After driving what’s been mostly a run of practical SUVs, I wanted something else: a convertible! No wait, a fast convertible!
Mercedes obliged with its Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Cabriolet, a drop-top that blends everyday usability with properly thrilling performance.
AMG is the performance brand from Mercedes, and this one reminds you of the CLE’s hi-po makeover before you can stab the throttle. Even in “Comfort” mode, the ride is especially firm. It tells you that you are driving a serious machine, and from there you can further up the ante with modes including “Sport” and “Sport+.”
Now, to that throttle: it is responsive, thanks to a turbo six-cylinder that is powerful, smooth and throaty. Power is put down through a snappy automatic transmission (deal with it) and an all-wheel drive system. Acceleration with the top down led to screams of delight from my young rear-seat passengers. This one still returns a respectable 22 miles per gallon on average, per the window sticker, provided you don’t have your foot to the floor all the time. A high-performance brake system is here, too, of course.
Outside, it’s beautiful in Starling Blue Metallic. This AMG model is wider than a standard CLE, thanks to flared front and rear wheel arches. This one is further set off by optional 20-inch black wheels ($2,600).
Inside, there’s a black leather interior with red accents and red seat belts. Seats are heated and cooled and feature a massage function. The black fabric soft top “opens or closes in as little as 20 seconds and can be operated at speeds up to 37 mph,” according to Mercedes, meaning you don’t have to do much planning to start, or stop, enjoying the sun. This is a true four-seater, so you can bring the friends or kids for short distances, though there is no rear middle seat.
Also helping you enjoy the top-down experience: the AIRCAP wind deflector system and AIRSCARF neck-level heating and ventilation. I do not know why Mercedes feels the need to yell the names at us, but I can tell you the AIRCAP involves a wind deflector at the top of the windshield that directs air over your head. There’s also a wind deflector that pops up behind you.聽聽
End hostage note.
Because of the convertible top’s storage area, the trunk is on the smaller side. But it was perfect for carrying two duffel bags for my weekend getaway with my wife into the Shenandoah Valley.
The interior is both dazzling and slightly frustrating. The awesome navigation system in this one showed a video feed of the road in front of me with street names and directional arrows overlaid on them, making it nearly impossible to get lost. (Never mind that I still did, as a testament to my stubbornness.) At the same time, the center screen does nearly everything. It makes for an ultra-sleek presentation, but it also means you have to do some swiping and toggling to get many things done, like controlling your music.
Back to the dazzle: the central screen can be electrically tilted “to prevent reflections caused by sunlight when the soft top is open.” Ambient lighting is available in 64 colors. And the leather upholstery features “a special coating designed to keep seat surfaces cooler in direct sunlight by up to 23 degrees Fahrenheit compared to untreated leather.”
An AMG CLE 53 Cabriolet starts at $85,950, after shipping. This one came to $100,045.
