Mercedesc 250dcabriolet

Mercedes C 250d Cabriolet FIRST DRIVE Refined new convertible brings even more style to the C-class family

IF there’s one thing you’re not short of when choosing your new Mercedes C-class, then it’s variety. The range already includes a saloon, Estate and Coupé, but the trio is about to become a quartet with the arrival of the new Cabriolet.

Technically, this is the first time Mercedes has launched a drop-top version of the C-class; the CLK plugged the gap until 2009, but never wore the straight ‘C’ badge. It’s the final member to join the C-class family, although the saloon and Estate will continue to take the lion’s share of sales.

Mercedes still offers plenty of powertrain options for the Cabriolet. There are two diesel engines, two petrols and three highpower AMG variants. There’s also fourwheel drive, rear-wheel drive and the choice of manual and auto gearboxes.

As ever, the diesels will be the big sellers, and the familiar C 250d tested here develops 201bhp and a hefty 500Nm of torque. It’s a gutsy performer but continues to go about its business in a rather unrefined fashion. It’s gruff, clattery and feels like the odd piece of the puzzle in an otherwise polished product.

On the move, and with the roof up, there’s barely a whisper of wind noise or tyre roar. In fact, there’s very little to tell the Cabriolet apart from the Coupé in that respect. Drop the roof – which you can do on the move at up to 30mph – and Mercedes’ excellent Aircap wind deflector eliminates all but the faintest breeze from the cabin, meaning you’ll arrive at your destination largely unruffled.

Removing the roof has meant the Cabriolet is around 125kg heavier than the Coupé. While that might sound a lot, it’s not sufficient to adversely affect how it feels on the road. For the most part, the ride is fluid and composed, and only slightly shaken by particularly rutted roads. For a convertible, the ride and body control are very impressive. The steering is a little disappointing, however, as the weighting is inconsistent, and can leave you guessing how much lock needs applying at a corner.

As ever, Mercedes’ Dynamic Select system allows you to stiffen the car up with Sport and Sport+ modes, but in a diesel-powered cabriolet, that’s a bit like putting your golden retriever into a greyhound race.

In the feistiest setting, the ride becomes too brittle and the steering’s too heavy. The otherwise excellent nine-speed auto holds on to its gears a bit too long, too. Whether driven briskly or at a cruise, the C-class works better in Comfort, where there is far more fluidity all over.

If you’re considering a cabriolet in the first place, razorsharp responses and a truly engaging

Newcars “It’s a much prettier car than a 4 Series, with elegant lines and a beautiful silhouette with roof up or down”

drive are unlikely to be top of your list of priorities. Where the C-class is designed to work – as a comfortable, composed and civilised cruiser – it excels.

The cabin is a delight, too. Lashings of wood, aluminium and leather cover the dash, centre console and doors, and Mercedes hasn’t skimped on standard kit – with LED headlamps, Active Park Assist, a reversing camera, seven-inch display with sat-nav and 18-inch alloy wheels thrown in as standard. It’s not all good news, though. With the roof in place, boot capacity is a reasonable 355 litres, but when stowed, space is reduced to 260 litres.

That doesn’t sound so bad, but in reality, the actual load space is rather shallow. A couple of small suitcases or shopping bags is all it’s good for. But, saying that, a BMW 4 Series doesn’t fare any better.

It doesn’t come cheap, either. Priced from £42,730 in AMG Line spec, the Cabriolet is around £1,000 more than the equivalent 420d M Sport. However, the C-class uses less fuel, is more powerful and faster, too.

Plus, in our eyes, it’s the much prettier car, with elegant lines and a beautiful silhouette, whether the roof is up or down. Based on the Coupé, the Cabriolet shares little with the saloon and Estate models, except for its bonnet and front wings.

It looks great in any guise, although the ‘First Edition’ car you see here won’t be available in the UK; Brit buyers will have to stick to Sport and AMG Line models.