2026 Ford Mustang vs 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class
The Ford Mustang wins clearly, 91.9 to 81.1, on price, performance, fuel & range. The Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class is ahead on safety and tech & comfort.
2026 Ford Mustang
The 2026 Ford Mustang is sold in the U.S. as a gas coupe with 6 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Mustang, is EPA-rated at 26 mpg combin…
2026 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class
The 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid compact sedan with 6 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the CLE300 4matic (C…
2026 Ford Mustang
Clear winThe Ford Mustang wins clearly, 91.9 to 81.1, on price, performance, fuel & range. The Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class is ahead on safety and tech & comfort.
| Category · weight | 2026 Ford Mustangoverall 91.9 | 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Classoverall 81.1 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 100 | 55.4 | ||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | ||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 98.8 | 90.1 | ||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | ||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 70.1 | 85.2 | ||||||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | ||||||||||||||
| Space & cargonot compared | No data | No data | ||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 100 | 82.1 | ||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | ||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 97.6 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Standard (1) and optional (0.5) infotainment, convenience, climate and interior features from the manufacturer's press kit. | ||||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | No data | No data | ||||||||||||
| Overall | 91.9 | 81.1 | ||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 5 of 7 categories compared
Ford Mustang: base trim EcoBoost Fastback RWD · Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class: base trim CLE 300 4MATIC Coupe AWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2026 Ford Mustang wins
- It lists 16 standard driver-assist features against 8.
- It starts $26,555 lower ($32,995 against $59,550 base MSRP).
- It costs $450 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($2,600 against $3,050).
Where the 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class answers
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (3 against 8 filed with NHTSA).
- It has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 92 against 71).
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
Specifications side by side
34 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Ford MustangEcoBoost Fastback RWD | Mercedes-Benz CLE-ClassCLE 300 4MATIC Coupe AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $32,995 | $59,550 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | twin turbo | twin turbo |
| Cylinder count | 4 | 4 |
| Engine displacement | 2,300 cc | 1,999 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | 2.3L EcoBoost® 4-cylinder | 2.0L Inline-4 Turbo with 48V Mild Hybrid System |
| Fuel injection system | gdi mpi | — |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 315 hp | 255 hp |
| Torque | 350 lb-ft | 295 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | — | 24 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | — | 27 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | — | 34 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 3.15 limited-slip rear axle | — |
| Transmission speeds | 10 | 9 |
| Transmission type | automatic | automatic |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Overall height | 55 in | 56.2 in |
| Overall length | 189 in | 191 in |
| Overall width | 81.9 in | 73.3 in |
| Wheelbase | — | 113 in |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (minimum) | — | 4,057 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | Independent | — |
| Rear suspension type | Independent | — |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Electric Power-Assisted Steering (EPAS) with Selectable Effort | — |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 320 mm | — |
| Front brake type | Vented disc, 2-piston calipers | — |
| Parking brake type | Electric | — |
| Rear brake diameter | 320 mm | — |
| Rear brake type | Vented disc, single-piston calipers | — |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 18 in | 18 in |
| Wheel material | Cast aluminum | — |
| Wheel width | 8 in | — |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | P235/50ZR18 | — |
| Fuel System | ||
| Minimum recommended octane | 93 | — |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | Ford Connectivity Package | SiriusXM |
| Connected services trial (standard tier) | 12 months | — |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
107 features · differences first, then sharedSafety23 differ · 25 listed
