New Mercedes E-Class Cabriolet 2021 review

Verdict

The Mercedes E-Class Cabriolet is an enormous, elegant soft-top that provides baggage of fashion, sufficient high quality and a few nice tech. The updates have helped additional enhance its attraction, and this extra reasonably priced E 300 mannequin has simply sufficient energy provided that it focuses on a relaxed drive. Consider infotainment on the sharp finish of the category, sufficient practicality, and more-than-respectable refinement with the roof up or down, and this can be a commendable giant convertible.

It looks like summer time has lastly arrived, and there’s a brand new giant convertible accessible to benefit from these larger temperatures. Mercedes has utilized the identical updates to its E-Class Cabriolet as to the saloon and estate models, boosting the expertise and enhancing the type in a sector of the market the place these two components are key components.

The appears to be like are a bit of sharper and more energizing, with smarter detailing and a brand new entrance grille and headlights, however the E-Class Cabriolet’s elegant proportions haven’t been altered. Which means – roof up or roof down – it’s a striking-looking automotive that options the strains that many huge convertible consumers need.

The roof operates electronically and takes 20 seconds to lift or decrease on the transfer at low pace. Refinement with it up is nice, and the hood helps hold wind noise to a minimal. There’s only a contact extra wind whistle than within the Coupé, nevertheless it’s barely noticeable, particularly with our automotive’s standard-fit Burmester stereo drowning this out. With the roof down, turbulence is saved at bay, too, and you may carry the wind deflector to make issues a bit of extra civilised – which could be very a lot the purpose of this automotive.

The £51,010 E 300 AMG Line Premium mannequin varieties the entry level to the E-Class Cabriolet vary, though our £52,710 AMG Line Evening Version Premium Plus model provides a bit extra value, but additionally extra package. Both means, the E 300 is a convertible to cruise in fairly than race round in. The truth that it’s so nice with the roof down reinforces this – though eradicating the soft-top reveals a bit of extra wobble within the construction, which additional deters you from driving this huge four-seat drop-top too laborious.

At 1,855kg, the E-Class Cabriolet is a weighty automotive that doesn’t reply too effectively to this driving type anyway, nevertheless it gives safe dealing with and sufficient grip to fulfil its temporary.

Due to our automotive’s 20-inch alloy wheels, huge potholes trigger the physique to shimmy and shake too, and there’s additionally a bit of little bit of high-frequency wobble on smoother roads. Nevertheless, at larger speeds on these roads the E-Class is pretty composed and gives sufficient consolation to suit the invoice as a relaxed cruiser.

The petrol engine doesn’t like overly enthusiastic use both, as a result of it sounds a bit of coarse at larger revs. It’s higher to depart the automated field to do its factor, shifting up early and counting on the engine’s 370Nm of torque to whisk you round in relative serenity. In case you want most efficiency, it’s enough fairly than plentiful, with a 0-62mph time of 6.6 seconds.

The E 300 is a gentle hybrid, with a belt starter-generator that provides a small enhance of torque at low revs. Nevertheless, the consequences are extra noticeable when lifting off the throttle, as a result of the compact battery permits the engine to chop out at larger speeds when slowing down.

This stop-start system helps enhance effectivity to a claimed 34.0mpg and 189g/km CO2, nevertheless it additionally helps easy out the engine’s restart process, providing one other light enhance to refinement.

Given the give attention to type and a relaxed strategy, the E 300’s inside is spot on. High quality is nice, the switchgear is strong, and the end and trim high quality are excessive. The infotainment is high notch too, with a pair of 12.3-inch screens that supply what need to be the clearest graphics within the class.The set-up responds shortly, gives touchscreen and touchpad enter, and loads of options, with nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and loads of linked tech.

Practicality takes a again seat, although, as a result of whereas Mercedes claims there’s comparable headroom to the E-Class Coupé, the smaller and extra upright rear seats affect the house. Legroom is a bit of restricted too.

Additionally, the void that the roof folds into eats into boot house, so there’s solely 310 litres on supply when it’s down – however this rises to 385 litres when it’s up. Nonetheless, you’re solely more likely to carry youngsters within the rear seats, so there’s room for 2 weekend baggage.