2026 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class vs 2026 Volkswagen Jetta
The Volkswagen Jetta wins clearly, 85.3 to 75.7, on price, fuel & range. The Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class is ahead on tech & comfort and performance.
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 Volkswagen Jetta
The 2026 Volkswagen Jetta is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact sedan with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Jetta, is EPA-rated at 34 …
2026 Volkswagen Jetta
Clear winThe Volkswagen Jetta wins clearly, 85.3 to 75.7, on price, fuel & range. The Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class is ahead on tech & comfort and performance.
| Category · weight | 2026 Volkswagen Jettaoverall 85.3 | 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Classoverall 75.7 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 100 | 40.3 | ||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | ||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 100 | 69.1 | ||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | ||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 81 | 85.8 | ||||||||||||
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 | 67.6 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | ||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 68.3 | 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 | 85.3 | 75.7 | ||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 5 of 7 categories compared
Volkswagen Jetta: base trim S FWD · 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 Volkswagen Jetta wins
- It starts $35,555 lower ($23,995 against $59,550 base MSRP).
- It lists 17 standard driver-assist features against 9.
- It costs $1,100 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,950 against $3,050).
Where the 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class answers
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (3 against 6 filed with NHTSA).
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (20.5 points against 14 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
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
50 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Volkswagen JettaS FWD | Mercedes-Benz CLE-ClassCLE 300 4MATIC Coupe AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $23,995 | $59,550 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | twin turbo | twin turbo |
| Cylinder count | 4 | 4 |
| Engine displacement | 1,498 cc | 1,999 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | 1.5L inline four cylinder, 16V, turbocharged/intercooled, TSI | 2.0L Inline-4 Turbo with 48V Mild Hybrid System |
| Fuel injection system | TSI | — |
| Valve configuration | DOHC | — |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 158 hp | 255 hp |
| Torque | 184 lb-ft | 295 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 29 mpg | 24 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | 34 mpg | 27 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | 40 mpg | 34 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 3.24 | — |
| Transmission speeds | 8 | 9 |
| Transmission type | automatic hybrid | automatic |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 5.5 in | — |
| Overall height | 57.7 in | 56.2 in |
| Overall length | 187 in | 191 in |
| Overall width | 70.8 in | 73.3 in |
| Wheelbase | 106 in | 113 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 1st row | 51.2 cu-ft | — |
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 14.1 cu-ft | — |
| Total interior volume | 94.7 cu-ft | — |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 5 | — |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 38.5 in | — |
| Second-row headroom | 37.2 in | — |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 41.1 in | — |
| Second-row legroom | 37.4 in | — |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 2,998 lbs | — |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 2,998 lbs | 4,057 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | 4,167 lbs | — |
| Payload capacity | 915 lbs | — |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | strut-type with lower control arms, coil springs, telescopic dampers, anti-roll bar | — |
| Rear suspension type | torsion beam, coil springs, telescopic dampers | — |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | rack and pinion, electric power assist | — |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 35.8 ft | — |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 287 mm | — |
| Front brake type | vented disc | — |
| Parking brake type | electro-mechanical | — |
| Rear brake diameter | 272 mm | — |
