2027 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class vs 2027 Volkswagen Jetta
The Volkswagen Jetta wins clearly, 96.4 to 58.3, on tech & comfort, price, fuel & range. The Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class is ahead on performance.
2027 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class
The 2027 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…
2027 Volkswagen Jetta
The 2027 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 …
2027 Volkswagen Jetta
Clear winThe Volkswagen Jetta wins clearly, 96.4 to 58.3, on tech & comfort, price, fuel & range. The Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class is ahead on performance.
| Category · weight | 2027 Volkswagen Jettaoverall 96.4 | 2027 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Classoverall 58.3 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 100 | 39.4 | ||||||||||||
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 | 100 | 76.7 | ||||||||||||
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 & cargow 2 | 100 | 79.6 | ||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | ||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 67.6 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | ||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 100 | 6.3 | ||||||||||||
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 | 96.4 | 58.3 | ||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 6 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 2027 Volkswagen Jetta wins
- It lists 15 standard driver-assist features against 1.
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (16 points against 1 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
- It starts $36,905 lower ($23,995 against $60,900 base MSRP).
Where the 2027 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class answers
- It makes 255 hp against 158.
- It turns out 295 lb-ft of torque against 184.
What they share
- A Safety Signal of 100.
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 | $60,900 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | twin turbo | twin turbo |
| Cylinder count | 4 | 4 |
| Engine displacement | 1,498 cc | — |
| Engine type (full description) | 1.5L inline four cylinder, 16V, turbocharged/intercooled, TSI (EA211evo2) | 2.0L inline-4 turbo with mild hybrid drive |
| 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 | — |
| MPG (highway) | 40 mpg | 33 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 | 11.2 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | 94.7 cu-ft | — |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 5 | 4 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 38.5 in | — |
| Second-row headroom | 37.2 in | — |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 41.1 in | 42.1 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 | 4-link independent with Comfort tuning |
| Rear suspension type | Torsion beam, coil springs, telescopic dampers | 5-arm multilink independent with Comfort tuning |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Rack and pinion: electric power assist | Rack-and-pinion with electromechanical power assist |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 17.9 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 | 8 in |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 205/60 R16 92H | 245/45R18 front and rear |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 12.8 gal | 17.4 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | — |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | myVW | — |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 55.9 in | 55.7 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
51 features · differences first, then sharedSafety16 differ · 16 listed
| Feature | Volkswagen JettaS FWD | Mercedes-Benz CLE-ClassCLE 300 4MATIC Coupe AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Stop & Go | 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 | — |
| 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 | — |
| 3-point seatbelts with tensioner height adjust | std | — |
| Active Side Assist (Blind Spot Monitor) | std | — |
| Anti-Lock Braking System | std | — |
| Automatic Post-Collision Braking System | std | — |
| DISTRONIC adaptive cruise control | — | std |
| Intelligent Crash Response System | std | — |
| IQ.DRIVE (Front Assist, Active Side Assist, Rear Traffic Alert, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Lane Assist, Travel Assist, Emergency Assist) | std | — |
| Rearview Camera | std | — |
| Standard Electronic Stability Control | std | — |
| Tire pressure monitoring system | std | — |
Infotainment8 differ · 8 listed
| Feature | Volkswagen JettaS FWD | Mercedes-Benz CLE-ClassCLE 300 4MATIC Coupe AWD |
|---|---|---|
| myVW w/ available Wi-Fi | std | — |
| 6-speaker sound system | std | — |
| Bluetooth connectivity | std | — |
