BMW 4 Series vs Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class

The BMW 4 Series starts from $83,500 before on-road costs, while the Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class opens at $104,900. That makes the BMW 4 Series the more affordable entry point by $21,400.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $91,850 and $115,390 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the BMW 4 Series by roughly $1,140 in fuel alone.

ANCAP safety ratings have not been published for both models yet. We will update this section when crash test results are available.

The BMW 4 Series features a 14.9-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class gets a 11.9-inch display and 12.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class counters with head-up display, wireless charging, panoramic roof, power tailgate, Burmester audio and ambient lighting that the BMW 4 Series does not offer. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the BMW 4 Series gets sensatec synthetic leather upholstery while the Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class offers synthetic leather.

The BMW 4 Series uses a Petrol producing 135kW and 300Nm of torque, sent through a auto to a RWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 7.5 seconds.

The Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class responds with a Petrol making 150kW and 320Nm, paired to a automatic driving the rear wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 7.4 seconds.

The Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class has the clear power advantage at 150kW vs 135kW. In the real-world sprint, the Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class is 0.1s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The BMW 4 Series measures 4,770mm long on a 2,851mm wheelbase, 80mm shorter than the Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class at 4,850mm (2,865mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 440L in the BMW 4 Series and 420L in the Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class, giving the BMW 4 Series a 20L advantage.

For towing, the Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class leads with a 1,800kg braked capacity vs 1,800kg. That 0kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $1,824/year for the BMW 4 Series and $2,052/year for the Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class. That is a $228 annual difference in favour of the BMW 4 Series.

Estimated annual total: $1,824 (BMW 4 Series) vs $2,052 (Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class). The BMW 4 Series saves you roughly $228 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (BMW 4 Series) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class). Both match on warranty length.