I’m not a fan of convertibles; let’s just put this out there. The seats get hot in the sun. They are not great for cold weather, traffic is loud when the top is down and forget hearing a phone conversation; you’re shouting into an abyss. And then, there’s the rat’s nest hair that is an unavoidable outcome. Or at least I thought so until I drove the Mercedes-Benz CLE 300 and 450.
I get why men love convertibles; most don’t have long hair and those who do don’t typically spend a lot of time and money on blowouts, smoothing product and air wrap curlers. All that cost and effort literally goes out with a gust of wind a convertible, which is my biggest objection.
And then, this summer I drove two convertibles that completely changed my mind: the super-expensive but beautiful Bentley Continental GTC and the more affordable but still very luxurious Mercedes-Benz CLE. Mercedes has spent considerable time and effort to address my concerns and succeeded. Here’s what is new, how the CLE overcame my objections and why this this car charmed me completely.
A Longer, Larger and More Comfortable Convertible
The 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE, priced from $64K to $73K, continues the legacy of Mercedes-Benz convertibles: Drawing on the sleek coupe design of the CLE, its lines are sleek and slightly rounded at the corners; it carries a new grille and a classic rear end capped by the iconic Mercedes-Benz badge. And with 10 paint colors, 7 wheel choices and 5 interior options to choose from, it can be customized to almost any buyer’s dream.
Then, look closely and you’ll see four headrests. Normally I wouldn’t be that excited; the rear seat is more of a convenience for my handbag or groceries than extra seating for passengers. However, Mercedes extended the length of the CLE Cabriolet and added that space to the rear seat. And while it’s larger, you won’t feel it behind the wheel; the CLE Cabriolet is still agile and easy to drive and park.
Read: Mercedes-AMG C 63 SE Performance First Drive: What It’s Like to Drive this F1-Inflected Sedan
A Convertible Solution That Addresses Messy Hair
Mercedes designers clearly talked to a lot of customers in designing the CLE; turns out many of them say the same thing we do: messy hair is a reason not to put the top down, and a reason to choose a hard top rather than a convertible (maybe I said that *once* before…?). Taking that challenge in stride, Mercedes sought to engineer around the pain of convertible hair.
The result is an extending wind deflector and rear screen designed to keep the wind from diving into the passenger cabin that Mercedes calls Air Cap. By pressing a button on the center console the deflector pops up and a rear screen rises between the rear seat headrests.
Did the “Air Cap” Technology Work?
I tried out the Air Cap more than a few times during my two-day test drive and will say… this technology was not very effective. It didn’t noticeably deflect the wind or keep my hair from flying around any less than without it. I tried it with the windows up and with them down and the hair-whip effect was nearly the same.
However, the wind in my hair was minimal both on the highway and the winding country roads I drove at 60 MPH. At first I pulled my hair back in a ponytail, but soon, I took it out and it was fine. I never needed the scarf I keep tied around the strap of my handbag in case I find myself in a convertible and in need of one. True story.
Overall, I credit the engineering of the car—the shape and position of the windshield, the front end and side panel shapes that channel air and other dynamics that keep the wind from tornadoing in the cabin and whipping everything into a frenzy.
No More Hot Seats
While the Air Cap was a non-starter for me, that was the only new feature I didn’t love. Coated leather designed to reduce heat absorption is a huge win. And this is big. Mercedes engineers developed a process to treat the leather upholstery so it won’t absorb the heat of the sun.
Now, I tried this only in red leather, not black, but red can get hot and can burn your bum at temps up to 150 degrees. Driving a convertible on a hot day can feel sort of like driving a frying pan. In the CLE, driven in full summer sun I constantly felt the seats and they felt cool. And I felt cool, not sweaty and sticky, as is so often the case in a convertible
Need to Take a Call? Go Ahead!
This was the next thing that surprised me: The sound system in the Mercedes-Benz CLE is designed to sound great top up or down. But the real test is the phone call. With speakers embedded in the headrests it’s easier to hear the person you’re calling; and microphones allow your caller to better hear you.
