Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet (2010 – 2017) Review

Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet (2010 – 2017) At A Glance

4/5

+Elegant styling. Little top-down turbulence. Good selection of petrol and CDI diesel engines. Roof folds down (and up) on the move.

-Not very exciting or involving to drive. Awkward shaped boot, Cramped rear seats. Springy manual gearchange. Four-cylinder diesels noisy with roof down.

Insurance Groups are between 35–48
On average it achieves 79% of the official MPG figure

You won't find a CLK Cabriolet in the Mercedes-Benz range any more. That's because it's been replaced with this - the E-Class Cabriolet. In many areas, it's business as usual. It's elegant, refined to drive and continues to have a quick-folding fabric roof. That means there's a reasonable amount of luggage space, unlike some alternatives with metal folding roofs.

But in other ways, it's totally different to the old CLK. It feels larger, for a start, and there's now room in the back for two adults to sit comfortably. The previous CLK was based on the old C-Class, but this new car shares much more with the latest E-Class and the name change reflects that. The dash and switchgear is all from the E-Class saloon, so looks good and is intuitive to use. Standard equipment levels are decent and all models come with a system called AirCap, which prevents buffetting at high speed when the roof is down. You also get to choose from some of Mercedes-Benz's best options, including AirScarf, which blows hot air out from the seatback around your neck.

Of course the main feature is the folding roof and the E-Class Cabriolet features the most advanced fabric roof ever fitted to a Mercedes-Benz. It's acoustically tuned and features impressive levels of noise reduction and temperature insulation to create one of the quietest and calmest roof-up cabins of any fabric convertible. Ideal for year round use.

One the move it feels very refined but the handling lacks the sparkle of other drop tops, like the BMW 3 Series Convertible, so it's not as enjoyable or engaging to drive. Elements like the springy manual gearchange and a lack of steering feel don't help. It's very quiet at speed though and is surprisingly quiet for a convertible. There's also a good engine line-up with a spread of petrols and diesels, although the smaller four-cylinder E220 CDI and E250 CDI diesel models don't really suit the cabriolet image as they're too noisy.

Real MPG average for a Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet (2010 – 2017)

RealMPG

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Average performance

79%

Real MPG

23–54 mpg

MPGs submitted

202

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.

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Ask Honest John

Faulty DAB on E-Class - Where do I stand legally?

"Please can you advise how I stand legally with a DAB radio that is not fit for purpose? I have had 14 month battle trying to get my local Mercedes-Benz dealer to repair the DAB system in my E-Class Cabrio. They have come to the conclusion that no fix available. "
You can demand that if the dealer cannot fix the radio, he funds a specialist who can, either by repairing the existing radio or fitting a different one. That is your right because the radio (not the car) has been fault from the day you took delivery.
Answered by Honest John

Should I accept a 40% goodwill offer for an out of warranty repair?

"I own a low-mileage 2011 Mercedes-Benz E500 convertible that has a full service history. It has a front wind-deflector at the top of the windscreen - activated via a push-button in the centre console - for use when the roof is lowered. As you might imagine, I use this a lot over the summer, but not so much over the winter. When I tried it earlier this month it did not work so I took it to my dealer who told me the mechanism had failed and a new one would cost close on £1000 including VAT and fitting. They tried to get Mercedes to agree an out-of-warranty repair but were turned down so then they tried for a goodwill contribution. Mercedes has offered 40 per cent. This same part failed in March 2014 but was fixed then by the dealer. I asked the dealer to do an end of warranty check in December 2014 but they admitted this part would not have been tested so it is possible the part failed whilst in warranty but was not discovered until after expiry of the warranty. Do you think the goodwill offer is enough?"
The problem with this type of wind deflector is that is is very much subject to varying and very violent pressures that could damage it so some of that must ultimately be the responsibility of the driver. In the circumstances I think the MB offer is reasonable.
Answered by Honest John

Prize booker

"I have just bought a 1996 E320 Cabriolet Mercedes Benz. The car does not have a user manual with it. Please can you advise me if you know how and where I can source a user manual to go with my nice new car?"
No guarantee that any of these 2nd hand specialist booksellers will have one, but try www.instruction-manuals.co.uk; www.manualsource.co.uk; www.car-handbooks.com; www.pooksmotorbooks.co.uk (Pooks Motor Books, Unit 4, Victoria Mills, Fowke Street, Rothley, Leicester LE7 7PJ, tel 0116 2376222 or 0116 2376661.)
Answered by Honest John
More Questions

What does a Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet (2010 – 2017) cost?