| Rear brake type | solid disc | — |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 16 in | 18 in |
| Wheel material | alloy | — |
| Wheel width | 6.5 in | — |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 205/60 R16 92H | — |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 12.8 gal | — |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | — |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | Volkswagen Car-Net | SiriusXM |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 55.9 in | — |
| Second-row shoulder room | 54 in | — |
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
87 features · differences first, then sharedSafety27 differ · 28 listed
| Feature | Volkswagen JettaS FWD | Mercedes-Benz CLE-ClassCLE 300 4MATIC Coupe AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Stop & Go | std | — |
| Blind Spot Assist | — | std |
| Front Assist (Forward Collision Warning & Automatic Emergency Braking w/ Pedestrian & Cyclist Monitoring) | std | — |
| Front Assist (Forward Collision Warning & Automatic Emergency Braking w/ Pedestrian & Cyclist Monitoring) | std | — |
| Rear Traffic Alert | std | — |
| 11 Airbags (includes center airbag between front seats and head airbags for rear passengers) | — | std |
| Dual front & side airbags, front and rear curtain airbags | std | — |
| Dual front & side airbags, front and rear curtain airbags | std | — |
| Lane Assist (Lane Keeping System) | std | — |
| ATTENTION ASSIST Driver Drowsiness Monitor | — | std |
| 3-point seatbelts with tensioner height adjust | std | — |
| Active Brake Assist | — | std |
| Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC with Active Steering Assist and Extended Restart in Stop-and-Go Traffic, 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 |
| Active Side Assist (Blind Spot Monitor) | std | — |
| Adaptive Highbeam Assist | — | std |
| Anti-Lock Braking System | std | — |
| Automatic Post-Collision Braking System | std | — |
| Driver Assistance Package | — | opt |
| Front Seatbelt Presenters | — | std |
| GUARD 360 with Picture Taking Functionality | — | opt |
| Intelligent Crash Response System | std | — |
| IQ.DRIVE (Travel Assist, Front Assist, Active Side Assist, Rear Traffic Alert, ACC Stop & Go, Lane Assist, Emergency Assist) | std | — |
| PARKTRONIC with Active Parking Assist | — | std |
| PRE-SAFE® with PRE-SAFE® Sound | — | std |
| Rearview Camera | std | — |
| Stability Control | std | — |
| Tire pressure monitoring system | std | — |
| 11 Airbags (includes center airbag between front seats and head airbags for rear passengers) | std | std |
Infotainment16 differ · 16 listed
| Feature | Volkswagen JettaS FWD | Mercedes-Benz CLE-ClassCLE 300 4MATIC Coupe AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Head-Up Display | — | opt |
| Wi-Fi Hotspot | std | — |
| 11.9-inch Central Multimedia Display | — | std |
| 4-speaker sound system | std | — |
| Bluetooth connectivity | std | — |
| Burmester® Surround Sound System with Speakers Integrated into Front Seat Headrests, Sound Personalization and Music Streaming | — | std |
| Inductive Wireless Smartphone Charging | — | std |
| MBUX Augmented Reality for Navigation | — | opt |
| MBUX Entertainment Plus | — | 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 |
| MIB3 Composition Media 8-in touchscreen, USB-C (2 data & charge ports) | std | — |
| SiriusXM with Trial Period | — | std |
| Volkswagen Digital Cockpit (8-inch display) | std | — |
| Wireless App-Connect (CarPlay, AndroidAuto, MirrorLink) w/ multi-phone pairing capability | std | — |
| Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto | — | std |
Convenience2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Volkswagen JettaS FWD | Mercedes-Benz CLE-ClassCLE 300 4MATIC Coupe AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Digital Vehicle Key | — | std |
| KEYLESS-START and KEYLESS-GO | — | std |
Climate2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Volkswagen JettaS FWD | Mercedes-Benz CLE-ClassCLE 300 4MATIC Coupe AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Climatronic Touch dual-zone automatic climate control | std | — |
| Energizing AIR Control | — | opt |
Seating8 differ · 8 listed
| Feature | Volkswagen JettaS FWD | Mercedes-Benz CLE-ClassCLE 300 4MATIC Coupe AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Power Heated Front Seats with Memory | — | std |
| Ventilated Front Seats | — | opt |
| Front comfort 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 |
| Leather and Nappa Leather Upholstery with Special Coating for Seat Surfaces to Remain Cooler in Direct Sunlight (by up to 23 degrees Fahrenheit) | — | opt |
| Manually adjustable driver's seat | std | — |
