Verdict
The Mercedes-Benz CLE is the rational two-door choice at RM518,888: it is RM220,112 cheaper, costs RM380 a year in road tax and still brings 255 hp, 400 Nm, all-wheel drive, a head-up display and auto parking. The Porsche Cayenne Coupe answers with far greater pace, reaching 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds versus 6.2, plus a 25.9-kWh battery for 90 km of EV range. Its five-seat, 698-litre format suits family duties far better, but the RM2,118 road tax and 100,000-km warranty limit matter in Malaysia.
Pick the Mercedes-Benz CLE if you want the lower purchase price, lower RM380 annual road tax, four-seat coupe layout and unlimited-mileage four-year warranty.
Pick the Porsche Cayenne Coupe if you need five seats, a 698-litre boot, 90 km of EV range and 4.7-second 0-100 km/h performance.
Key differences
- Price: Mercedes-Benz CLE RM518,888; Porsche Cayenne Coupe RM739,000.
- Performance: CLE 255 hp, 400 Nm and 0-100 km/h in 6.2 seconds; Cayenne Coupe 350 hp, 500 Nm and 4.7 seconds.
- Electrified driving: CLE has one 23-hp motor with no stated battery capacity or EV range; Cayenne Coupe has a 173-hp motor, 25.9-kWh battery and 90 km EV range.
- Practicality: CLE has two doors, four seats and a 460-litre boot; Cayenne Coupe has five doors, five seats and a 698-litre boot.
- Road tax: CLE RM380 per year; Cayenne Coupe RM2,118 per year.
- Warranty mileage: CLE four years with unlimited mileage; Cayenne Coupe four years or 100,000 km.
CLE
- RM220,112 lower purchase price and RM1,738 lower annual road tax.
- Head-up display and auto parking are fitted.
- Four-year unlimited-mileage warranty.
- Four seats and a 460-litre boot trail the Cayenne Coupe's five seats and 698 litres.
- Its 6.2-second 0-100 km/h time is 1.5 seconds slower.
- No stated battery capacity, AC charging rate or EV range.
Cayenne Coupe
- 90 km EV range from a 25.9-kWh battery, with 11-kW AC charging.
- 350 hp, 500 Nm and a 4.7-second 0-100 km/h time.
- Five doors, five seats and a 698-litre boot.
- RM220,112 more expensive, with RM2,118 annual road tax versus RM380.
- Four-year warranty is capped at 100,000 km, unlike the CLE's unlimited mileage.
- No head-up display or auto parking.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM518,888✓ | RM739,000 |
| Body type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Segment | Compact Executive | Executive |
| Assembly | CBU | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM380✓ | RM2,118 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, Turbocharged with Direct Fuel Injection and Variable Valve Timing | 24-valve DOHC direct injection with variable valve timing, turbocharged & plug-in hybrid assistance |
| Capacity | 1,999 cc | 2,995 cc |
| Horsepower | 255 hp at 5,800 rpm | 350 hp at 6,500 rpm✓ |
| Torque | 400 Nm at 2,000 rpm | 500 Nm✓ |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 4 | V 6 |
| Fuel | Petrol Hybrid/REV | Petrol Plug-in Hybrid |
| Bore × Stroke | 83 mm × 92.4 mm | 84.5 mm × 89 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 10.5 | — |
| Number of Motors | 1 | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | 23 hp | 173 hp✓ |
| Motor Torque | 205 Nm | 460 Nm✓ |
| Battery Capacity | — | 25.9 kWh |
| EV Range | — | 90 km |
| Charging Rate (AC) | — | 11 kW |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 9G-Tronic | 8-Speed Tiptronic S |
| Gears | 9 | 8 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Mercedes-Benz (Daimler AG) | — |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 6.2 seconds | 4.7 seconds✓ |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h | 263 km/h✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,850 mm | 4,930 mm |
| Width | 1,860 mm | 1,983 mm |
| Height | 1,428 mm | 1,698 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,865 mm | 2,895 mm |
| Weight | — | 2,515 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 66 litres | — |
| Doors | 2 | 5 |
| Seats | 4 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 460 litres | 698 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 245/40R19 | 255/55R20 |
| Rear Tyre | 275/35R19 | 295/45R20 |
| Spare Tyre | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit | Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 Run-flat | Hankook Ventus S1 evoZ |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Germany (CBU) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | Multi-link | Double Wishbones with Air Suspension |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-Link with Air Suspension |
| Front Wheels | 19" AMG Multi-spoke Alloys | 21" RS Spyder Design |
| Rear Wheels | 19" AMG Multi-spoke Alloys | 21" RS Spyder Design |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | — | Porsche Active Suspension Management with Adaptive two-chamber air suspension and two-valve dampers |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 7 (Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Centre Airbag) | 8 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front & Rear Curtain, Rear Side Airbags) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | — | Electric for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 4 Three-point with Illumination and Front Belt Feeder | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available for Rear Seats | Available for Two Outer Rear Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes, with Pedestrian Detection |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | For All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Digital Light Matrix LEDs | Matrix LED Projectors |
| Taillamps | Full LED | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Driver and Passenger Powered Seats with Memory Settings, Heating & Ventilation | Driver and Passenger Powered Seats with Memory Settings, Heating & Ventilation |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding | 40:20:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Rear AC Vents | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Sunroof | Panoramic Glass Roof | Panoramic Glass Roof |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 2 Front USB, 2 Rear USB, 1 Wireless Charger | — |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | Sunroof Shade | Side Window Sunshades, Panoramic Glass Roof Shade |
| Audio | 11.9" Touchscreen Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) with Voice Control, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 17-Speaker Burmester Sound System | 12.3-inch Touchscreen with Porsche Communications Module, Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, Bose Premium Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Two Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Contactless Opening | Powered with Contactless Operation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree Camera | Yes, 360-degree Surround View System |
| Auto Parking | Yes | — |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | — |
| Power Door | — | Yes |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited✓ | 100,000 km |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | Unlimited | — |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 4 years | 4 years |
| Warranty Extended | 2 years | — |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Used CLE & Cayenne Coupe for sale
CLE vs Cayenne Coupe FAQ
Is the Mercedes-Benz CLE or Porsche Cayenne Coupe better?
The CLE is better for lower ownership costs and a conventional four-seat coupe brief. The Cayenne Coupe is better if you need five seats, 698 litres of luggage space, 90 km of EV range and substantially quicker acceleration.
What is the price difference?
The Porsche Cayenne Coupe costs RM220,112 more than the Mercedes-Benz CLE. It also carries RM2,118 annual road tax, compared with RM380 for the CLE.
Which has the better plug-in hybrid capability?
The Porsche Cayenne Coupe does. Its plug-in hybrid system includes a 25.9-kWh battery, 11-kW AC charging and a claimed 90 km EV range. No battery capacity, charging rate or EV range is stated for the CLE.
