What We Like
Good-looking car
Delightful cabin
Comfortable ride
Will seat four people comfortably
Great refinement even with the roof down
What We Dislike
Lacking in driver involvement
Driving a cabriolet is supposed to be cool. It's supposed to be relaxing, comfortable and stylish. And yet, sitting inside the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class E200 Cabriolet, I find myself in equal parts cursing loudly and sweating profusely. This weather is absolutely unbearable.
Why would anyone buy a convertible in Singapore? Most of the time, it's either too damn hot or it's probably raining, so the roof is going to be closed more often than it's going to be open. So is there really any point in owning a convertible in Singapore?
The E-Class Cabriolet is a stylish convertible with great visual presence
Fancy pants
The new E-Class Cabriolet is the latest addition to Mercedes' E-Class family, and thankfully carries over much of the style, comfort, technology and luxury from the deeply impressive E-Class Saloon. The old E-Class Cabriolet was actually based on that generation's C-Class (yes, it's confusing), so this new generation model is notably bigger.
Visually, the E-Class Cabriolet looks pretty good, though we're not convinced with this particular colour, which is some unidentifiable shade of purple, maroon or brown. It's definitely got presence, though, much like the E-Class Coupe, but with the roof lopped off.
High-tech, comfortable and stylish, the cabin is a fantastic place to be inInside, it's an E-Class through and through. From the beautiful Widescreen Cockpit with two 12.3-inch screens to the wood trimming throughout the cabin, the E-Class Cabriolet scores high on comfort, luxury and technology.
And because this car is built on the E-Class platform, it's reasonably spacious even for the rear two passengers. Rear legroom has been increased by a whopping 102mm. There's also a very useable 385 litres of boot space (reduced to 310 litres with the roof folded).
Rear legroom has been significantly improved, now 102mm more than its predecessor
Casual affair
As you'd expect from a Mercedes, the drive is all about one thing - comfort. The E-Class Cabriolet is an extremely comfortable car to be in, with the plush suspension soaking up bumps effortlessly. There's not a ton of power from the 2.0-litre engine in this E200 variant (181bhp and 300Nm of torque), but that's okay. After all, this car is all about comfort and relaxation, and the smooth and unintrusive engine definitely delivers that.
Why would anyone buy a convertible in Singapore? Most of the time, it's either too damn hot or it's probably raining, so the roof is going to be closed more often than it's going to be open. So is there really any point in owning a convertible in Singapore?
Fancy pants
The new E-Class Cabriolet is the latest addition to Mercedes' E-Class family, and thankfully carries over much of the style, comfort, technology and luxury from the deeply impressive E-Class Saloon. The old E-Class Cabriolet was actually based on that generation's C-Class (yes, it's confusing), so this new generation model is notably bigger.
Visually, the E-Class Cabriolet looks pretty good, though we're not convinced with this particular colour, which is some unidentifiable shade of purple, maroon or brown. It's definitely got presence, though, much like the E-Class Coupe, but with the roof lopped off.
And because this car is built on the E-Class platform, it's reasonably spacious even for the rear two passengers. Rear legroom has been increased by a whopping 102mm. There's also a very useable 385 litres of boot space (reduced to 310 litres with the roof folded).
Casual affair
As you'd expect from a Mercedes, the drive is all about one thing - comfort. The E-Class Cabriolet is an extremely comfortable car to be in, with the plush suspension soaking up bumps effortlessly. There's not a ton of power from the 2.0-litre engine in this E200 variant (181bhp and 300Nm of torque), but that's okay. After all, this car is all about comfort and relaxation, and the smooth and unintrusive engine definitely delivers that.
With the roof closed, noise insulation is very good. There's some detectable wind noise if you really listen out for it, but it definitely does not impact the overall sense of serenity.
With the roof open, wind noise is well-managed thanks to the AIRCAP electric draught-stop - the combination of a wind deflector integrated into the roof frame and an electric draught stop behind the rear seats. Even with the roof open, the overall level of refinement is still very high.
The wind deflector helps to mitigate wind noise when the roof is open
A different taste
Convertibles have their own unique appeal. They inject some delight into what might otherwise be an ordinary drive. They always put a smile on your face to go with the wind in your hair. And in this car, you get all of that, wrapped in comfort, luxury and style.
The 2.0-litre engine produces a modest but entirely useable 181bhp and 300Nm of torqueThe E-Class has always been a car that delights its occupants. So why bother with the Cabriolet? Well, it offers a taste of something different, and certainly stands out from the crowd. At the same time, it allows you to spread the delight beyond the cabin, giving onlookers a view of the luxury and comfort you are experiencing.
Is it impractical? Of course it is. No convertible is ever entirely practical. But in many ways, that's precisely the point. The impracticality is its charm, a sign that you're the sort of person that lives life a little bolder and a little louder.
The E-Class Cabriolet is an affable and easy cruiser sure to put a smile on your faceAs far as convertibles go, the E-Class Cabriolet is a great choice. Just make sure it isn't 38 degress Celsius.
With the roof open, wind noise is well-managed thanks to the AIRCAP electric draught-stop - the combination of a wind deflector integrated into the roof frame and an electric draught stop behind the rear seats. Even with the roof open, the overall level of refinement is still very high.
A different taste
Convertibles have their own unique appeal. They inject some delight into what might otherwise be an ordinary drive. They always put a smile on your face to go with the wind in your hair. And in this car, you get all of that, wrapped in comfort, luxury and style.
Is it impractical? Of course it is. No convertible is ever entirely practical. But in many ways, that's precisely the point. The impracticality is its charm, a sign that you're the sort of person that lives life a little bolder and a little louder.
