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Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet E250 (A) Facelift Review
02 Sep 2013|32,910 views
Drophead cars have always been exclusive machines, symbolising ostentatious luxury only you and I can dream of. Mercedes-Benz, however, is more than that. Long, low and large, topless Mercs have always been about style and technological advancement.
Of course, there's more to a cabriolet than just its looks. Unlike a coupe, a topless car has the ability to stir emotions and attract countless stares of awe and admiration. Driving in one will almost be like walking around the street naked - everyone just wants to take a cheeky peek.
Massive air intakes, together with stylish LED head lamps, make this cabriolet one eye-catching car
Exterior
Still, to describe a cabriolet from just the curves of the sheet metal will be to miss the whole point of the car entirely.
There's always something behind the design that requires more than just that couple of hours to realise. This isn't to say that a cabriolet can't attract cheap chicks but then again, the fact of the matter is, who really cares?
Targeted at the younger and trendier crowd, the E-Class Cabriolet is one car that will, no doubt, grow gracefully with the owner.
Other than the obvious fact that there are ample seating adjustments for the driver to meddle with as he grows in the lateral direction over the years (which we'll get back to in the Interior section), the drophead E-Class, like the rest of the facelifted siblings, takes on a new look one-piece LED headlights, which manage to encompass the E-Class' four headlamps hallmark. Pretty neat.
Of course, there's more to a cabriolet than just its looks. Unlike a coupe, a topless car has the ability to stir emotions and attract countless stares of awe and admiration. Driving in one will almost be like walking around the street naked - everyone just wants to take a cheeky peek.
Exterior
Still, to describe a cabriolet from just the curves of the sheet metal will be to miss the whole point of the car entirely.
There's always something behind the design that requires more than just that couple of hours to realise. This isn't to say that a cabriolet can't attract cheap chicks but then again, the fact of the matter is, who really cares?
Targeted at the younger and trendier crowd, the E-Class Cabriolet is one car that will, no doubt, grow gracefully with the owner.
Other than the obvious fact that there are ample seating adjustments for the driver to meddle with as he grows in the lateral direction over the years (which we'll get back to in the Interior section), the drophead E-Class, like the rest of the facelifted siblings, takes on a new look one-piece LED headlights, which manage to encompass the E-Class' four headlamps hallmark. Pretty neat.
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Equipped with the AMG Sports package here, the car looks appropriately aggressive, with full-blown air intakes that will easily send pesky taxis and other slower moving vehicles scurrying out of the way on highways.
There's an overall solid feel to the sheet metal, and more so the design, that makes you think of precise engineering and longevity. Panel to panel, the joints are superbly done and nicely fitted, further emphasising on quality and attention to details. As a result, the topless car doesn't portray itself as an arrogant and inexperienced machine. Instead it's more mature and sophisticated now.
While its profile is largely unchanged, effective sleek lines in its cabriolet form accentuate the best bits of the E-Class' stunning and sporty stance. Curvy creases on lower body panels further enhance the car's looks, making it sportier and cheekier compared to many others in its segment.
Round the back, taillights carry over their outer shells, but are restyled within the package. Sporting LED lights, rear lamps are now horizontally structured, with a three-dimensional look that give the car a fresher and wider appearance compared to the previous model.
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Interior
Like its predecessor, the E-Class Cabriolet is surprisingly practical. While many cabriolets claim to accommodate up to four adults, the ugly truth is that most of them only offer sufficient space for two in front, with a rear bench seat designed for kids or luggage stowage.
Seatbelt is 'served' to you once you shut the door
The E-Class Cabriolet, however, boasts four genuinely useful seats. Thanks to a rather generous wheelbase of 2,760mm (also similar to the 3 Series Convertible), there's sufficient leg space for both rear occupants. While headroom is a tad limited in coupe form, the high levels of comfort offered to them by the sumptuous leather-swathed seats should more than make up for it.
The front seats, meanwhile, are the leading evidence to technological advancement and, not forgetting, how the car will grow gracefully with the driver. Located on the side of each comfy chair are four switches that can easily adjust the side bolsters (you can choose to loosen up the bolsters if you start to grow), inflate or deflate the air pillows for the upper and lower back and give extra support for the thighs.
Like its predecessor, the E-Class Cabriolet is surprisingly practical. While many cabriolets claim to accommodate up to four adults, the ugly truth is that most of them only offer sufficient space for two in front, with a rear bench seat designed for kids or luggage stowage.
