Compare the2026 Mercedes CLEVS 2026 BMW 8 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 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 CLE are reminded to check the back seat. The 8 Series doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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 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 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 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 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 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 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, available lane departure warning systems and around view monitors.

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

J.D. Power and Associates rated the 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 CLE 450’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 40 more horsepower (375 vs. 335) than the 840i’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the CLE Coupe gets better mileage than the 8 Series:

On the EPA test cycle the CLE Cabriolet gets better mileage than the 8 Series:

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 8 Series (2). This means the CLE produces up to 28.8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the 8 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 8 Series.

The CLE stops shorter than the 8 Series:

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 8 Series doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CLE’s wheelbase is 1.7 inches longer than on the 8 Series (112.8 inches vs. 111.1 inches).

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

The 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 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 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 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 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 CLE offers optional extendable sun visors. The 8 Series doesn’t offer extendable visors.

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 8 Series.

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