Compare the2025 MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 DoorVS 2024 Mercedes CLE

The MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The CLE doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Both the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door and the CLE have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the CLE’s (12 vs. 5 years).

MINI pays for scheduled maintenance on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door for 3 years and 36,000 miles. MINI will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Mercedes doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the CLE.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that MINI vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks MINI above average in initial quality. With 24 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that MINI vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks MINI fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 44 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 21st.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that MINI vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks MINI third in overall reliability. Mercedes is ranked 29th.

On the EPA test cycle the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door gets better mileage than the CLE Coupe:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The CLE requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The CLE doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The CLE doesn’t offer launch control.

For better maneuverability, the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the CLE’s (36.4 feet vs. 38.4 feet).

The MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1050 to 1450 pounds less than the Mercedes CLE.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door is 3 feet, 2.4 inches shorter than the CLE, making the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that MINI service is better than Mercedes. J.D. Power ranks MINI fourth in service department satisfaction. With a 26% lower rating, Mercedes is ranked 17th.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door has a standard rear wiper. The CLE doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the car heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the CLE.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s optional Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Control Parking will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The CLE’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

The MINI Cooper comes in coupe, convertible and four door hatchback bodystyles; the Mercedes CLE isn’t available as a four door.