Honda Civic Type R vs Mercedes-Benz CLE
Verdict
The Honda Civic Type R is RM399,900 against the Mercedes-Benz CLE at RM518,888, so the Mercedes asks RM118,988 more. For that, it gives you a larger coupe body, all-wheel drive, an automatic gearbox, 460 litres of boot space and one extra airbag. The Honda is the sharper numbers car: 315 hp, 420 Nm, a 5.5-second 0-100 km/h time and 272 km/h flat out. If you want driver involvement, the manual Civic is the clear play. If you want grander proportions and AWD ease, the CLE has the calmer brief.
Pick the Honda Civic Type R if you want the quicker, more powerful manual car and can live with front-wheel drive and a smaller boot.
Pick the Mercedes-Benz CLE if you want a larger automatic coupe with all-wheel drive, more boot space and a petrol-hybrid 1.0 kWh system.
Key differences
- Price: Honda Civic Type R RM399,900; Mercedes-Benz CLE RM518,888
- Power and torque: Honda Civic Type R 315 hp/420 Nm; Mercedes-Benz CLE 255 hp/400 Nm
- Acceleration and top speed: Honda Civic Type R 0-100 km/h in 5.5 s, 272 km/h; Mercedes-Benz CLE 6.2 s, 250 km/h
- Drivetrain: Honda Civic Type R front-wheel drive manual; Mercedes-Benz CLE all-wheel drive conventional automatic
- Size and boot: Honda Civic Type R 4,593 mm long, 410 L; Mercedes-Benz CLE 4,850 mm long, 460 L
- Warranty and airbags: Honda Civic Type R 5-year warranty, 6 airbags; Mercedes-Benz CLE 4-year warranty, 7 airbags
Civic Type R
- Stronger 315 hp output
- Quicker 5.5-second 0-100 km/h time
- Manual gearbox for direct involvement
- Front-wheel drive only
- Smaller 410-litre boot
- One fewer airbag than the Mercedes-Benz CLE
CLE
- All-wheel drive traction
- Larger 460-litre boot
- Automatic gearbox suits daily use
- RM118,988 dearer
- Slower 6.2-second 0-100 km/h time
- Shorter 4-year warranty
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 399,900✓ | RM 518,888 |
| Body type | Hatchback | Coupe |
| Segment | C-Segment | Compact Executive |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, Turbocharged with Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift | 16-valve DOHC, Turbocharged with Direct Fuel Injection and Variable Valve Timing |
| Capacity | 1,996 cc | 1,999 cc |
| Horsepower | 315 hp✓ | 255 hp |
| Torque | 420 Nm✓ | 400 Nm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline | Inline |
| Timing Type | Chain | Chain |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol Hybrid/REV |
| Bore | 86 mm | 83 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 9.8 | 10.5 |
| Number of Motors | — | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | — | 23 hp |
| Motor Torque | — | 205 Nm |
| Battery Type | — | Lithium-ion |
| Battery Capacity | — | 1 kWh |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Manual | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 6-speed Manual | 9G-Tronic |
| Gears | 6 | 9 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Honda | Mercedes-Benz (Daimler AG) |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 5.5 seconds✓ | 6.2 seconds |
| Top Speed | 272 km/h✓ | 250 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,593 mm | 4,850 mm |
| Width | 1,890 mm | 1,860 mm |
| Height | 1,407 mm | 1,428 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,734 mm | 2,865 mm |
| Weight | 1,423 kg | — |
| Fuel Tank | 47 litres | 66 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 2 |
| Seats | 4 | 4 |
| Boot Space | 410 litres | 460 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 265/30R19 | 245/40R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 265/30R19 | 275/35R19 |
| Spare Tyre | Tyre Repair Kit | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S | Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 Run-flat |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Japan (CBU) | Germany (CBU) |
| Chassis | Unibody | Unibody |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | Multi-link |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-Link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 19" Alloy | 19" AMG Multi-spoke Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 19" Alloy | 19" AMG Multi-spoke Alloys |
| Front Brakes | Ventilated Disc | Ventilated Disc |
| Rear Brakes | Solid Disc | Solid Disc |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Adaptive Dampers | — |
| Crash Safety Ratings | ||
| EuroNCAP | 5 stars | — |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Curtain | Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Centre Airbag |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | — |
| Seat Belts | 4 Three-point | 4 Three-point with Illumination and Front Belt Feeder |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available for 2 Outer Rear Seats | Available for Rear Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes, Honda Sensing | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Reflector with Auto High Beam | Digital Light Matrix LEDs |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Manual Adjustable, Driver's Seat Height Adjustable | Driver and Passenger Powered Seats with Memory Settings, Heating & Ventilation |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding | 60:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate | Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | — | Rear AC Vents |
| Sunroof | — | Panoramic Glass Roof |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 2 Front USB-A | 1 Front, 2 Front USB, 2 Rear USB, 1 Wireless Charger |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | — | Sunroof Shade |
| Audio | 9.0" Advanced Display Audio Touchscreen with 8 Speakers, Wired Android Auto, Wired and Wireless Apple CarPlay | 11.9" Touchscreen Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) with Voice Control, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 17-Speaker Burmester Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Driver's and Front Passenger's Side Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | Two Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation with Walk-away Auto Lock | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | — | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control with Low Speed Follow | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | — | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | — | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Contactless Opening |
| Parking Sensor Front | 4 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with Multi-angle | Yes, 360-degree Camera |
| Auto Parking | — | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | — | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | — | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | — | Unlimited |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | — | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years✓ | 4 years |
| Warranty Extended | — | 6 years✓ |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM 378✓ | RM 380 |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Civic Type R vs CLE FAQ
Is the Honda Civic Type R or Mercedes-Benz CLE better?
The Honda Civic Type R is better for performance and driver involvement, with more power, more torque, a manual gearbox and quicker acceleration. The Mercedes-Benz CLE is better if you want all-wheel drive, an automatic gearbox, a larger body and more boot space.
What is the price difference?
The Mercedes-Benz CLE costs RM118,988 more than the Honda Civic Type R. That gap buys all-wheel drive, an automatic gearbox, a larger coupe body, a 460-litre boot and one extra airbag.
Which car is quicker from 0-100 km/h?
The Honda Civic Type R is quicker. It does 0-100 km/h in 5.5 seconds, while the Mercedes-Benz CLE takes 6.2 seconds. The Honda also has the higher top speed, at 272 km/h versus 250 km/h.