TENARIFE, Canary Islands – There’s nothing quite like going for a leisurely, top-down drive. Sadly, convertibles proceed to vanish from showrooms as shoppers’ appetite for SUVs appears to be insatiable. In an effort to kill two birds with one stone, Mercedes-Benz has consolidated two of its previous models into one. The previous-generation C-Class and E-Class were each offered as coupes or convertibles, but this time around, the two-door offerings are covered by a single, latest Mercedes-Benz CLE arriving in showrooms this spring.
In terms of size, the CLE is about an inch longer than the last E-Class Cabrio and 6.5 inches longer than the previous drop-top C-Class. Pricing effectively splits the difference between its predecessors. The entry-level CLE 300 4Matic Cabriolet starts at $65,500 (including $1,150 in destination fees), or about $5,000 greater than the old C 300 4Matic Cabriolet. The more powerful CLE 450 4Matic Cabriolet starts at an excellent $75,000, or about $5,000 less than the old E 450 4Matic Cabriolet. There is not going to be a convertible version of the AMG CLE 53 Coupe we’ll be driving in the approaching weeks.
The CLE 300 is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that produces 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, while the CLE 450 goes with a 3.0-liter turbo inline six that is good for 375 hp and 369 lb-ft. Both are paired with a 48-volt mild hybrid system that adds as much as 23 hp and 151 lb-ft through an integrated starter/generator. A nine-speed automatic is the one transmission offered, and each versions exclusively send power to all 4 wheels.
Styling-wise, the brand new CLE represents an evolution of current Mercedes-Benz themes. The grille could easily be mistaken for almost any sedan within the lineup, though across the back, the taillights are joined in the center with a black plastic trim element. The familiarity is not a foul thing because it still exudes class, luxury and refinement. As an all-new model, though, I expected just just a little more pizzazz.
I used to be handed the keys to a beautiful CLE 450 4Matic Cabriolet to drive around Tenerife, the biggest of Spain’s Canary Islands off the coast of Morocco. Right off the bat, I used to be impressed by the CLE’s startup. With the highest down, I barely noticed the engine spring to life after tapping the beginning button. There was almost no shudder or sound, making me query if it was indeed running. This quiet start is a results of the 48-volt hybrid system, and it has been optimized for this sort of smoothness.
Setting off on the highways and narrow roads, my shoulder-length hair wasn’t being tousled nearly as much because it is in any of the convertibles I’ve owned over the past three a long time. Even at 60 mph, I used to be capable of hold a conversation with my passenger without having to lift my voice. That’s impressive, but the actual test is to deploy Mercedes’ latest Aircap wind deflector system to see how that affects buffeting.
With a lift of a toggle on the middle console, a mesh screen rises from behind the rear headrests while the windows rise to create an insulating bubble around me. Out of my sight, a narrow strip of wing also rises atop the windshield with a skinny mesh material spanning the gap. What little turbulence that was present before was reduced to barely a breeze. This is as calm an experience I’ve had in any convertible. Full stop.
Calmness also applies to the way in which the CLE 450 drives. It accelerates with confidence, and Mercedes claims it would reach 60 mph in just 4.2 seconds. The CLE 300 should take one other two seconds. Power delivery is smooth and plentiful, though the muffled engine sounds more like an inline-four than an inline-six. The brakes feel trustworthy and are easy to modulate and convey to a smooth limo stop.
Although the 450 comes standard with the adaptive “Sport” suspension that’s an option on the 300, it’s primarily tuned for comfortable touring, and on this application, it seems perfectly matched. Bumps and ruts are barely acknowledged, and the CLE corners with grace and composure. It doesn’t encourage you to charge hard into the subsequent bend, however it does provide you with the boldness to swerve out of the way in which of debris if needed. At no point did the CLE feel like a smaller vehicle than it’s, as its wide stance and roomy cabin were constant reminders that it is a big automotive. That said, it would perform on the next level than the overwhelming majority of drivers will ever desire.