So of course, while I was cruising on the PCH in light traffic, I called my daughter. Just then, a very loud Harley-Davidson pulled up next to me. It was loud and I was sure it would block the conversation. But no. She couldn’t hear it at all. In fact, the sound was just like that of any good car cabin. I was more than a bit shocked. And delighted.
Let’s Talk About The Rear Seats
It’s clear that Mercedes focused a lot on the seats in the 2024 CLE Not just cooling them. Not just adding speakers for phone calls. And beyond the “air scarf” technology that blows warm air on your neck in cold weather that Mercedes convertibles have had for some time.
What really impressed me is the rear seat legroom. I climbed in and pulled the front seat back toward me and … I fit (I’m 5’8″, for the record). The seat didn’t touch my knees. It didn’t crush me or leave my feet pinned in the footwell. My bum slid comfortably back into the seat and I was ready to enjoy an open-air ride. And for solo driving, the rear seat still was within reach for stowing my handbag and other items.
Mercedes’ Top Notch MBUX Multimedia Is Yours For the Asking
I have to say, I love this system. Mercedes makes one of the best multimedia systems in cars today: It’s fast, responsive and feature-filled. Graphics are sharp and clear, augmented reality navigation and head up display are lend a welcome hand, and the “Hey Mercedes” voice activation system is supreme. Just ask it to tell a joke or do math. It will.
Below the multimedia touch screen is a control panel where you’ll find Dynamic drive modes, the parking camera and a radio volume slider. And that odd square with a half-circle arrow? Tap it to tilt the screen forward if its obscured by glare—a thoughtful detail that convertible owners can relate to. I never needed it, but I can imagine appreciating this on certain days of the year when the sun is at the right angle.
“Hey Mercedes, Change the Ambient Lighting to Blue”
And presto—the ambient lighting changes to blue. In the footwells, along the door panels, in the cup holders, air vents and along the dashboard. If the exact shade of blue she chooses isn’t what you had in mind, you can do it yourself under vehicle settings.
An Out-of-Sight Out-of-Mind Phone Cubby
The center console in the Mercedes-Benz CLE Cabriolet is designed for maximum space efficiency. The cup holders are a flexible space that can be used for cups or other things. There are retractable arms that pop out when you press down on the center of the cup holder (they are marked ‘push”); this can easily be done by pressing down your water bottle. Behind the cup holders is a wireless charge pad and two USB ports, all illuminated so they are easy to see. They may be hard to reach, however, for someone with larger hands than mine. I found them easy to reach but not everyone will. And with cups in the cup holders, a phone in the charger will not be visible at all.
Phones, however, can be connected wirelessly to Apple CarPay or Android Auto and tucked onto the charge pad, which is often the ideal setup.
The Mercedes-Benz CLE Cabriolet Offers Two Engine Options
The 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE Cabriolet comes in two power trims: a 4-cylinder turbo CLE 300 and a 6 cylinder CLE 450. The 300 delivers 255 HP, which is plenty for a car this size. But for drivers who want more power under foot, the 450 delivers 375 HP. All models are 4Matic all wheel drive, a factor that makes this car both more fun on the road and more capable in winter weather when equipped with all season tires.
The 300 is priced at $64,350 and the 450 is priced from $73,850. Buyers can opt for things like head up display, which is great for turn by turn directions, and massaging seats.
What This Car Costs
Mercedes-Benz CLE Cabriolet, and all the Mercedes convertibles before it, was designed to be a dream car. It’s beautiful, timeless and filled with pampering features. The CLE has worked to solve the issues and pushbacks that can keep a convertible from being a daily driver. I was honestly surprised at the price: Its expensive but not over the top. And I was delighted by the convertible system.
After two days of top-down driving my hair was not all that knotted or ratty. I could easily brush it. While it blew around, it didn’t whip; the wind didn’t pull it out of my pony tail. And I never felt like I needed my scarf—the true measure of a great convertible.
