Why convertibles are a dying breed
Soft-tops, cabriolets, roadsters and spyders all brighten up even the cloudiest of days but are now at risk of extinction. We drive one of the latest to see what they offer in a world of SUVs.
If convertibles were an exotic animal they’d be on the endangered list.
Last year just 68,847 droptops found homes globally – which sounds impressive – until you realise that back in 2004 they were selling at a rate of more than 161,000 annually.
It’s no surprise then car makers are quietly culling them from their line-up at an alarming rate.
Volkswagen, for example, says it will end production of its open-air T-Roc SUV in 2025 closing the roof on 75 years of convertible production that began back in 1949 with the Karmann-produced Beetle Cabriolet.
Mercedes-Benz too, admits it had a wobble over whether it should go ahead and produce a second soft-top for its line-up but, in the end, just couldn’t resist it and the resulting Mercedes CLE Cabriolet is an example of why they deserve a place on our roads.
Developed to replace both the smaller C-Class and larger E-Class Cabriolet, the CLE is actually almost as big as the latter, which means it isn’t as cramped as rivals like the Audi A5 or BMW 4 Series.
Which is fortunate because there’s rumours the elegantly-styled Benz could cost as eye-watering $30,000 more than the BMW.
Luckily when you drop the roof, an easy task that takes 20 seconds at speeds of up to 60km/h, almost all is forgiven.
The level of refinement and sophistication in the CLE mirrors what we’ve previously experienced with only six- or seven-figure droptops like the S-Class Cab or the pricier-still Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead.
Amusingly, the aerodynamics were honed by a team who normally work on slippery EVs and all the tricks employed for a calm turbulence-free cabin would be disastrous for maximising a battery-electric car’s range.
The result is a joyful calm roofless experience to savour but perhaps the most surprising aspect of the CLE is what happens when you raise the five-layer fabric roof.
It’s only then you can savour the incredible amount of work carried by Benz means it’s almost as quiet as the coupe, meaning you really could use it in all seasons and rely on the heated seats, and hot air-blowing AIRSCARF headrest vents to fend off hyperthermia on even the coldest days.
Other details that reveal the CLE cab was developed by convertible lovers are leather seats that are coated with a special heat-reflective to minimise roasting your rear-end.
Also appreciated is an infotainment screen that can be tilted between 15-40-degrees away from the sun’s glare, small details that make a big difference to sun worshippers.
Despite gas-axing the roof off, Benz says safety hasn’t taken a back seat. Engineers had the gory task of analysing accidents involving convertibles to improve protection in the real world, should the worst happen.
The result is a car that offers a sophisticated rollover protection that blends highly rigid A-pillars and an incredible 12 individual airbags that includes centre bags and head backs for the rear occupants – both unheard of on convertibles.
Climb behind the wheel and for the more mature and sensible among us you’ll also instantly appreciate how grown-up the CLE drives. It does not even try to be sporty, with the emphasis firmly on comfort and refinement.
Best of the bunch is the punchiest CLE 450 that adopts a turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six that produces 280kW for a rapid 0-100km/h dash of 4.7sec.
It even boasts Benz’s 48-volt mild-hybrid tech that provides an additional 17kW boost when you need it and allows engine-off coasting on the highway to bring fuel consumption down to a palatable 8.5L/100km.
Like most things in life, of course, the Mercedes CLE Cabriolet isn’t perfect. The ride feels a little undamped in comfort mode and sometimes struggles to filter out a road’s imperfections on the mostly smooth Spanish roads we drove, which doesn’t bode well for when it arrives in Australia.
We also worry that it will be ferociously expensive when it lands here but lower the roof on a cool winter’s day, or warm spring morning and you could forgive the CLE Cabriolet for almost everything.
It genuinely feels the best of a dying breed.
MERCEDES-BENZ CLE CABRIOLET
PRICE: From about $150,000 (estimated)
WARRANTY/SERVICING: Five yrs/unlimited km, tbc
SAFETY: 12 airbags, auto emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert, front cross-traffic alert, rear auto braking, driver monitoring, safe exit assist, speed-sign recognition
ENGINE: 3.0-litre in-line-six cylinder 48-volt mild-hybrid, 280kW combined output
THIRST: 8.5L/100km
SPARE: Repair kit
BOOT: 385 litres
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