I drove an $84,000 Mercedes-Benz Cabriolet to see if lives up to the brand's legacy of iconic convertibles
- The all-new 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE Cabriolet replaces the defunct C-Class and E-Class convertibles.
- I enjoyed the CLE's mild-hybrid I6 engine, luxurious cabin, immersive tech, and quiet open-air ride.
Mercedes-Benz has a long history of building iconic droptops, from the 300SL of the 1950s to the R107 SL of the 70s and 80s.
The Germany-based automaker has remained committed to convertibles, offering them on variants of its C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, and AMG-GT supercar in addition to the SL Roadster in recent years.
But with the growth of SUVs, demand for convertibles has softened over time. This year, Mercedes-Benz consolidated its convertible lineup to just two models, the CLE and SL.
The four-seat CLE Cabriolet, which combines the former C-Class and E-Class convertibles, is all-new for 2024.
I recently spent a week driving a 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE450 Cabriolet around suburban Atlanta.
I was impressed by its strong turbocharged six-cylinder engine, luxurious cabin, immersive tech, and quiet ride even with the top down.
Beyond its somewhat annoying capacitive touch controls I didn't have too much to complain about.
My test car came to $84,140.
The base four-cylinder CLE350 4Matic Cabriolet, while my six-cylinder CLE450 4Matic Cabriolet test car starts at $73,850.
Freight fees and optional extras like Nappa leather, blue metallic paint, and a driver-assistance package pushed the as-tested price to $84,000.
The CLE features an aerodynamic 'shark nose' front end shared with the current C-Class.
The CLE's front fascia features a large, three-dimensional chrome grille with a galaxy of small three-pointed stars surrounding the large Mercedes-Benz three-pointed star logo in the center.
The smooth, seamless rear fascia features LED taillights and chrome faux exhaust tips.
The Mercedes serves double duty as both the lift handle for the trunk and the cover for the CLE's back-up camera.
At 191 inches, the CLE is about half an inch longer than the last E-Class Cabriolet.
It's also half a foot longer than the last generation C-Class Cabriolet.
The fabric top can open or close in just 20 seconds.
The acoustic soft top, which operates at speeds up to 37 mph, features extensive insulation and is designed to cut down on wind and road noise.
The CLE comes with a wind-deflection system to keep the wind out of your hair.
The Mercedes AIRCAP wind deflector system directs air high above the vehicle so that occupants can enjoy open-top driving without being blasted by wind at high speeds.
The system consists of a wind deflector that extends a few inches above the top of the windshield and a mesh deflector behind the rear seats.
My test car came with 20-inch AMG multispoke wheels.
The upgraded wheels were an $850 option. Otherwise, the CLE450 Cabriolet comes with 19-inch wheels.
Under the hood of the CLE450 is a mild hybrid 3.0-liter, turbocharged V6 engine.
The Mercedes-Benz CLE Cabriolet can with either one of two engine options, both shared with the current generation E-Class.
The base CLE350 is powered by a 255-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four-cylinder engine. The pricier CLE450 gets a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six-cylinder engine that produces 375 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque.
Both engines are supplemented by Mercedes' 48-volt mild-hybrid system, which uses an integrated starter generator to contribute an additional 23 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque. The system is designed to mitigate the effects of turbo lag and quicken the response of its auto start/stop system.
My six-cylinder CLE450 test car boasts EPA fuel economy figures of 23 mpg city, 32 mpg highway, and 26 mpg combined. The four-cylinder CLE300 returns identical fuel economy figures.
The CLE450 drives like a true grand tourer; smooth and effortlessly powerful.
The CLE Cabriolet is a classic grand tourer capable of covering long distances effortlessly and at high speed. Unlike a pure sports car, it's athletic but performs without compromising comfort.
Thanks to the AIRCAP system, the cabin remains remarkably quiet and civil. At highway speeds, you can carry on a conversation at a normal volume, even with the top down.
The engine is smooth and delivered near-instantaneous acceleration through its slick-shifting 9-speed automatic transmission.
