You couldn’t get a more geographically appropriate test drive than the new Mercedes-Benz CLE 200 Cabriolet, in the Western Cape, in November. Firstly, a cabriolet cruise around the coast is one of life’s great intangible joys. The breeze in your hair, the scent of ocean air, sun-kissed skin and one thousand miles of headroom. Secondly, the infamous Cape South Easter blows so hard this time of year, it is the ultimate test of a drop top’s true mojo.
MERCEDES-BENZ CLE 200 CABRIOLET
Like the CLE Coupe we’re going to evaluate soon, the Mercedes-Benz CLE 200 Cabriolet is the replacement to the C-Class convertible. The four-cylinder turbo petrol mechanicals with 48V mild-hybrid EQ Boost persists. There is a CLE 300 4Matic available, but we concentrated our drive on the cheapest CLE 200 variant that really impressed on the South African launch.
We say this, principally, because all Mercedes-Benz CLE 200 Cabriolet models now come with the AMG Sports package as standard. So, say ‘hello’ to a beautifully sculpted body kit, three-pointed-star grille and 19-inch AMG alloy wheels. In the past, you had to pay extra for all this aesthetic goodness. Better still, the new cabriolet is longer and wider than its predecessor, but it’s much better proportioned all around, too. It looks like one-point-five million bucks, but does it drive with the same vigour?
SILKY SMOOTH
We’ve tested all the premium four-seat cabriolets over the years and they almost always suffer from scuttle shake. A roll bar needs to be fitted and the body shell reinforced, which makes it heavy and invariably blunts performance. Not so in the new Mercedes-Benz CLE 200 Cabriolet. Hand on heart, there is no judder through the steering column or chassis to speak of on the move with the roof stowed. And the claimed performance and efficiency figures checkout, thanks to the ever-present 48V battery boost.
In terms of dynamism, it’s not exactly one to egg you on to drive like a madman. The Mercedes-Benz CLE 200 Cabriolet is much more of a mellow cruiser. And it does this with aplomb. We crisscrossed the best Western Cape roads around False Bay and at no time did it feel out of its depth with the roof down. Which, by the way, is an operation undertaken at speeds up to 60 km/h and takes just 20 seconds from closed to open. Body and roof colours – like grey, red and black – are available in pre-set configurations only.
WHAT ELSE MAKES IT A GREAT CABRIOLET
Being a Benz, the engineers thought of everything to make the cabin experience in the Mercedes-Benz CLE 200 Cabriolet like that of the hard-top coupe. So, the soft-top roof uses a new acoustic multi-layer cloth design. Standard is the evolution of the firm’s Air Scarf, Air Cap systems that have been painstakingly wind-tunnel tested. New power domes behind the rear headrests help channel air over the exposed cabin even better than before.
The result, as we experienced on our Western Cape cruise, is an alfresco motoring experience like no other. The automotive industry has become so serious and outcome-driven of late. We forget what it’s like to drive a well-sorted cabriolet for no other reason than to simply go for a drive. If you count yourself within the demographic that has R1.5 million to partake in such an indulgence, we salute you. And tell you that the Mercedes-Benz CLE 200 Cabriolet feels like it’s worth every penny.
THE FIGURES
- Mercedes-Benz CLE 200 Cabriolet
- Price: R1 515 350
- Engine: 2.0-litre turbo petrol + EQ Boost
- Power: 150 kW (+ 17 kW) and 320 Nm (+ 205 Nm)
- Transmission: 9-speed auto, rear-wheel drive
- Fuel Economy: 7.2 l/100 km (claimed)
- Performance: 0-100 km/h in 7.2 seconds / top speed 236 km/h
IS THIS MERCEDES CABRIOLET ON YOUR WISH-LIST?
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