Motoring review: Is the Mercedes CLE is a great cabriolet?

Until fairly recently, the Mercedes range had no fewer than five cabrios to choose from.
Now that's been whittled down to just two: the range-topping SL sports grand tourer, which falls under the ageis of AMG, and the car you see here: the CLE.
Essentially a distillation of all the best bits of the C and E-Class cabrios that went before it, the CLE straddles the compact and medium sized premium soft-top class, but that doesn't mean compromises have been made.
Indeed, Mercedes argues that the new CLE answers demands from C Class owners for a car with more passenger space, while also being sportier to drive than the old E-Class (which was something of a boulevard cruiser). It's slightly shorter than the old E-Class cabrio but has a longer wheelbase and thus more room inside the beautifully trimmed cabin. It also has a bigger boot.
In fact, it's almost as long as the much more expensive BMW 8-Series cabriolet and actually has a longer wheelbase.
So drivers of the older car need not fear they are getting an inferior car. Built in Bremen alongside the AMG SL, the CLE is very much a premium mid-size segment challenger.
The C-Class and E-Class models all share a common platform anyway.
Merceds offers up the CLE with a range of different engines, starting with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol that musters 201bhp, a 2.0-litre diesel and the car sent for testing, the CLE 450 4Matic which packs a 381 bhp 3.0-litre six beneath its shapely bonnet. The latter marks this model out as different to the C-Class, which was always built with four-cylinders in mind.
Not that you'd guess on first acquaintance. Slip into the inviting interior and, as Mercedes connoisseur, you'll immediately realise that the CLE's cabin borrows liberally from the C-Class and not its larger cousin.
That said, the C-Class cabin is one of the best in its respective class and the CLE Cabrio's interior certainly doesn't lack drama. The fascia tapers down towards the sizeable central transmission tunnel and the three high-level ovoid fresh air vents look classy. It's possible to adjust the angle of the massive 11.9-inch touchscreen to avoid the worst effects of glare when the hood is down. There's a lot of glossy plastic, though, so you'll need to invest in a decent car interior cleaning spray to keep them looking good and free of fingerprints.
(Image: Justin Leighton)
The fabric hood folds smoothly into the bodywork in 20 seconds and can perform that trick whilst moving at up to 37mph (trust the Germans to have worked out the optimal speed at which the hood can't be stowed away while moving; presumably, at 38mph it would be ripped from the bodywork and soar away into the sky like an out of control paraglider).
The CLE has the latest iteration of Mercedes' clever ''airscarf'' tech which works by blowing warm air through vents in the headrest to create a virtual scarf around your neck and keep you warm during a typical British summer's day (ie. cold). The system has three different levels of intensity, depending on whether the outside temperature is perishing or just chilly.
On the few days of the year when it is hot you'll be glad of the special coating on the leather seats which stops them getting too warm.
But, as this is dreary old Britain, you're more likely to be glad of the 'aircap'- a small wind deflector hidden in the windscreen pillar that works with a wind blocker behind the rear headrests to create a negative pressure area above the car's interior. This has the twin benefit of reducing wind roar and not messing up your hair when the hood's down. It works well, but claims that your barnet will remain untouched even at the legal limit are optimistic.
The CLE is a very safe car, too. There are a dozen airbags to protect you in the event of a crash, including head bags for rear passengers.
The view most people will get of the CLE 450. (Image: The CLE - a refined cruiser. Image: Justin Leighton) On the road, the six-cylinder engine's relaxed torquey nature perfectly suits the CLE. It can get a move on if you wish, but I suspect most owners will be happy wafting around with the roof down and the automatic gearbox in 'drive' mode. In topless mode, you can hear the engine's pleasing exhaust note which turns into a meaty growl when you mean business.
Even on hefty 20-inch alloys, the CLE feels comfortable and the massive tyres ensure there's no shortage of outright mechanical grip.
As the rationalisation of the line-up shows, cabriolets are becoming something of an endangered species these days. Only MG has demonstrated a convincing electrified soft top roadster to date, although more will surely come along at some point.
With that in mind, the CLE may well represent the zenith of Mercedes' internally combusted soft-top range.
If it is the swan song for these cars, then the CLE can at least go out with its head held high.
SPEC CHECK:
CLE 450 4MATIC Premier Edition
RRP/as-tested: £76,820 / £77,535
3.0-litre/six-cyl mild-hybrid
Max power: 382 hp
Torque: 500 NM
Top speed: 155 mph
0-62 mph: 4.6 seconds
Equipment: MBUX multimedia system with 11.9-inch media display and 5G communications module, parking package with reversing camera.

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