| MBUX profiles, routines and templates | — | std |
| MIB3 Composition Media 8-in touchscreen, USB-C (2 data & charge ports, 1 charge-only port), SiriusXM with 360L (3-mo Platinum Plan trial), voice control | std | — |
| SiriusXM w/ 360L | std | — |
| Volkswagen Digital Cockpit (8-inch display) | std | — |
| Wireless App-Connect (CarPlay, AndroidAuto, MirrorLink) w/ multi-phone pairing capability | std | — |
Convenience1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Volkswagen JettaS FWD | Mercedes-Benz CLE-ClassCLE 300 4MATIC Coupe AWD |
|---|---|---|
| KESSY keyless access with push-button start | std | — |
Climate1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Volkswagen JettaS FWD | Mercedes-Benz CLE-ClassCLE 300 4MATIC Coupe AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Climatronic Touch dual-zone automatic climate control | std | — |
Seating3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Volkswagen JettaS FWD | Mercedes-Benz CLE-ClassCLE 300 4MATIC Coupe AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Front comfort seats | std | — |
| Manually adjustable driver's seat | std | — |
| Rhombus cloth seating surfaces | std | — |
Interior4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Volkswagen JettaS FWD | Mercedes-Benz CLE-ClassCLE 300 4MATIC Coupe AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-dimming interior rearview mirror | std | — |
| Center & door armrest stitching | std | — |
| Leather gearshift knob/handle | std | — |
| Leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel | std | — |
Exterior12 differ · 12 listed
| Feature | Volkswagen JettaS FWD | Mercedes-Benz CLE-ClassCLE 300 4MATIC Coupe AWD |
|---|---|---|
| 16-inch two-tone machined aluminum-alloy wheels | std | — |
| 18-inch twin 5-spoke, black wheels (8.0x18 front and rear) | — | std |
| 245/45R18 front and rear all-season Extended Mobility tires | — | std |
| AMG body styling | — | std |
| Body-colored bumpers | std | — |
| Heated side mirrors | std | — |
| LED headlights with LED Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) | std | — |
| LED taillights | std | — |
| Panorama roof | — | std |
| Power-adjustable, manual folding, side mirrors | std | — |
| Rain-sensing wipers | std | — |
| Automatic headlights | 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 | — |
| 2.0L inline-4 turbo engine with mild hybrid drive | — | std |
| 9G-TRONIC 9-speed automatic transmission | — | std |
Chassis2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Volkswagen JettaS FWD | Mercedes-Benz CLE-ClassCLE 300 4MATIC Coupe AWD |
|---|---|---|
| 4-wheel independent suspension with Comfort tuning, 4-link front/5-arm multilink rear | — | std |
| Rack-and-pinion with electromechanical power assist steering | — | std |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPVolkswagen Jetta
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Volkswagen JettaS FWD | Mercedes-Benz CLE-ClassCLE 300 4MATIC Coupe AWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $23,995 (base trim) | $60,900 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $23,995 – $33,795 5 trims | $60,900 – $85,700 6 trims |
| Powertrains | GAS | HEV |
| EPA configuration compared | Jetta | CLE300 4matic (Convertible) |
| 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 2027 Volkswagen Jetta or the 2027 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class?
The Volkswagen Jetta wins clearly, 96.4 to 58.3, on tech & comfort, price, fuel & range. The Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class is ahead on performance. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2027 Volkswagen Jetta scores 96.4 and the 2027 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class 58.3. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2027 Volkswagen Jetta or the 2027 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class?
The 2027 Volkswagen Jetta starts lower — $23,995 against $60,900, a gap of $36,905 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2027 Volkswagen Jetta or the 2027 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class?
2027 Volkswagen Jetta: no NHTSA rating yet, grade A, 0 recalls. 2027 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class: no NHTSA rating yet, grade A, 0 recalls. 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 2027 Volkswagen Jetta and the 2027 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class?
Where the 2027 Volkswagen Jetta wins: it lists 15 standard driver-assist features against 1, lists more comfort and tech equipment (16 points against 1 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½), and starts $36,905 lower ($23,995 against $60,900 base MSRP). Where the 2027 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class answers: it makes 255 hp against 158 and turns out 295 lb-ft of torque against 184. What they share: a Safety Signal of 100.