| Feature | Ford MustangEcoBoost Fastback RWD | Mercedes-Benz CLE-ClassCLE 300 4MATIC Coupe AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking | std | — |
| 11 Airbags (includes center airbag between front seats and head airbags for rear passengers) | — | std |
| Dual Front Airbags | std | — |
| Front-Seat Side-Impact Airbags | std | — |
| Lane Keeping System | std | — |
| Rear View Camera | std | — |
| Rear Parking Sensors | std | — |
| Active Brake Assist | — | std |
| AdvanceTrac® with Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | std | — |
| ATTENTION ASSIST Driver Drowsiness Monitor | — | std |
| Belt-Minder® Front Safety Belt Reminder | std | — |
| Driver Assistance Package: Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC with Active Steering Assist, Active Lane Change Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Active Speed Limit Assist with Traffic Sign Assist, Route-Based Speed Adaptation, Active Brake Assist with Turning and Cross-Traffic Function, and PRE-SAFE® PLUS with PRE-SAFE® Impulse Side | — | opt |
| Driver's Knee Airbag | std | — |
| Ford Co-Pilot360™ | std | — |
| Front Seatbelt Presenters | — | std |
| GUARD 360 with Picture Taking Functionality (part of Pinnacle Trim) | — | opt |
| LATCH Lower Anchors and Tether Anchors For Children | std | — |
| Parking Package with Surround View 360-degree Camera (part of Pinnacle Trim) | — | opt |
| PARKTRONIC with Active Parking Assist | — | std |
| Personal Safety System™ For Driver and Front Passenger | std | — |
| PRE-SAFE® with PRE-SAFE® Sound | — | std |
| SOS Post-Crash Alert System™ | std | — |
| Individual Tire Pressure Monitoring System | std | — |
| Adaptive Highbeam Assist | std | std |
| Blind Spot Assist | std | std |
Infotainment22 differ · 22 listed
| Feature | Ford MustangEcoBoost Fastback RWD | Mercedes-Benz CLE-ClassCLE 300 4MATIC Coupe AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Ford Connectivity Package (Wi-Fi Hotspot) | opt | — |
| 11.9-inch Central Multimedia Display | — | std |
| 12.4" Cluster Display and 13.2" Center Display | std | — |
| 4G Modem | std | — |
| 6-Speaker Sound System, AM/FM Stereo MP3 Capable | std | — |
| B&O Sound System by Bang & Olufsen, 12-Speakers, AM/FM Stereo MP3 Capable and HD Radio™ | opt | — |
| Burmester® Surround Sound System with Speakers Integrated into Front Seat Headrests, Sound Personalization and Music Streaming | — | std |
| Ford App Remote Start | std | — |
| Head-Up Display | — | opt |
| High-Mounted Mirror USB Charging Port | std | — |
| Inductive Wireless Smartphone Charging | — | std |
| Magnesium Framed Panoramic Curved Display | opt | — |
| MBUX Augmented Reality for Navigation | — | opt |
| MBUX Entertainment Plus (part of Pinnacle Trim) | — | opt |
| MBUX Infotainment and Navigation with Voice Control, including Natural Language Understanding and Keyword Activation ("Hey Mercedes"), and Routines Function | — | std |
| MBUX Profile Identification via Biometric Fingerprint Scanner | — | std |
| SiriusXM with Trial Period | — | std |
| SiriusXM® with 360L and HD Radio™ | std | — |
| Sync® 4 | std | — |
| Track Apps® | std | — |
| USB Ports - Smart-Charging (2) | std | — |
| Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto | — | std |
Convenience3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Ford MustangEcoBoost Fastback RWD | Mercedes-Benz CLE-ClassCLE 300 4MATIC Coupe AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Digital Vehicle Key | — | std |
| Intelligent Access with Push-Button Start | std | — |
| KEYLESS-START and KEYLESS-GO | — | std |
Climate3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Ford MustangEcoBoost Fastback RWD | Mercedes-Benz CLE-ClassCLE 300 4MATIC Coupe AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Cabin Particulate Air Filter | std | — |
| Dual-Zone Electronic Automatic Temperature Control | std | — |
| Energizing AIR Control | — | opt |
Seating6 differ · 7 listed
| Feature | Ford MustangEcoBoost Fastback RWD | Mercedes-Benz CLE-ClassCLE 300 4MATIC Coupe AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Power Heated Front Seats with Memory | opt | std |
| 4-Way Manual Passenger Seat | std | — |
| 50/50 Split-Bench Folding Rear Seat | std | — |
| Cloth Front Bucket Seats | std | — |
| Leather and Nappa Leather Upholstery with Special Coating for Seat Surfaces to Remain Cooler in Direct Sunlight (by up to 23 degrees Fahrenheit) | — | opt |
| Multicontour Front Seats with Massage | — | opt |
| Ventilated Front Seats | opt | opt |
Interior9 differ · 10 listed
| Feature | Ford MustangEcoBoost Fastback RWD | Mercedes-Benz CLE-ClassCLE 300 4MATIC Coupe AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror | — | std |
| 12.3-inch Digital Instrument Cluster | — | std |
| 64-Color Ambient Lighting | — | std |
| Illuminated Door Sills | — | std |
| Leather Multifunction Steering Wheel | — | std |
| New Black Fine Structure Center Console | — | std |
| Pinnacle Trim | — | opt |
| Tilt/Telescoping Steering Column | std | — |
| Floor Mats - 1st Row Carpeted, Black | std | — |
| Heated Steering Wheel | opt | opt |
Exterior19 differ · 20 listed