The E-Class Cabriolet, however, boasts four genuinely useful seats. Thanks to a rather generous wheelbase of 2,760mm (also similar to the 3 Series Convertible), there's sufficient leg space for both rear occupants. While headroom is a tad limited in coupe form, the high levels of comfort offered to them by the sumptuous leather-swathed seats should more than make up for it.
The front seats, meanwhile, are the leading evidence to technological advancement and, not forgetting, how the car will grow gracefully with the driver. Located on the side of each comfy chair are four switches that can easily adjust the side bolsters (you can choose to loosen up the bolsters if you start to grow), inflate or deflate the air pillows for the upper and lower back and give extra support for the thighs.
More impressively, to give both the driver and front passenger a personal touch, both of them will get their seatbelts served to them once the doors have been pulled shut. It's an excellent feature that can also be found on other cars such as the CLK and the previous generation 3 Series Coupe.
Interior fit and finish in general is almost beyond reproach, with a tweaked dash that's neater and also nicer. The relocation of the gear selector to the column, just like the one in the facelifted E-Class Sedan and Estate, helps to free up space in the centre console.
The bank of toggle switches that will allow the driver to grow with the car or vice versa
The 390 litres of boot space (in coupe form) is fairly deep and will have no qualms accommodating your grocery bags. Even with 300 litres (in cabriolet form), the luggage capacity is still impressive for a topless car.
Interior fit and finish in general is almost beyond reproach, with a tweaked dash that's neater and also nicer. The relocation of the gear selector to the column, just like the one in the facelifted E-Class Sedan and Estate, helps to free up space in the centre console.
The 390 litres of boot space (in coupe form) is fairly deep and will have no qualms accommodating your grocery bags. Even with 300 litres (in cabriolet form), the luggage capacity is still impressive for a topless car.
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The Drive
The latest E-Class Cabriolet rides well, with a set of 18-inch shoes and a comfort-biased suspension that make the car supple rather than sporty. It's a good thing, truly, especially when the car is more suitable for gliding around streets in a stately fashion.
The roof can still be operated on the move with speeds of up to 40km/h and will take 20 seconds to fully open/close
That's not to say the car isn't fast. With 211 horses and 350Nm of torque powering the rear wheels, the E250 that we tested here delivers more than enough acceleration at both low and mid-range speeds. As a result, it's extremely capable in both the city and around town. And when the need for speed calls, the 7.5 seconds century sprint timing won't disappoint.
The silky smooth seven-speed automatic transmission operates well with the car, too, offering smooth instead of swift levels of refinement that's higher than some of its peers in its segment. Thus, progress is effortless. Speaking of refinement, the car is relatively quiet on the go. With the roof in place, the car is hushed, with road noise kept well at bay.
The latest E-Class Cabriolet rides well, with a set of 18-inch shoes and a comfort-biased suspension that make the car supple rather than sporty. It's a good thing, truly, especially when the car is more suitable for gliding around streets in a stately fashion.
That's not to say the car isn't fast. With 211 horses and 350Nm of torque powering the rear wheels, the E250 that we tested here delivers more than enough acceleration at both low and mid-range speeds. As a result, it's extremely capable in both the city and around town. And when the need for speed calls, the 7.5 seconds century sprint timing won't disappoint.
The silky smooth seven-speed automatic transmission operates well with the car, too, offering smooth instead of swift levels of refinement that's higher than some of its peers in its segment. Thus, progress is effortless. Speaking of refinement, the car is relatively quiet on the go. With the roof in place, the car is hushed, with road noise kept well at bay.
Conclusion
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet exudes a kind of confidence that's hard to fault. It looks good, sports meticulous craftsmanship and drives well. But for some reason, it refuses to compete with other go-faster saloons in its segment (perhaps that's what the AMG is for). Still, it's a peach. And for once, you can see where the money's spent.
It's always good to know that the German marque is still capable of making cars that can offer a five-star driving experience.
Although steering wheel is light, its accurate nature makes directional changes easy
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet exudes a kind of confidence that's hard to fault. It looks good, sports meticulous craftsmanship and drives well. But for some reason, it refuses to compete with other go-faster saloons in its segment (perhaps that's what the AMG is for). Still, it's a peach. And for once, you can see where the money's spent.
It's always good to know that the German marque is still capable of making cars that can offer a five-star driving experience.
Drophead cars have always been exclusive machines, symbolising ostentatious luxury only you and I can dream of. Mercedes-Benz, however, is more than that. Long, low and large, topless Mercs have always been about style and technological advancement.
