Verdict
At RM499,000 against RM518,888, the Lotus Eletre is RM19,888 cheaper yet brings a 112 kWh battery, 600 km EV range, 350 kW DC charging and 603 hp from two motors. Its five-seat, 688-litre SUV layout is far more useful than the CLE’s four seats and 460-litre boot. The Mercedes-Benz CLE counters with a smaller 4,850 mm coupe body, 66-litre fuel tank and RM380 annual road tax, versus RM1,440 for the Eletre. Pick the Lotus if home or public charging suits your routine; the CLE makes more sense where petrol refuelling and easier parking matter most.
Pick the Lotus Eletre if you want 600 km of electric range, 4.5-second 0-100 km/h pace and five-seat SUV practicality for less money.
Pick the Mercedes-Benz CLE if you prefer a 4,850 mm petrol-hybrid coupe with a 66-litre tank and much lower RM380 annual road tax.
Key differences
- Price: Lotus Eletre RM499,000; Mercedes-Benz CLE RM518,888.
- Road tax per year: Eletre RM1,440; CLE RM380.
- Powertrain: Eletre has two motors producing 603 hp and 710 Nm; CLE has a 1,999 cc 255 hp engine plus one 23 hp, 205 Nm motor.
- 0-100 km/h: Eletre 4.5 seconds; CLE 6.2 seconds.
- Energy storage and range: Eletre 112 kWh battery and 600 km EV range; CLE 66-litre fuel tank and no EV range.
- Practicality: Eletre has five seats and a 688-litre boot; CLE has four seats and a 460-litre boot.
Eletre
- 603 hp, 710 Nm dual-motor output and a 4.5-second 0-100 km/h time.
- 112 kWh battery, 600 km range, 22 kW AC and 350 kW DC charging.
- Five doors, five seats and 688 litres of boot space.
- RM1,440 annual road tax versus the CLE’s RM380.
- At 5,103 mm long and 2,135 mm wide, it is larger than the 4,850 mm by 1,860 mm CLE.
- No panoramic glass roof or auto parking, both fitted to the CLE.
CLE
- RM380 annual road tax and a 66-litre fuel tank.
- Shorter 4,850 mm coupe body and 1,860 mm width.
- Gets Digital Light Matrix LEDs, auto parking and front seats with memory, heating and ventilation.
- RM19,888 more expensive than the Eletre.
- Four seats and a 460-litre boot versus the Eletre’s five seats and 688 litres.
- Slower 0-100 km/h time of 6.2 seconds versus 4.5 seconds.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM499,000✓ | RM518,888 |
| Body type | SUV | Coupe |
| Segment | Executive | Compact Executive |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM1,440 | RM380✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 800V architecture | 16-valve DOHC, Turbocharged with Direct Fuel Injection and Variable Valve Timing |
| Capacity | — | 1,999 cc |
| Horsepower | — | 255 hp |
| Torque | — | 400 Nm |
| Fuel | Electric | Petrol Hybrid/REV |
| Bore | — | 83 mm |
| Compression Ratio | — | 10.5 |
| Number of Motors | 2 | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | 603 hp✓ | 23 hp |
| Motor Torque | 710 Nm✓ | 205 Nm |
| Battery Capacity | 112 kWh | — |
| EV Range | 600 km | — |
| Charging Rate (AC) | 22 kW | — |
| Charging Rate (DC) | 350 kW | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Single Ratio Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | — | 9G-Tronic |
| Gears | — | 9 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | — | Mercedes-Benz (Daimler AG) |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 4.5 seconds✓ | 6.2 seconds |
| Top Speed | 258 km/h✓ | 250 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5,103 mm | 4,850 mm |
| Width | 2,135 mm | 1,860 mm |
| Height | 1,630 mm | 1,428 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3,019 mm | 2,865 mm |
| Weight | 2,490 kg | — |
| Fuel Tank | — | 66 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 2 |
| Seats | 5 | 4 |
| Boot Space | 688 litres✓ | 460 litres |
| Front Tyre | 255/50R20 | 245/40R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 285/40R20 | 275/35R19 |
| Spare Tyre | — | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | Michelin Pilot Sport EV | Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 Run-flat |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | China (CBU) | Germany (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 20" 5-spoke Aero Alloy | 19" AMG Multi-spoke Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 20" 5-spoke Aero Alloy | 19" AMG Multi-spoke Alloys |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Curtain Airbags, Front Center Airbags and Front Knee Airbags | Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Centre Airbag |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | — | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Electronic for Rear Doors | — |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 4 Three-point with Illumination and Front Belt Feeder |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on two rear passenger seats | Available for Rear Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Projector LED with Dynamic Indicators | Digital Light Matrix LEDs |
| Taillamps | Full LED with Dynamic Indicators | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats | Driver and Passenger Powered Seats with Memory Settings, Heating & Ventilation |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-folding | 60:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Rear AC Vents |
| Sunroof | — | Panoramic Glass Roof |
| Power Sockets | 2 USB-C front, 2 USB-C rear | 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 | 15.1" Touchscreen with Lotus Hyper OS, Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 15-speaker KEF Reference Audio | 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, Automatic with Anti-pinch | Two Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Operation (Depress Brake Pedal) | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Remote Control Activation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | — | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation with Contactless Boot Opening | Contactless Opening |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with Surround View | 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 | 150,000 km | Unlimited✓ |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | — | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years✓ | 4 years |
| Warranty Extended | — | 2 years |
| Warranty Notes | 8-year/200,000 km Battery Warranty | — |
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.
Used Eletre & CLE for sale
Eletre vs CLE FAQ
Is the Lotus Eletre or Mercedes-Benz CLE better?
The Eletre is the better choice for electric range, acceleration and passenger or luggage space: it has 600 km range, reaches 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds and carries five. The CLE suits buyers who need petrol refuelling and lower annual road tax.
What is the price difference?
The Mercedes-Benz CLE costs RM518,888, which is RM19,888 more than the RM499,000 Lotus Eletre.
Which is cheaper to tax each year?
The Mercedes-Benz CLE is cheaper to tax at RM380 per year. The Lotus Eletre costs RM1,440 per year, a RM1,060 difference.