FINE DRIVING:
MERCEDES-BENZ E 400 CABRIO
Despite the effects of global warming, both real and exaggerated, the length of actual summer-like weather here in the Great White North is still cruelly short. This is a genuine tragedy because it compresses top-down driving into a few months.
Such a short season makes convertible ownership less than pragmatic, though Mercedes-Benz certainly puts as positive a spin on it as is possible, at least for those who can afford the better part of the $80K it takes to put one regulation-sized E 400 Cabriolet in the driveway. These fortunate individuals are doubly blessed: Not only can they luxuriate in the warming embrace of the sun, they also get one of the most relaxed driving experiences available.
Unlike the land yachts of my youth, which were large and lavish to the point of garishness — my Uncle Bob’s ’56 Cadillac Eldorado comes to mind — the mid-sized E-Class is elegant, conservatively fashionable and well bred. The biggest change since I last drove one a couple of years ago — an E 350 — is a numeric inflation to E 400. There is an equal amendment under the hood; the 3.5litre normally aspirated V6 is replaced for the 2015 model year by a stronger, livelier 328-horsepower, 3.0-L bi-turbo V6.
Even with more horses under the hood, the droptop is still more of a boulevardier than a sports car, especially in the default Eco mode. You can hustle the 1,834-kilogram two-door if need be by selecting either the Sport or Manual mode.
Another button on the console allows either Comfort or Sport mode selection for the suspension; toggling between the two alters the firmness of the shock absorbers. In either mode, however, the ride doesn’t stray too far from controlled.
Now, for slow in-town motoring, there is an Eco button on the centre dash that activates the engine’s auto stop/start function, with the intention of improving fuel economy by shutting down the V6 at stoplights. If you’re cruising the main drag and hitting too many reds, though, it can get annoying.
When this latest generation debuted as a 2011 model, Mercedes said the car was intended for “four seasons, four people.” When days get cooler or during evening soirees with the top stowed, the optional AirScarf warms the occupants’ head and neck area. It’s integrated into the backrests of the front seats and provides heated air.
The E 400’s cabin layout is set up to ensure hours of fatigue-free motoring. Driver ergonomics are excellent and materials and trim bits are all high-end.
The downsides are the same as when I last drove an E-Class convertible, the first being that fullsized adults could find back-seat legroom on the tight side. And the extreme rake of the windshield, which is intrusive for taller drivers, makes entry and exit a cautious affair.
With a too-short summer season and inconsistent sunshine, convertibles are an extravagance here in Canada (yes, I own one). With that said, the E 400 Cabriolet comes close to sensible, with a full measure of luxury, room for four and a heavy duty softtop more than capable of handling all four seasons.