Of course, there's more to a cabriolet than just its looks. Unlike a coupe, a topless car has the ability to stir emotions and attract countless stares of awe and admiration. Driving in one will almost be like walking around the street naked - everyone just wants to take a cheeky peek.
Exterior
Still, to describe a cabriolet from just the curves of the sheet metal will be to miss the whole point of the car entirely.
There's always something behind the design that requires more than just that couple of hours to realise. This isn't to say that a cabriolet can't attract cheap chicks but then again, the fact of the matter is, who really cares?
Targeted at the younger and trendier crowd, the E-Class Cabriolet is one car that will, no doubt, grow gracefully with the owner.
Other than the obvious fact that there are ample seating adjustments for the driver to meddle with as he grows in the lateral direction over the years (which we'll get back to in the Interior section), the drophead E-Class, like the rest of the facelifted siblings, takes on a new look one-piece LED headlights, which manage to encompass the E-Class' four headlamps hallmark. Pretty neat.
Of course, there's more to a cabriolet than just its looks. Unlike a coupe, a topless car has the ability to stir emotions and attract countless stares of awe and admiration. Driving in one will almost be like walking around the street naked - everyone just wants to take a cheeky peek.
Exterior
Still, to describe a cabriolet from just the curves of the sheet metal will be to miss the whole point of the car entirely.
There's always something behind the design that requires more than just that couple of hours to realise. This isn't to say that a cabriolet can't attract cheap chicks but then again, the fact of the matter is, who really cares?
Targeted at the younger and trendier crowd, the E-Class Cabriolet is one car that will, no doubt, grow gracefully with the owner.
Other than the obvious fact that there are ample seating adjustments for the driver to meddle with as he grows in the lateral direction over the years (which we'll get back to in the Interior section), the drophead E-Class, like the rest of the facelifted siblings, takes on a new look one-piece LED headlights, which manage to encompass the E-Class' four headlamps hallmark. Pretty neat.
Equipped with the AMG Sports package here, the car looks appropriately aggressive, with full-blown air intakes that will easily send pesky taxis and other slower moving vehicles scurrying out of the way on highways.
There's an overall solid feel to the sheet metal, and more so the design, that makes you think of precise engineering and longevity. Panel to panel, the joints are superbly done and nicely fitted, further emphasising on quality and attention to details. As a result, the topless car doesn't portray itself as an arrogant and inexperienced machine. Instead it's more mature and sophisticated now.
While its profile is largely unchanged, effective sleek lines in its cabriolet form accentuate the best bits of the E-Class' stunning and sporty stance. Curvy creases on lower body panels further enhance the car's looks, making it sportier and cheekier compared to many others in its segment.
Round the back, taillights carry over their outer shells, but are restyled within the package. Sporting LED lights, rear lamps are now horizontally structured, with a three-dimensional look that give the car a fresher and wider appearance compared to the previous model.
There's an overall solid feel to the sheet metal, and more so the design, that makes you think of precise engineering and longevity. Panel to panel, the joints are superbly done and nicely fitted, further emphasising on quality and attention to details. As a result, the topless car doesn't portray itself as an arrogant and inexperienced machine. Instead it's more mature and sophisticated now.
While its profile is largely unchanged, effective sleek lines in its cabriolet form accentuate the best bits of the E-Class' stunning and sporty stance. Curvy creases on lower body panels further enhance the car's looks, making it sportier and cheekier compared to many others in its segment.
Round the back, taillights carry over their outer shells, but are restyled within the package. Sporting LED lights, rear lamps are now horizontally structured, with a three-dimensional look that give the car a fresher and wider appearance compared to the previous model.
Interior
Like its predecessor, the E-Class Cabriolet is surprisingly practical. While many cabriolets claim to accommodate up to four adults, the ugly truth is that most of them only offer sufficient space for two in front, with a rear bench seat designed for kids or luggage stowage.
The E-Class Cabriolet, however, boasts four genuinely useful seats. Thanks to a rather generous wheelbase of 2,760mm (also similar to the 3 Series Convertible), there's sufficient leg space for both rear occupants. While headroom is a tad limited in coupe form, the high levels of comfort offered to them by the sumptuous leather-swathed seats should more than make up for it.
The front seats, meanwhile, are the leading evidence to technological advancement and, not forgetting, how the car will grow gracefully with the driver. Located on the side of each comfy chair are four switches that can easily adjust the side bolsters (you can choose to loosen up the bolsters if you start to grow), inflate or deflate the air pillows for the upper and lower back and give extra support for the thighs.
