Compare the2025 Porsche 911VS 2025 Mercedes CLE

Full-time four-wheel drive is available on the 911. Full-time four-wheel drive gives added traction for safety in all conditions, not just off-road, like the only system available on the CLE.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the 911 helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The CLE doesn’t offer a night vision system.

The 911’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the CLE.

Both the 911 and the CLE have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available crash mitigating brakes, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The 911’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the CLE’s (12 vs. 5 years).

J.D. Power and Associates rated the 911 second among premium sporty cars in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The CLE isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche above average in initial quality. With 34 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 long-term dependability statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche above average in long-term dependability. With 15 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Mercedes is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Porsche vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Porsche 21 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The 911 has more powerful engines than the CLE:

As tested in Car and Driver the Porsche 911 is faster than the CLE 450 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid (automatics tested):

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the 911 lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability. The CLE doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

The 911’s optional fuel tank has 4.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the CLE (22.1 vs. 17.4 gallons).

The 911 offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The CLE doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

The 911 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.

The 911 PDK’s optional 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 stopping power the 911 CCB’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the CLE:

The 911 offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The CLE doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The 911 stops much shorter than the CLE:

For better traction, the 911 GT3 RS’ optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the CLE (F:275/30R20 & R:335/30R21 vs. F:245/40R19 & R:275/35R19).

The 911 Dakar’s standard 295/40R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the CLE’s standard 45 series tires. The 911 GT3 RS’ optional tires have a lower 30 series profile than the CLE’s optional 35 series front tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the 911 has standard 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the CLE. The 911’s optional 21-inch rear wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the CLE.

The 911 (except Base/GT3) offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The CLE doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The 911 GT3 RS handles at 1.18 G’s, while the CLE 450 Coupe pulls only .91 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The 911 GT3 RS executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 4.1 seconds quicker than the CLE 450 Coupe (21.9 seconds @ .97 average G’s vs. 26 seconds @ .69 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the 911 GT3’s turning circle is 4.3 feet tighter than the CLE’s (34.1 feet vs. 38.4 feet). The 911’s turning circle is 1.7 feet tighter than the CLE’s (36.7 feet vs. 38.4 feet).

The Porsche 911 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 600 to 1000 pounds less than the Mercedes CLE.

The 911 Turbo/Turbo S is 1 foot shorter than the CLE, making the 911 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the 911 uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The CLE doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Porsche service is better than Mercedes. J.D. Power ranks Porsche second in service department satisfaction. With a 36% lower rating, Mercedes is ranked 17th.

The 911’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The CLE’s standard rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the 911 (except Cabriolet/GT3) offers an optional rear wiper. The CLE doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

The 911 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 911 has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The CLE doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The 911 (except Manual/GT3)’s optional Active Parking Support can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Optional Remote ParkAssist 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 911 is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The CLE doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the 911 second among premium sporty cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The CLE isn’t in the top three.