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June 30, 2010
 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class cabriolet. Click image to enlarge |
Four adults can fit comfortably in the E-Class Cabriolet, but rear legroom is tight unless the front passenger and driver move their seats forward. However, I can say with some certainty that four six-foot (1.8 m) adults won’t fit in this car. When my six-foot co-driver had his driver’s seat in a comfortable position, there was virtually no legroom behind the driver’s seat. As well, rear headroom (with the top up) is pretty tight for anyone over five foot ten (1.77 m). Getting in to the rear seats from either side is made easier by front seats that slide forwards automatically when the seatbacks are lowered.
The look and feel of the leather seats, controls and instruments is top quality, and the fit is exemplary. Many interior colour combinations are available and our test car was fitted with attractive tan leather seats and door inserts with contrasting black console, black lacquered wood trim and aluminum trim.
     2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class cabriolet; bottom photo by Grant Yoxon. Click image to enlarge |
The comfortable but firm driver’s seat and front passenger seat include power height and lumbar adjusters and variable seat heaters, and an extending wand for the shoulder belts that makes it easier for the front occupants to reach the belts.
The rear seatbacks don’t fold down, but there is small pass-through to the trunk between the rear seats. The trunk itself is 301 litres (10.1 cu. ft.) with the top down, but expands to 391 litres (13.8 cu. ft.) with the top up.
Standard equipment in the E350 is extensive and a partial list includes a multi-function steering wheel with power tilt & telescoping adjustment, power windows with a one-button express up and down feature; AIRCAP, COMAND controller with seven-inch colour screen, Bluetooth hands-free phone system, DVD changer & PCMCIA slot (but not a navigation system), SIRIUS satellite radio, dual-zone automatic climate control, and SmartKey with push-button start.
An optional Premium Package for the E350 Cabriolet ($4,800) adds the AIRSCARF heating vents in the head restraints; COMAND with navigation, voice activation, DVD changer, and SD memory slot; a media interface with iPod, USB and auxiliary connections, a Harman/kardon LOGIC7 surround sound system; KEYLESS GO push-button start, and PARKTRONIC with Parking Guidance. The latter expands on the previous PARKTRONIC system by alerting the driver when a parking spot is long enough for the car, and issuing visual and audible instructions to help the driver parallel park. Also available is a rear-view camera which displays a view of the area behind the car in the screen when in Reverse gear.
For drivers who want a little more performance, an optional AMG Package includes 18-inch performance all-season tires with six-spoke AMG alloys, upgraded brake calipers, front sport seats, brushed aluminum pedals and AMG sports steering wheel.
To the E350’s standard features, the E550 adds standard Harman/kardon LOGIC7 surround sound system, multicontour front seats, COMAND APS with hard drive navigation and DVD changer, iPod/USB/aux media interface, 3-zone climate control with rear control unit, Nappa leather upholstery, trapezoidal chrome tailpipes, 18-inch AMG 6-twin-spoke alloy wheels and performance all-season tires, AMG sports steering wheel, and brushed aluminum pedals.
The Premium Package for the E550 Cabriolet ($3,200) includes heated and ventilated front seats, AIRSCARF, KEYLESS GO, and PARKTRONIC with Parking Guidance.
  2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class cabriolet. Click image to enlarge |
The list of standard safety equipment in the E-Class Cabriolet is truly impressive, beginning with two front airbags, two side airbags, one driver’s knee bag, and for the first time, two side head airbags located in the door panelling which deploy in the event of a side impact.
Also standard is Adaptive Highbeam Assist which automatically raises and lowers the high beams at night when other cars approach and pass by; bi-xenon headlights and cornering lights; electronic stability (ESP) and traction control (ASC); Attention Assist which warns the driver is they’re showing signs of fatigue; Brake Assist Plus with Pre-Safe which prepares the car for a collision and partially, but not completely, brakes the car before a collision.
Optional is Distronic Plus radar cruise control which maintains a set distance to the car in front and can bring the car to a complete stop if warnings are ignored by the driver.
There’s certainly a lot of technology in this car. That combined with a rather handsome exterior design, top quality interior quality and a pleasurable top-down driving experience even in winter, makes the E-Class Cabriolet a tempting reward for those who’ve earned it.
2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolets are already in dealerships.
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