Mercedes-Benz E-Class 2014 review

Sporty looks are a feature of all the current Mercedes models, no more so than in the new E-Class cabriolet. The large three-dimensional grille centred around the iconic three-pointed star makes a statement. The sloping bonnet blends beautifully into the windscreen and we love the use of a soft-top rather than a solid metal folding roof. It gives the car that devil-may-care look of a true 'ragtop'.

Clever design work not only gives the latest Mercedes E250 cabriolet a stylish upmarket look, but also gives it an impressively low coefficient of drag of just 0.24. Inside, the latest Mercedes-Benz E-Class cabriolet was the subject of a revamp for the 2014 model year. While it retains the same overall design theme detail changes to the colours and finish of the materials work well.

Engines / Transmissions

The four-cylinder 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine in the E250 produces 155kW of power and 350Nm of torque. This powerplant has plenty of urge and is likely to meet the needs of almost all owners. Revheads can opt for a twin-turbo V6 unit that puts out a hefty 245kW. It will set you back $142,900. Sensible souls can save money by buying the E200 for the relatively bargain price of $88,900.

Safety

These mid-sized Mercedes have many crash avoidance items designed for the much more expensive S-Class. The car scans of all potential dangers for 360 degrees around the car; lane keeping; radar cruise control; automatic braking and pedestrian collision protection. If you should still be caught up in a serious collision the big convertible will do its very best to minimise injuries.  Naturally it has a five-star crash test rating.

Driving

We live on the Gold Coast and the early autumn weather was perfect for cruising. Even in winter you can still enjoy motoring with the top down thanks to the heated seats and the, optional, Airscarf. The latter blows heated air onto your shoulders and we know from experience it makes a surprising difference.

A clever device called an Aircap rises from the top edge of the windscreen and lifts the airflow over the top of the open cabin by about ten centimetres, making a surprising difference by minimising air currents inside. Ride comfort is very good and there is no real sign of body shake on anything other than very rough roads. Tyre noise doesn't intrude to any real extent and the open-top Merc handles the notorious coarse-chip Australian road surfaces better than many other European cars.

We did bottom out the suspension when pushing hard over big undulations, but you have to keep in mind these are low slung sports models and have to be treated with care on Aussie backroads. There's better than average space in the rear seat of this cabriolet and a family unit of mum, dad and a pair of preteen children in the back works reasonable well.

The boot is on the small side for a car of this overall size, but pretty good for the convertible class. It can be increased in volume when the roof is up by moving the roof-stowage compartment up and out of the way. Handling is excellent due to the low centre of gravity and balance offered by the front-engine rear-drive layout and by the dynamic precision built into these German machines.

We've never liked the floor operated parking brakes on Mercedes models. Primarily because we prefer the added safety of left-foot braking, and having to juggle feet to get the car up and running is a pain. The E-Class is one of the last models with this device and we anticipate it being put to rest when an all-new model is introduced in the next couple of years.