Inside, the CLE is almost an identical to the most recent C-Class. A curving dashboard flows and tapers into the console, with a big, tablet-like, 11.9-inch touchscreen tacked onto the middle stack. A smaller, horizontal digital instrument display sits just in front of the steering wheel. As expected, materials quality is superb and each surface has a solid construction feel underneath. The silver plastic door hand rests do seem misplaced, with a decidedly down-market feel and look, but that is considered one of the few and minor complaints.
With the highest down, I also felt as if the beltline was a bit too high. I often wish to drape my elbow excessive of the door, but that angle is simply too steep to comfortably hold it there. The padded section of the armrest is an appropriate alternative. The seats themselves are well-shaped for all-day comfort and the upholstery has a special coating to reflect near-infrared light and keep the surfaces cool. Should that be insufficient, ventilation is an option, together with massage functions. If things get cold, the front seats are heated, and the usual Airscarf gently blows warm air against the back of your neck.
The folding fabric top can deploy in 20 seconds at accelerates to 35 mph, and there aren’t any manual latches to fuss with. You just pull on considered one of the switches and wait until the system chimes to let you already know the transformation is complete. When in place, it is easy to forget you are in a convertible since the top impressively silences any wind noise. You also won’t hear any creaking when cornering or driving over rough pavement.
The CLE further advantages from the most recent MBUX infotainment system. It’s easy to make use of and has a few of the perfect voice recognition commands on the market. The augmented reality overlays within the primary touchscreen and within the available head-up display made navigating through the confusing island roundabouts stress-free, leaving little or no guesswork. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard and pair well with the rubberized wireless charging pad tucked away in the middle console. There can be adequate space for beverages and private effects, but on a protracted road trip, you would possibly desire a bit more room for snacks and the like.
The rear seats – now accessible through a leather pull on the seat backrest – took some shimmying to access with the highest up, but once situated, there was barely enough space back there for my 5-foot-10 frame. My head was bumping into the headliner, but my legs weren’t squeezed up against my chest. I’d be wonderful as a rear-seat passenger for shorter trips, but I could see myself getting cramped after half-hour or so.
You could definitely transport three average-sized friends with the top-down in relative comfort, but getting all of their luggage stowed could also be problematic despite decent-sounding volume figures of 13.6 cubic-feet with the highest down and 10.4 cu-ft with it stowed. By my visual estimation, you must only give you the option to squeeze in two carry-on roller bags and never much else. The rear seatbacks do fold all the way down to provide a narrow pass-through, but larger items can have to be loaded through the passenger compartment.
For most interested parties, the rear seats can be useful when needed, but otherwise, the CLE makes for a superb tourer for a luxury-minded couple. After many hours on the road, I handed back the keys with little or no fatigue and an overall mellow attitude. To me, that is precisely what the CLE should accomplish. It takes little or no effort to log a whole lot of miles and the dearth of top-down buffeting means you may arrive feeling and looking fresh, if just a little sunburnt.
The 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class is considered one of the best convertibles to live with, though considering how few there are, that statement may not hold as much weight because it used to. Its larger, sportier and costlier SL-Class sibling delivers the same driving experience, however it’s far less versatile on account of its limited cargo and rear seat space.
The BMW 4 Series convertible is priced similarly to the CLE and gains a bonus for its more engaging driving experience, but its frontal styling continues to vex. The larger 8 Series is more in league with the pricey Mercedes SL. Audi also has some open-air selections with the A5 and S5, but this aging pair’s performance, luxury and technology trails its German rivals. Porsche stays within the convertible game with the tiny Boxster and pricey 911, but their deal with sporty dynamics typically has them appealing to a distinct class of shoppers.
As it stands, the 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class is the perfect luxury convertible for most drivers. It delicately balances comfort with performance while delivering all of the most recent tech features. With any luck, its appeal will grow if the coupe’s AMG powertrain is made available as a cabriolet, but there is no official word on that yet.
Credit : www.autoblog.com
