Compare the2025 Mercedes CLEVS 2025 BMW 2 Series

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes CLE have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision. The BMW 2 Series doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The CLE’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The 2 Series doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The CLE has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The 2 Series doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

To allow off-road and deep snow capability, Four-Wheel Drive is standard on the CLE. But it costs extra on the 2 Series.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The CLE has Car-to-X Communication, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The 2 Series doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure or other vehicles.

Both the CLE and 2 Series have rear cross-traffic warning, but the CLE has Active Brake Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The 2 Series’ Cross Traffic Warning doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the CLE and the 2 Series have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available lane departure warning systems and around view monitors.

There are over 10 percent more Mercedes dealers than there are BMW dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the CLE’s warranty.

The CLE 450’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 120 more horsepower (375 vs. 255) and 74 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 295) than the 230i’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the CLE 450 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid is faster than the 230i 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder:

On the EPA test cycle the CLE Coupe gets better mileage than the 2 Series:

Regenerative brakes improve the CLE’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The 2 Series doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The CLE has 3.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the 2 Series (17.4 vs. 13.7 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mercedes CLE higher (6 to 7 out of 10) than the BMW 2 Series (2 to 4). This means the CLE produces up to 28.8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the 2 Series every 15,000 miles.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Mercedes CLE, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the 2 Series.

For better stopping power the CLE’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the 2 Series:

For better traction, the CLE has larger standard tires than the 2 Series (245/45R18 vs. 225/45R18).

The CLE’s optional 275/30R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the M240i Coupe’s optional 35 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CLE offers optional 20-inch wheels. The 2 Series’ largest wheels are only 19-inches.

The CLE’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The 2 Series doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CLE’s wheelbase is 4.9 inches longer than on the 2 Series (112.8 inches vs. 107.9 inches).

The CLE Coupe has .5 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more front legroom, 1 inch more rear headroom, 2 inches more rear legroom and .7 inches more rear shoulder room than the 2 Series Coupe.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the CLE’s power trunk can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The 2 Series doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening trunk.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the 2 Series, the CLE has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The CLE’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The 2 Series doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The CLE’s standard Keyless-Go allow you to unlock the doors from either outside door handle, open the trunk, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Comfort Go standard on the 2 Series only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the car.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the CLE offers optional extendable sun visors. The 2 Series doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the CLE keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The 2 Series doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The CLE offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the 2 Series.

The Mercedes CLE has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the rear view mirror. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. BMW charges extra for Homelink® on the 2 Series.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mercedes CLE has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the 2 Series.

The Mercedes CLE comes in coupe and convertible bodystyles; the BMW 2 Series isn’t available as a convertible.