Mercedes CLE 450 Cabriolet First Drive Review: Best luxury convertible for most drivers

TENARIFE, Canary Islands – There's nothing quite like going for a leisurely, top-down drive. Sadly, convertibles continue to disappear from showrooms as shoppers' appetite for SUVs seems to be insatiable. In an effort to kill two birds with one stone, Mercedes-Benz has consolidated two of its previous models into one. The previous-generation C-Class and E-Class were both offered as coupes or convertibles, but this time around, the two-door offerings are covered by a single, new Mercedes-Benz CLE arriving in showrooms this spring.

In terms of size, the CLE is about an inch longer than the last E-Class Cabrio and 6.5 inches longer than the previous drop-top C-Class. Pricing effectively splits the difference between its predecessors. The entry-level CLE 300 4Matic Cabriolet starts at $65,500 (including $1,150 in destination fees), or about $5,000 more than the old C 300 4Matic Cabriolet. The more powerful CLE 450 4Matic Cabriolet starts at an even $75,000, or about $5,000 less than the old E 450 4Matic Cabriolet. There will not be a convertible version of the AMG CLE 53 Coupe we’ll be driving in the coming weeks.

The CLE 300 is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that produces 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, while the CLE 450 goes with a 3.0-liter turbo inline six that's good for 375 hp and 369 lb-ft. Both are paired with a 48-volt mild hybrid system that adds up to 23 hp and 151 lb-ft through an integrated starter/generator. A nine-speed automatic is the only transmission offered, and both versions exclusively send power to all four wheels.

Styling-wise, the new CLE represents an evolution of current Mercedes-Benz themes. The grille could easily be mistaken for almost any sedan in the lineup, though around the back, the taillights are joined in the middle with a black plastic trim element. The familiarity isn't a bad thing as it still exudes class, luxury and refinement. As an all-new model, though, I expected just a little more pizzazz.

I was handed the keys to a lovely CLE 450 4Matic Cabriolet to drive around Tenerife, the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands off the coast of Morocco. Right off the bat, I was impressed by the CLE's startup.