mReview: Mercedes-Benz CLE200 Cabriolet – A CLEar Successor

The newly-minted CLE200 Cabriolet is meant to be the successor to both the C- and E-Class Cabriolets, and this amalgamated model does honour the spirits of both these cars well.

Mercedes-Benz has streamlined the C- and E-Class coupé and cabriolet ranges into one product: the CLE. While one may decry the reduction of options in an already small market of luxury coupés and cabriolets, this move does make a lot of sense.

The E-Cabriolet was something of a luxurious grand cruiser, and the C-Cabriolet, while physically smaller, was not exactly much more of a sporty car compared to the E. From that perspective, amalgamating both models into the newly-created CLE-Class is a logical move. The question now then is whether the CLE is worthy of succeeding the two nameplates of its forebears.

There certainly is a lot to like about this car - by sinking into the luscious red-and-black interior, and then doing a tunnel run with the top down on a night cruise, enjoying the sound of the engine and the turbo whooshing.

Like its predecessors, the CLE Cabriolet isn't a sports car, and the suspension definitely feels tuned for comfort. With the lack of a solid roof, scuttle shake over rough roads and potholes is very apparent through the chassis, seat and steering, but one can tell that Mercedes engineers have tuned the suspension to take this into account. 

The CLE Cabriolet looks equally stylish with its fabric canopy up or down.

Even if the driver may feel the car flexing, the car doesn't feel unsettled, and still soaks up road imperfections with immense comfort.

The gearbox is also very much attuned to comfort, with kickdowns happening at a leisurely pace - almost as if the CLE200 Cabriolet wants to remind you to take things at a more relaxed pace. 

The acoustic soft-top takes about 20 seconds to fold/unfold, which can also be done on the move.

When it comes to slowing down, the car, being a mild hybrid, does have a tendency to pull back quite hard with strong regenerative braking, even when you lift your foot off the throttle pedal to coast.

Overall, despite the small bugbears, the CLE200 does a fine job of being a luxurious and comfortable cruiser.

The soft-top performs a mechanical ballet as it retracts nicely into the boot, taking around 20 seconds to do so. This is a significant amount of time, but at least the mechanism works even when the car is moving at speeds of up to 60km/h or so, which means that you don't have to awkwardly stop by the roadside to wait for the top to open or close.

With the roof up, the CLE200 Cabriolet does a good job insulating its occupants from road noise, although wind buffeting is discernible, and traffic noise from motorcycles passing by is also louder than one might expect. But this is par for the course when one is in a convertible car.

Still, I think that these minor faults do not detract from the CLE200 Cabriolet being a very enjoyable car to relax in.

Comfortable cruising is what this classy Mercedes does best, whether the roof is down or up.

In terms of design, the new CLE Cabriolet is a departure from the C-Class and E-Class Cabrios, with a front that is quite similar to the new CLA. This association may fool observers into thinking that the CLE is also similarly sized as the CLA,. and the design does a good job of hiding the CLE200's size. 

Despite it being slightly longer than the outgoing E-Class Cabriolet, one hardly notices how large the car actually is until seeing it in the metal up close, and that, in my opinion, is a mark of good design. 

A luscious German lounge with a choice of "indoor" or "outdoor" seating.

On the rear seats, legroom in the CLE200 Cabriolet is slightly cramped, but not ridiculously so, while headroom does prove to be a challenge for taller passengers - although one could just put the top down and enjoy infinite headroom. 

I've already mentioned the luscious red-and-black interior. Coupled with great padding throughout the cabin, supportive and comfortable seats, ambient lighting that helps to set the mood and the latest generation of Mercedes' MBUX infotainment system, this Mercedes convertible really feels like a top-notch lounge to relax in.

After experiencing the CLE200 Cabriolet, I am happy to say that it is a car that is worthy of carrying the torch that both the discontinued C-Class and E-Class Cabriolets have passed to it. Instead of you bemoaning the loss of options in the luxury convertible segment, the CLE Cabriolet invites you to celebrate the introduction of a worthy successor to the two outgoing models.

The Mercedes CLE200 Cabriolet is relaxed, but not lazy, and this is an important distinction. I can hardly think of any other car to enjoy a luxurious and relaxed top-down driving experience in, and though a sports car it is not, one does get up to speed quicker than expected while cruising around. What more could you want?

Read More: mReview: Mercedes-AMG GLB35 – The Goldilocks Zone

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