Lexus LC vs Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class

The Lexus LC starts from $198,400 before on-road costs, while the Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class opens at $104,900. That makes the Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class the more affordable entry point by $93,500.

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 $218,240 and $115,390 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class by roughly $6,270 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 Lexus LC features a 12.3-inch touchscreen paired with a 8-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 Lexus LC stands out with heated front seats, ventilated seats and Mark Levinson audio that you will not find on the Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class. The Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class counters with panoramic roof, Burmester audio and ambient lighting. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the Lexus LC gets semi-aniline leather upholstery while the Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class offers synthetic leather.

The Lexus LC uses a Petrol producing 351kW and 540Nm of torque, sent through a 10-speed auto to a RWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 4.7 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 Lexus LC has the clear power advantage at 351kW vs 150kW. In the real-world sprint, the Lexus LC is 2.7s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Lexus LC measures 4,770mm long on a 2,870mm wheelbase, 80mm shorter than the Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class at 4,850mm (2,865mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Lexus LC generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 197L in the Lexus LC and 420L in the Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class, giving the Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class a 223L advantage.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $3,306/year for the Lexus LC and $2,052/year for the Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class. That is a $1,254 annual difference in favour of the Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class.

Estimated annual total: $3,306 (Lexus LC) vs $2,052 (Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class). The Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class saves you roughly $1,254 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

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