| Multicontour Front Seats with Massage | — | opt |
| Rhombus cloth seating surfaces | std | — |
Interior9 differ · 10 listed
| Feature | Volkswagen JettaS FWD | Mercedes-Benz CLE-ClassCLE 300 4MATIC Coupe AWD |
|---|---|---|
| 12.3-inch Digital Instrument Cluster | — | std |
| 64-Color Ambient Lighting | — | std |
| Center & door armrest stitching | std | — |
| Illuminated Door Sills | — | std |
| Leather gearshift knob/handle | std | — |
| Leather Multifunction Steering Wheel | — | std |
| Leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel | std | — |
| New Black Fine Structure Center Console | — | std |
| Pinnacle Trim | — | opt |
| Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror | std | std |
Exterior15 differ · 16 listed
| Feature | Volkswagen JettaS FWD | Mercedes-Benz CLE-ClassCLE 300 4MATIC Coupe AWD |
|---|---|---|
| 16-inch two-tone machined aluminum-alloy wheels | std | — |
| 18- and 19-inch Wheels without AMG Line (CLE 300 4MATIC) | — | opt |
| 18-inch Wheels (CLE 300 4MATIC) | — | std |
| 19- and 20-inch Wheels with AMG Line (CLE 300 4MATIC) | — | opt |
| AMG Line with AMG Exterior Styling, AMG Wheels, Sport Suspension, Sport Brake System, AMG Line Interior and Flat-Bottom Sport Steering Wheel | — | opt |
| Body-colored bumpers | std | — |
| DIGITAL LIGHT with Projections | — | opt |
| Heated side mirrors | std | — |
| LED Headlamps and Taillamps | — | std |
| LED headlights with LED Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) | std | — |
| LED taillights | std | — |
| Night Package | — | opt |
| Panorama Roof | — | std |
| Power-adjustable, manual folding, side mirrors | std | — |
| Automatic headlights | std | — |
| Rain Sensing Wipers | std | std |
Powertrain4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Volkswagen JettaS FWD | Mercedes-Benz CLE-ClassCLE 300 4MATIC Coupe AWD |
|---|---|---|
| 4MATIC All-Wheel Drive | — | std |
| Front-wheel drive | std | — |
| 9G-TRONIC 9-Speed Automatic Transmission | — | std |
| Dynamic Select | — | std |
Chassis1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Volkswagen JettaS FWD | Mercedes-Benz CLE-ClassCLE 300 4MATIC Coupe AWD |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5-degree Rear-Axle Steering and Suspension with Adaptive Damping System | — | opt |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPVolkswagen Jetta
Top recalls
- critical Electrical System 26V138000 · 48,165 vehicles
Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class
Top recalls
- high Electrical System 26V281000 · 144,049 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Volkswagen JettaS FWD | Mercedes-Benz CLE-ClassCLE 300 4MATIC Coupe AWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $23,995 (base trim) | $59,550 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $23,995 – $33,745 5 trims | $59,550 – $84,600 5 trims |
| Powertrains | GAS | HEV |
| EPA configuration compared | Jetta | CLE300 4matic (Coupe) |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 34 | 27 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $1,950 | $3,050 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | 4 yr / 50,000 mi | — |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | 3 yr | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta or the 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class?
The Volkswagen Jetta wins clearly, 85.3 to 75.7, on price, fuel & range. The Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class is ahead on tech & comfort and performance. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta scores 85.3 and the 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class 75.7. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta or the 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class?
The 2026 Volkswagen Jetta starts lower — $23,995 against $59,550, a gap of $35,555 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta or the 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class?
2026 Volkswagen Jetta: 5 NHTSA stars, grade B, 1 recall. 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 Volkswagen Jetta and the 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class?
Where the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta wins: it starts $35,555 lower ($23,995 against $59,550 base MSRP), lists 17 standard driver-assist features against 9, and costs $1,100 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,950 against $3,050). Where the 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class answers: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (3 against 6 filed with NHTSA) and lists more comfort and tech equipment (20.5 points against 14 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).