Like its predecessor, the E-Class Cabriolet is surprisingly practical. While many cabriolets claim to accommodate up to four adults, the ugly truth is that most of them only offer sufficient space for two in front, with a rear bench seat designed for kids or luggage stowage.
The E-Class Cabriolet, however, boasts four genuinely useful seats. Thanks to a rather generous wheelbase of 2,760mm (also similar to the 3 Series Convertible), there's sufficient leg space for both rear occupants. While headroom is a tad limited in coupe form, the high levels of comfort offered to them by the sumptuous leather-swathed seats should more than make up for it.
The front seats, meanwhile, are the leading evidence to technological advancement and, not forgetting, how the car will grow gracefully with the driver. Located on the side of each comfy chair are four switches that can easily adjust the side bolsters (you can choose to loosen up the bolsters if you start to grow), inflate or deflate the air pillows for the upper and lower back and give extra support for the thighs.
More impressively, to give both the driver and front passenger a personal touch, both of them will get their seatbelts served to them once the doors have been pulled shut. It's an excellent feature that can also be found on other cars such as the CLK and the previous generation 3 Series Coupe.
Interior fit and finish in general is almost beyond reproach, with a tweaked dash that's neater and also nicer. The relocation of the gear selector to the column, just like the one in the facelifted E-Class Sedan and Estate, helps to free up space in the centre console.
The 390 litres of boot space (in coupe form) is fairly deep and will have no qualms accommodating your grocery bags. Even with 300 litres (in cabriolet form), the luggage capacity is still impressive for a topless car.
Interior fit and finish in general is almost beyond reproach, with a tweaked dash that's neater and also nicer. The relocation of the gear selector to the column, just like the one in the facelifted E-Class Sedan and Estate, helps to free up space in the centre console.
The 390 litres of boot space (in coupe form) is fairly deep and will have no qualms accommodating your grocery bags. Even with 300 litres (in cabriolet form), the luggage capacity is still impressive for a topless car.
The Drive
The latest E-Class Cabriolet rides well, with a set of 18-inch shoes and a comfort-biased suspension that make the car supple rather than sporty. It's a good thing, truly, especially when the car is more suitable for gliding around streets in a stately fashion.
That's not to say the car isn't fast. With 211 horses and 350Nm of torque powering the rear wheels, the E250 that we tested here delivers more than enough acceleration at both low and mid-range speeds. As a result, it's extremely capable in both the city and around town. And when the need for speed calls, the 7.5 seconds century sprint timing won't disappoint.
The silky smooth seven-speed automatic transmission operates well with the car, too, offering smooth instead of swift levels of refinement that's higher than some of its peers in its segment. Thus, progress is effortless. Speaking of refinement, the car is relatively quiet on the go. With the roof in place, the car is hushed, with road noise kept well at bay.
The latest E-Class Cabriolet rides well, with a set of 18-inch shoes and a comfort-biased suspension that make the car supple rather than sporty. It's a good thing, truly, especially when the car is more suitable for gliding around streets in a stately fashion.
That's not to say the car isn't fast. With 211 horses and 350Nm of torque powering the rear wheels, the E250 that we tested here delivers more than enough acceleration at both low and mid-range speeds. As a result, it's extremely capable in both the city and around town. And when the need for speed calls, the 7.5 seconds century sprint timing won't disappoint.
The silky smooth seven-speed automatic transmission operates well with the car, too, offering smooth instead of swift levels of refinement that's higher than some of its peers in its segment. Thus, progress is effortless. Speaking of refinement, the car is relatively quiet on the go. With the roof in place, the car is hushed, with road noise kept well at bay.
Conclusion
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet exudes a kind of confidence that's hard to fault. It looks good, sports meticulous craftsmanship and drives well. But for some reason, it refuses to compete with other go-faster saloons in its segment (perhaps that's what the AMG is for). Still, it's a peach. And for once, you can see where the money's spent.
It's always good to know that the German marque is still capable of making cars that can offer a five-star driving experience.
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet exudes a kind of confidence that's hard to fault. It looks good, sports meticulous craftsmanship and drives well. But for some reason, it refuses to compete with other go-faster saloons in its segment (perhaps that's what the AMG is for). Still, it's a peach. And for once, you can see where the money's spent.
It's always good to know that the German marque is still capable of making cars that can offer a five-star driving experience.
Photos by Low Fai Ming
Car Information
Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet E250 (A)
CAT B|Petrol|14.7km/L
Horsepower
155kW (208 bhp)
Torque
350 Nm
Acceleration
7.5sec (0-100km /hr)
This model is no longer being sold by local distributor
All Used Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet
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