| Feature | Ford MustangEcoBoost Fastback RWD | Mercedes-Benz CLE-ClassCLE 300 4MATIC Coupe AWD |
|---|---|---|
| 18-inch Wheels (CLE 300 4MATIC standard) | — | std |
| Active Valve Performance Exhaust with Black Tips | opt | — |
| AMG Line with AMG Exterior Styling, AMG Wheels, Sport Suspension, Sport Brake System, AMG Line Interior and Flat-Bottom Sport Steering Wheel (CLE 300 4MATIC Coupe optional, CLE 450 4MATIC Coupe standard) | — | opt |
| Configurable Daytime Running Lamps | std | — |
| DIGITAL LIGHT with Projections | — | opt |
| Easy Fuel® Capless Fuel Filler | std | — |
| LED Headlamps and Taillamps | — | std |
| LED Projector Headlamps with LED Signature Lighting | std | — |
| LED Sequential Taillights | std | — |
| Mirrors, Sideview - Heated | opt | — |
| Mustang RTR® Package (optional) | opt | — |
| Night Package | — | opt |
| Painted Black Roof (optional) | opt | — |
| Panorama Roof | — | std |
| Rear-Window Defroster | std | — |
| Shark Fin Antenna | std | — |
| Tire Inflator and Sealant Kit | std | — |
| Wedge Decklid Spoiler (optional) | opt | — |
| Mini Spare Wheel and Tire | opt | — |
| Rain Sensing Wipers | std | std |
Powertrain10 differ · 10 listed
| Feature | Ford MustangEcoBoost Fastback RWD | Mercedes-Benz CLE-ClassCLE 300 4MATIC Coupe AWD |
|---|---|---|
| 10-Speed Automatic Transmission | std | — |
| 2.0L Inline-4 Turbo with 48V Mild Hybrid System | — | std |
| 2.3L EcoBoost® Engine | std | — |
| 3.15 Limited-Slip Rear Axle | std | — |
| 4MATIC All-Wheel Drive | — | std |
| 9G-TRONIC 9-Speed Automatic Transmission | — | std |
| Dynamic Select | — | std |
| Launch Control | std | — |
| Limited-Slip Rear Axle | std | — |
| Selectable Drive Modes | std | — |
Chassis7 differ · 7 listed
| Feature | Ford MustangEcoBoost Fastback RWD | Mercedes-Benz CLE-ClassCLE 300 4MATIC Coupe AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Electric Hand Operated Parking Brake (Drift Brake) | opt | — |
| Electric Power-Assisted Steering (EPAS) with Selectable Effort | std | — |
| Electronic Line-Lock (Track Use Only) | std | — |
| Hydraulic Gas-Pressurized Dampers, Outboard-Mounted | std | — |
| Independent Rear Suspension | std | — |
| MagneRide® Damping System | opt | — |
| Vented Four-Wheel Disc Power Brakes | std | — |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPFord Mustang
Top recalls
- high Electrical System 26V547000 · 148,663 vehicles · filed unfixed
- high Engine And Engine Cooling 26V548000 · 10,001 vehicles · filed unfixed
- high Engine And Engine Cooling 26V205000 · 278 vehicles
- high Engine 25V828000 · 6 vehicles
- moderate Visibility 26V418000 · 67,994 vehicles
Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class
Top recalls
- high Electrical System 26V281000 · 144,049 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Ford MustangEcoBoost Fastback RWD | Mercedes-Benz CLE-ClassCLE 300 4MATIC Coupe AWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $32,995 (base trim) | $59,550 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $32,995 – $106,090 10 trims | $59,550 – $84,600 5 trims |
| Powertrains | GAS | HEV |
| EPA configuration compared | Mustang | CLE300 4matic (Coupe) |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 26 | 27 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $2,600 | $3,050 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | 3 yr / 36,000 mi (make terms) | — |
| Powertrain warranty | 5 yr / 60,000 mi (make terms) | — |
| Roadside assistance | 5 yr | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 Ford Mustang or the 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class?
The Ford Mustang wins clearly, 91.9 to 81.1, on price, performance, fuel & range. The Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class is ahead on safety and tech & comfort. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Ford Mustang scores 91.9 and the 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class 81.1. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2026 Ford Mustang or the 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class?
The 2026 Ford Mustang starts lower — $32,995 against $59,550, a gap of $26,555 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 Ford Mustang or the 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class?
2026 Ford Mustang: 5 NHTSA stars, grade C, 5 recalls (2 filed with no repair available). 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class: no NHTSA rating yet, grade A, 1 recall. Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2026 Ford Mustang and the 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class?
Where the 2026 Ford Mustang wins: it lists 16 standard driver-assist features against 8, starts $26,555 lower ($32,995 against $59,550 base MSRP), and costs $450 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($2,600 against $3,050). Where the 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class answers: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (3 against 8 filed with NHTSA) and has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 92 against 71).