Compare the2026 Honda PreludeVS 2025 Mercedes CLE

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Prelude deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Prelude’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The CLE’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

The Prelude’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the CLE.

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

Honda’s powertrain warranty covers the Prelude 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.

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

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Honda vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda above average in initial quality. With 31 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda above average in long-term dependability. With 1 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Mercedes is rated below average.

On the EPA test cycle the Prelude gets better mileage than the CLE Coupe:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Honda Prelude uses regular unleaded gasoline. The CLE requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Prelude has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The CLE doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Prelude’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the CLE’s standard 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Prelude has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the CLE.

The Honda Prelude may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 800 to 1250 pounds less than the Mercedes CLE.

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

The Prelude uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The CLE doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Prelude has .2 inches more front legroom, 1.4 inches more front shoulder room and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the CLE Coupe.

The Prelude has a much larger trunk than the CLE Coupe (15.1 vs. 11.2 cubic feet).

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Honda service is better than Mercedes. J.D. Power ranks Honda 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 7% lower rating, Mercedes is ranked 14th.

The Prelude’s standard power windows have a locking feature to keep children from operating them. Mercedes does not offer a locking feature on the CLE’s standard power windows.