Mercedes-Benz E250 Cabriolet: Classy cold weather convertible

By Ghaith Madadha - Jan 25,2016 - Last updated at Jan 25,2016

Photo courtesy of Ghaith Madadha

Elegant and indulgent but practical and efficient, the Mercedes-Benz E250 Cabriolet is as much at home on the school run as on the open road or five-star hotel forecourt. A grand touring large four-seat soft-top convertible with glamorous design, the E250 Cabriolet is, however, shares most structural underpinnings, mechanicals and other components with Mercedes’ popular E- and C-Class saloons.

First launched in 2009, the E250 Cabriolet was face-lifted in 2013, when it gained more flowing single unit headlights in line with Mercedes contemporary corporate face, and in place of its previous quad lamp arrangement. Along with a more assertive updated bumpers treatment, the E250 also gained a slightly larger, more powerful but more efficient engine.

Refined soft top

Swept back and elegant with a defined presence, the E250 Cabriolet’s sculpted body surfacing, however, retains the pre-facelift bulge around the rear wheel arches and haunches, rather than the revised E-Class Saloon’s sharp, rising flank ridge. Emphasising its more aggressive side, the Cabriolet was driven in dark — almost black — grey with contrasting red soft top, 19-inch alloy wheels and optional AMG Plus sport package.

Built with rigid passenger cell and extensive additional bracing and strengthening to compensate for the absence of a fixed-head roof, the Cabriolet gains 150kg over its Coupe sister, despite lightweight aluminium bonnet, doors and bootlid. With a clean flush waistline with its roof down, the cabriolet features automatic pop-up rollover bars housed behind the rear head rests.

Much lighter and less bulky and complicated than a folding metal roof for such a large convertible, the E250 Cabriolet’s quick folding soft top is well insulated for acoustic refinement and is robust enough for automatic car washes. Electric powered and with remote activation, the E250’s soft top can conveniently be operated at up to 40km/h.

Flexible and frugal

Powered by a larger more efficient direct injection 2-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine — in place of 1.8 litres — the E250 develops an additional 4BHP and 29lb/ft torque, for a total of 208BHP at an unchanged 5500rpm and 258lb/ft at a lower and broader 1200-4000rpm range rather than 2000-4000rpm. Combined fuel consumption is also significantly reduced from 7.9l/100km to 6.2l/100km.

With sophisticated third generation direct injection engine with advanced lean burn properties and thermal management, the E250 Cabriolet benefits from quick-spooling turbocharging. Responsive off-the-line with little turbo lag, the E250 provides a wide and rich mid-range sweet spot, for effortless on-the move versatility and muscular overtaking and incline performance for a 2-litre car weighing a hefty 1,765kg.

Sprinting through the 0-100km/h benchmark in 7.5 seconds — a 0.3-second improvement — and onto a 245km/h top speed, the E250 Cabriolet rides flexible mid-range wave of torque, also serving to underwrite its smooth and swift power accumulation. Driving its rear wheels through a smooth 7-speed automatic, the E250’s gearbox eco, sport and manual paddle-shift modes, in addition to an intuitive manual override function.

Glamorous grand tourer

Refined, smooth and comfortable if, the E250 Cabriolet is an accomplished grand touring convertible with expectedly planted high-speed directional stability. Fitted with 235/35R19 front and 255/30R19 rear tyres, as tested, and with sporty suspension rates to effectively rein in body roll through corners, the E250 rides slightly on the firm side at lower speeds over the bumps and potholes.

Agile through winding roads, the E250’s lighter four-cylinder engine, grippy front tyres and direct steering allow for tidy and eager turn-in, while rear-drive weighting and driving characteristics lend it a balanced predictability. Reassuringly plentiful when leaned hard on through corners, the E250’s grip is more reliant on subtle but vigilant stability control interventions if one suddenly boots the throttle at lower speed corners.

A refined and keen drive at its best on the motorway or through sweeping corners, the E250 Cabriolet is well-braced, settled on rebound and copes well with most road imperfections. However, being a long and large convertible, it is ultimately not as rigid as its Coupe or Saloon sister models over rougher and sharper lumps, bumps and cracks, but is nevertheless a thoroughly enjoyable drive.

Practical and plush

A practical daily drive full four-seat convertible, rather than 2+2, the E250 Cabriolet easily accommodates larger drivers in its well-adjustable and supportive sports seats, and comfortably seats medium-sized adults in the rear bucket seats. With roof railed it usefully features 390-ltre boot volume, but with the roof stowed, boot access and space are reduced to 300 litres.

Streamlined and aerodynamically rated at CD0.29, the E250 Cabriolet suffers little wind buffeting and is refined even with the top down. With the heater on high and toasty heated leather seats, it is also a very useable convertible even during cold winter months, and even features seat back Airscarf hot air ventilation expressly for such purposes.

Classy and comfortable inside with deep red leather upholstery, quality materials and soft textures, the e250 Cabriolet provides good visibility and driving position adjustability and ergonomics. Controls and instrumentation are user-friendly while standard and optional infotainment, convenience and safety features and equipment are extensive and include reversing camera, numerous airbags and collision prevention, active parking and blind spot assists.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Engine: 2-litre, turbocharged in-line 4 cylinders

Bore x stroke: 83 x 92mm

Compression ratio: 9.8:1

Valve-train: 16-valve, DOHC, variable timing, direct injection

Gearbox: 7-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive

Gear ratios: 1st 4.38:1; 2nd 2.86:1; 3rd 1.92:1; 4th 1.37:1; 5th 1:1; 6th 0.82:1; 7th 0.73:1

Final drive: 3.07:1

0-100 km/h: 7.5 seconds

Maximum speed: 245km/h

Power, BHP (PS) [kW]: 208 (211) [155] @ 5500rpm

Specific power: 104.4BHP/litre