2018 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet | New Car Review
Editor Rating
- Outstanding
AEDAED275,250 (base E300), AED328,465 (as tested)
- 2018 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet
- Reviewed by:
Review Summary:
The 2018 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet is not a sports car by any measure. What it is, is a stupendous cruiser with an interior to die for. Want a boulevard cruiser? Look no further.
Pros
Exceptional interior, superb ride quality, elegant exterior styling.
Cons
Not exactly quick.
Looks
The 2018 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet looks really rather good to our eyes. While most manufacturers are going crazy with styling flourishes for their new models with angular this and concave that, the new E-Class features quite possibly one of the most sophisticated, pared down and elegant designs in its class. It almost looks like a metal sculpture, which is no bad thing.
Roof up or down, this thing has pretty solid styling chops. A job well done.
When it comes to the interior, this is one of the few cars that has a cabin that we would unreservedly describe as beautiful. At the centrepiece is a massive LED screen that spans almost the entire length of the dashboard and integrates the instrument panel as well as the main infotainment display. This reduces clutter.
The wood inserts are beautiful and the air-vents are stunningly crafted, these combined with the lounge-style mood lighting make for a fantastically upmarket and gorgeous cabin. Even the speakers (Burmester, if you’re wondering) look like pieces of art. The best cabin in its class right now, hands down! Better than any BMW or Audi in the segment, undeniably.
Our tester being the 25th Anniversary Edition is even more resplendent, what with the optional kit.
The drive
Our tester is the middle-of-the-range E300 model, powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder, turbocharged engine developing 245 horsepower and 370Nm of torque, good for a 0-100km/h split of 6.6 seconds, and that, whichever way you slice it, is not blow-your-hair-off rapid.
The ride quality is superb as you would expect in a Mercedes, and even in the sportiest, er, Sport+ mode it’s never jarring. That said, it not a flobbery thing either, it’s fairly planted and responds well to enthusiastic driving, but what it is best at though, is relaxed cruising.
The seven-speed double-clutch automatic transmission is not dimwitted at low speeds like its previous iterations. It’s a properly engineered car, even though you can feel the chassis groan sometimes, which is expected in a convertible.
The tech
Being a Mercedes, there are plenty of electronic gizmos in here. You get a superb 360-degree camera, Adaptive Cruise Control, Apple CarPlay, Blind Spot Indicators and Lane Keep Assist. Our tester also had the optional Premium Plus Package (It costs a whopping AED27,600) which adds Memory Seats, leather upholstery, head-up display and a kicking Burmester surround sound audio system, among other things.
There are plenty of gadgets here to keep the most tech-savvy driver happy and is befitting the car’s stature.
The trims
The all-new 2018 Mercedes-Benz Cabriolet is available in four trims, the base E200, our tester’s E300 and soon to be added E43 as well as the mental Mercedes-AMG E63 variants. While pricing is not currently available, all cars should come with a reasonable amount of kit as standard.
The verdict
The 2018 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet is not a sports car by any measure. What it is, is a stupendous cruiser with an interior to die for. Want a boulevard cruiser? Look no further.
The 2018 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet is not a sports car by any measure. What it is, is a stupendous cruiser with an interior to die for. Want a boulevard cruiser? Look no further.
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