WHAT IS IT?
From the house of the three-pointed star comes a classy starlet who’s all about her looks. In a word, desirable. The CLE range has replaced both the C-Class cabriolet and the E-Class cabriolet.
WHY THIS?
Not many people are clamouring to buy a large, four-seater convertible these days, which is why there aren’t many to choose from. But if you are looking, the CLE 200 Cabriolet is about as good as it gets.
OUTSIDE
You can’t judge a convertible with its cover on. I’m sure the designers draw the vehicle with no roof at all, and the engineers just fit one to make it sellable. The CLE 200 Cab is beautiful in profile, long and sensuous, but it is also big. This means it can fit in that back row of surprisingly usable seats. Should you want to raise or lower the roof, this is done at the touch of a button and takes just 20 seconds. This can be done on the go at speeds of up to 60km/h.
INSIDE
One of the advantages of the roof slipping elegantly away is that people get to see and be jealous of the exquisite Nappa-leather interior. The seats alone are worth the price of admission, while a large touchscreen dominates the dash. Cleverly, this screen can be tilted by pushing a button, to reduce glare when the roof is down.
To keep occupants comfortable in cool weather, an “airscarf” directs warm air into their necks while a deflector above the windscreen and another behind the seats keeps wind off them. With the windows up, top down, you can comfortably drive along at 120km/h having a conversation and without your hair being blown into your mouth. It’s all very civilised.
THE DRIVE
It may look like a sports car, but the CLE 200 Cab is more a sophisticated and relaxed cruiser that truly excels at highway speeds, where it will waft you along in style and comfort.
The engine, a two-litre turbocharged petrol unit assisted by a 48V mild hybrid system, produces 150kW of power and 320Nm of torque sent to the rear wheels via a nine-speed automatic transmission. It’s adequate power for the size of the vehicle, and if you want more power you could opt for the CLE 300 Cab instead.
The active safety systems fitted to the CLE 200 Cab are extensive, from radar-assisted cruiser control to active lane keeping assist and active brake assist. I got to test this last one when someone ran in front of the car when I was driving at about 20km/h – the car reacted before I could and screeched to a halt.
FINAL WORD
My wife would drop me in a heartbeat if it meant she got to live with the CLE instead. It suits her, but in white is just too understated. Make it scarlet and she has my blessing. I have to say that I found the car difficult to see out of and to know where the corners were in relation to obstacles – without the 360-degree cameras I would probably have massaged a few curves into angles.
GO GET IT
Even the most affordable Mercedes cabriolet is R1 575 000, without flash extras like the Burmester 3D surround sound system. The prices does include a two-year/unlimited kilometre warranty and a five-year/100 000km maintenance plan. Visit www.mercedes-benz.co.za for more info.
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