgrades xDrive to M xDrive for M vehicles, the AMG-capable CLE also switches from 4MATIC to AMG Performance 4MATIC+.
The main difference the + makes? Drift mode, which – as hinted – sends everything exclusively to the rear wheels for even more throttle in the corners. Prices start at $72,800 excluding destination, while the M4 Coupe starts at $79,100 with a manual transmission or $83,200 in Competition spec with ZF’s 8HP. Further down the spectrum, the 430i xDrive costs $52,700 compared to $56,600 for the CLE 300 4MATIC.
If Sam had to choose between the 430i xDrive and the CLE 300 4MATIC, he would say Mercedes. Why? “It offers more space, looks much better from the outside, has a nicer interior, more cargo space overall and the drag race was neck and neck. I think the Mercedes is the best everyday car of the two.”
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