Compare the2024 Nissan ZVS 2024 Mercedes CLE

The Z’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the CLE.

The Z Performance/NISMO has standard NissanConnect Services, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The CLE doesn’t offer a GPS response system, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Z and the CLE have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras and driver alert monitors.

Nissan’s powertrain warranty covers the Z 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the CLE. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the CLE ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 3 times as many Nissan dealers as there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Z’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan above average in initial quality. With 21 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Nissan 12 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The Z’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 145 more horsepower (400 vs. 255) and 55 lbs.-ft. more torque (350 vs. 295) than the CLE 300’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Z’s 3.0 turbo V6 produces 25 more horsepower (400 vs. 375) than the CLE 450’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid. The Z NISMO’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 45 more horsepower (420 vs. 375) and 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (384 vs. 369) than the CLE 450’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid.

The Z offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The CLE doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

The Z has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The CLE doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Z is 1 foot, 6.6 inches shorter than the CLE, making the Z easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Z Performance/NISMO uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The CLE doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Z’s speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The CLE’s

The Z Performance’s standard GPS navigation system has a real-time traffic update feature that plots alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The CLE’s available navigation system doesn’t offer real-time traffic updates.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Nissan Z, based on reliability, safety and performance.