Compare the2026 Mercedes AMG CLEVS 2026 BMW 8 Series

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes AMG CLE have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The BMW 8 Series doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the AMG CLE are reminded to check the back seat. The 8 Series doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The AMG 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 8 Series doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the AMG CLE. But it costs extra on the 8 Series.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The AMG CLE has Car-to-X Communication, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The 8 Series doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure or other vehicles.

The AMG CLE has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the 8 Series’ blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the AMG CLE has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Alert and Active Brake Assist automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. BMW charges extra for Cross Traffic Warning on the 8 Series and the 8 Series’ Cross Traffic Warning does not include automatic braking.

Both the AMG CLE and the 8 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, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors and available lane departure warning systems.

There are over 9 percent more Mercedes dealers than there are BMW dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the AMG CLE’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the AMG CLE first among upper midsize premium cars in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The 8 Series isn’t in the top three in its category.

The AMG CLE’s 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 108 more horsepower (443 vs. 335) and 44 lbs.-ft. more torque (413 vs. 369) than the 840i’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Mercedes AMG CLE is faster than the M850i 4.4 turbo V8:

On the EPA test cycle the AMG CLE 53 Coupe gets better fuel mileage than the M850i (20 city/27 hwy vs. 17 city/24 hwy).

On the EPA test cycle the AMG CLE 53 Cabriolet gets better fuel mileage than the M850i (19 city/26 hwy vs. 17 city/24 hwy).

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mercedes AMG CLE higher (6 out of 10) than the BMW 8 Series (2). This means the AMG CLE produces up to 27.7 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the 8 Series every 15,000 miles.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Mercedes AMG CLE, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the 8 Series.

The AMG CLE stops shorter than the 8 Series:

For better traction, the AMG CLE has larger tires than the 8 Series (F:265/40R19 & R:295/35R19 vs. F:245/35R20 & R:275/30R20).

The AMG 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 8 Series doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the AMG CLE’s wheelbase is 2.1 inches longer than on the 8 Series (113.2 inches vs. 111.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the AMG CLE is 1.4 inches wider in the front and .2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the 8 Series.

The AMG CLE 53 Coupe handles at 1.02 G’s, while the M850i xDrive Coupe pulls only .98 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The AMG CLE has 7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the 8 Series (88 vs. 81).

The AMG CLE Coupe has 1.4 inches more front headroom, 2.4 inches more rear headroom, 4.7 inches more rear legroom, 7.5 inches more rear hip room and 5.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the 8 Series Coupe.

The AMG CLE Convertible has 1.3 inches more front headroom, 1.3 inches more rear headroom, 4.7 inches more rear legroom and 2.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the 8 Series Convertible.

In case of a sudden change of weather, the AMG CLE Convertible has a standard remote convertible top that can be raised from a distance to protect the interior of the vehicle from damage. On a hot day the AMG CLE Convertible has a standard remote opening feature, to lower the top from outside. The 8 Series doesn’t offer a remote top, so the driver will have to run to the car, get in, turn the ignition on and raise the top to prevent the interior from being damaged.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the AMG CLE to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The 8 Series doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the AMG CLE has standard extendable sun visors. The 8 Series doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The AMG CLE offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the 8 Series.

The Mercedes AMG CLE outsold the BMW 8 Series by almost three to one during 2024.