VS

DS Automobiles DS 3 vs Mercedes CLE Convertible comparison

Compare performance (156 HP vs 472 HP), boot space and price (29,500 £ vs 53,200 £ ) at a glance. Find out which car is the better choice for you – DS Automobiles DS 3 or Mercedes CLE Convertible?

DS Automobiles DS 3 vs Mercedes CLE Convertible: Key differences

DS Automobiles DS 3

  • significantly cheaper
  • significantly lighter
details

Mercedes CLE Convertible

  • substantially more power
  • barely more efficient
  • clearly quicker 0–100 km/h
  • barely more trunk space
details

By Achim Sedelmaier

Here’s where it gets real: The technical differences in detail

DS 3

Costs and Efficiency:

Price and efficiency are key factors when choosing a car – and this is often where the real differences emerge.

DS Automobiles DS 3 is significantly cheaper – starting at 29,500 £ , while the Mercedes CLE Convertible costs 53,200 £ . That’s a price difference of around 23,706 £.

Fuel consumption also shows a difference: the Mercedes CLE Convertible uses 4.9 L/100km and is barely more efficient than the DS Automobiles DS 3 with 5 L/100km. The difference is about 0.1 L/100km.

CLE Convertible

Engine and Performance:

Power, torque and acceleration are the classic benchmarks for car enthusiasts – and here, some clear differences start to show.

When it comes to engine power, the Mercedes CLE Convertible offers substantially more power – delivering 472 HP compared to 156 HP. That’s roughly 316 HP more horsepower.

When accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h, the Mercedes CLE Convertible is clearly quicker – completing the sprint in 4.4 s, while the DS Automobiles DS 3 takes 9.1 s. That’s about 4.7 s quicker.

There’s also a difference in torque: the Mercedes CLE Convertible delivers clearly more torque with 560 Nm compared to 260 Nm. That’s about 300 Nm more.

DS 3

Space and Everyday Use:

Whether family car or daily driver – which one offers more room, flexibility and comfort?

Seats: DS Automobiles DS 3 offers more seats – 5 vs 4.

In terms of curb weight, DS Automobiles DS 3 is significantly lighter – 1,249 kg compared to 1,925 kg. The difference is around 676 kg.

Looking at boot space, the Mercedes CLE Convertible offers barely more boot space – 385 L compared to 350 L. That’s a difference of about 35 L.

When it comes to payload, the DS Automobiles DS 3 carries very slightly more – 466 kg compared to 435 kg. That’s a difference of about 31 kg.

Who wins the race in the data check?

The Mercedes CLE Convertible stands well ahead of its rival in the objective data comparison.
This result only shows which model scores more points on paper – not which of the two cars feels right for you.

from £53,200
CLE Convertible

Mercedes CLE Convertible

  • Engine Type Petrol MHEV, Diesel MHEV
  • Transmission Automatic
  • Drive Type All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive
  • Power HP 193 - 472 HP
  • Consumption L/100km 4.9 - 9.6 L/100km
DS Automobiles DS 3
Mercedes CLE Convertible

Costs and Consumption

View detailed analysis

Engine and Performance

View detailed analysis

Dimensions and Body

View detailed analysis

DS Automobiles DS 3

The DS 3 is a chic, compact premium hatch that stands out with couture styling and an interior that feels more boutique than bargain-bin. It serves up a poised, city-friendly drive with plenty of French flair — ideal for buyers who want personality as much as practicality and don’t mind turning heads at the lights.

details

Mercedes CLE Convertible

The Mercedes CLE Convertible drops its roof with the kind of poise you'd expect from a luxury cruiser, wrapping elegant lines and a plush cabin into a composition that's equally at home on coastal roads or city boulevards. Behind the wheel it balances comfort and sporty intent, making it an appealing pick for buyers who want a refined open-top experience without shouting for attention — and yes, it even makes the commute feel like a weekend escape.

details
DS Automobiles DS 3
Mercedes CLE Convertible

Costs and Consumption

Price
29,500 - 37,600 £
Price
53,200 - 109,200 £
Consumption L/100km
5 L/100km
Consumption L/100km
4.9 - 9.6 L/100km
Consumption kWh/100km
15.5 kWh/100km
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Electric Range
400 km
Electric Range
-
Battery Capacity
-
Battery Capacity
-
co2
0 - 112 g/km
co2
128 - 218 g/km
Fuel tank capacity
-
Fuel tank capacity
66 L

Dimensions and Body

Body Type
SUV
Body Type
Convertible
Seats
5
Seats
4
Doors
-
Doors
2
Curb weight
1,249 - 1,646 kg
Curb weight
1,925 - 2,110 kg
Trunk capacity
350 L
Trunk capacity
375 - 385 L
Length
-
Length
4,850 - 4,853 mm
Width
1,791 mm
Width
1,861 mm
Height
-
Height
1,424 - 1,435 mm
Max trunk capacity
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Payload
362 - 466 kg
Payload
380 - 435 kg

Engine and Performance

Engine Type
Petrol MHEV, Electric
Engine Type
Petrol MHEV, Diesel MHEV
Transmission
Automatic
Transmission
Automatic
Transmission Detail
Dual-Clutch Automatic, Reduction Gearbox
Transmission Detail
Automatic Gearbox
Drive Type
Front-Wheel Drive
Drive Type
All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive
Power HP
145 - 156 HP
Power HP
193 - 472 HP
Acceleration 0-100km/h
9.1 - 9.2 s
Acceleration 0-100km/h
4.4 - 9.5 s
Max Speed
-
Max Speed
220 - 250 km/h
Torque
230 - 260 Nm
Torque
250 - 560 Nm
Number of Cylinders
3
Number of Cylinders
4 - 6
Power kW
107 - 115 kW
Power kW
142 - 347 kW
Engine capacity
1,199 cm3
Engine capacity
1,993 - 2,999 cm3

General

Model Year
2,025 - 2,026
Model Year
2,024 - 2,025
CO2 Efficiency Class
C, A
CO2 Efficiency Class
G, E, F, D
Brand
DS Automobiles
Brand
Mercedes-Benz
DriveDuel uses data analysis and artificial intelligence to evaluate vehicle data and create content. Content is regularly reviewed and improved. The displayed prices are estimates based on German list prices, adjusted to the respective country’s VAT. Country-specific registration taxes are not included. This information is not legally binding.