Compare the2025 Toyota GR86VS 2025 Mercedes CLE

The GR86’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the CLE.

Both the GR86 and the CLE have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

Toyota’s powertrain warranty covers the GR86 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the CLE. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the CLE ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the GR86 for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Mercedes doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the CLE.

There are over 3 times as many Toyota dealers as there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the GR86’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in initial quality. With 14 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota second in reliability, above the industry average. With 71 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 21st.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. Mercedes is ranked 29th.

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the GR86 lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability (That’s why Porsche uses boxer engines.). The CLE doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

The GR86 offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The CLE doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

The GR86 stops shorter than the CLE:

The GR86 Premium handles at 1.00 G’s, while the CLE 450 Coupe pulls only .91 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The GR86 Premium executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.3 seconds quicker than the CLE 450 Coupe (24.7 seconds @ .76 average G’s vs. 26 seconds @ .69 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the GR86’s turning circle is 3 feet tighter than the CLE’s (35.4 feet vs. 38.4 feet).

The Toyota GR86 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1250 to 1600 pounds less than the Mercedes CLE.

The GR86 is 1 foot, 11.1 inches shorter than the CLE, making the GR86 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The GR86’s standard power windows have a locking feature to keep children from operating them, but the driver can still raise and lower both of them with the lock engaged. Mercedes does not offer a locking feature on the CLE’s standard power windows.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the GR86’s exterior PIN entry system. The CLE doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Mercedes-Benz Emergency Call can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Toyota GR86, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The GR86 was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2024 and 3 more times in the last 12 years. The CLE has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.