The mild hybrid system performed as expected, effectively filling in any holes in the engine's torque and smoothing the traditional harshness of an auto start/stop system.
According to Mercedes, the 375 horsepower CLE450 4Matic can run from 0 to 60 mph in an impressive 4.2 seconds.
The CLE Cabriolet's cabin is stylish, luxurious and comfortable.
The CLE's cabin borrows heavily from the current C-Class. Its interior is an elegant blend of modern design and callbacks to classic Mercedes-Benz of days gone by, like the giant 11.9-inch touchscreen sitting below the trio of vintage turbine-design air vents.
Material and build quality are excellent. The warmth and organic feel of the black Nappa leather upholstery and anthracite wood trim perfectly offset the cold industrial feel of the CLE's metallic accents.
I was not a fan of the shiny piano black lacquer Mercedes chose for the center console. The material looks great when new but is highly susceptible to unsightly smudges and scratches, which is not good for a high-traffic area like the center console.
My biggest complaint with the CLE's interior, and those of other Mercedes-Benz products I've driven in recent years, is the lack of physical controls. While the touchscreen and capacitive touch-sensitive buttons are modern and sleek, they feel imprecise and are clumsy to use, especially while driving.
The centerpiece of the cabin is a 11.9-inch infotainment screen.
The CLE has the third-generation Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system. The system is pretty well sorted at this point. It's responsive and easy to navigate, and the graphics look terrific. The system's overeager voice assistance is also far less intrusive than in past iterations.
The CLE comes standard with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The coolest part about the screen is that you can adjust the angle of its tilt to combat glare.
A touch-sensitive button immediately below the screen allows the occupants to change the tilt of the screen from 15 degrees to up to 40 degrees.
The CLE's central screen is home to a host of systems, including its optional surround-view camera system.
The screen also supports streaming video content through YouTube.
In front of the driver is a stylish three-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel.
The wheel was well weighted and perfectly contoured for my hands. Unfortunately, the wheel's touch-sensitive controls were a bit difficult to use.
Instead of a traditional gauge cluster, the CLE has a 12.3-inch digital display.
The display is highly configurable, with layouts ranging from a traditional dual analog gauge look to a full-page navigation map.
My test car was also equipped with a handy color head-up display.
The attractive diamond pattern leather seats are remarkably comfortable and supportive.
The seats remain surprisingly cool to the touch even when exposed to the sun. That's because the leather used in the CLE is treated with a special coating that helps it reflect sunlight and remain up to 53 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than untreated leather, Mercedes says.
The CLE Cabriolet comes with Mercedes-Benz's 'Airscarf' system.
The front seat headrests are equipped with the Mercedes-Benz "airscarf" system, which uses a constant stream of warm air to create a virtual scarf for the CLE's passengers.
Perfect for top-down driving on a cold day.
The CLE Cabriolet is a true 2+2.
The CLE's leather rear seats have enough room to seat two standard sized adults comfortably.
My CLE test car also came equipped with a Burmester sound system.
The system, which boasts 17 speakers and 710 watts of output, delivers clear and powerful sounds even with the top down at highway speeds.
Out back, the CLE Cabriolet has a small truck with 9.6 cubic feet of cargo room.
The rear seats can fold down for additional cargo room.
The CLE comes standard with a host of safety and driver's assistance tech.
Standard features on the CLE include adaptive high beam assist, active brake assist, Parktronic with active parking assist, blind spot assist, and Presafe.
You'll need to opt for the $1,950 Driver Assistance Package to get goodies like adaptive cruise control, automatic lane change assist, and active lane keeping assist.
My Verdict: The CLE450 Cabriolet is a stylish drop top where every drive feels like a special occasion.
Luxury isn't defined by the size of an engine or the price tag a vehicle commands. To me, luxury is defined by the feeling you get behind the wheel or in the passenger seat of a car. I
t should wow you and make you feel special.
Every drive, no matter how mundane the errand, should feel like a special occasion.
And that's what you get with the CLE.
Once again, Mercedes-Benz has delivered a world-class luxury convertible.
Bravo.
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