Sun E delight

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ONVERTIBLES are a frippery, for the vain, impractical and melanomically ignorant, right? Not this EClass Cabriolet. It’s as keen as a Love Island bimbo to get its elegantly shaped fabric top o€, taking only 20 seconds, but concealed beyond the sleek looks and fast disappearing, snugly …itting multi-layer hood is a useful, if pricey, car.

This new model is notably longer, by 123mm, and wider, by 74mm, than the previous one, meaning it has space for real life-sized people in the back (two, not three). They won’t be bu€eted by the wind thanks to a large functional-looking …lyscreen that whirrs from the boot, which at 385 litres o€ers more luggage space than most family hatchbacks. It rides 15mm lower than the EClass saloon.

It drives sensibly. The 2.0-litre 190bhp diesel version is remarkably quiet and rattle free, even when sampled while open to the elements. There’s also a 255bhp E350 diesel and a 242bhp E300 petrol, but we went in search of devilry in the shape of 326bhp 400 4Matic 3.0-litre biturbo V6 petrol.

Along with the E300, it’s the …irst EClass Cabrio available with all-wheel drive. That addition seems far from necessary, but works well, as it does throughout the rest of the now fully refreshed EClass line-up.

On the road it o€ers perfectly respectable, fast-ish, revvy performance with a tidily pruned exhaust note. Its nine-speed gearbox is autoonly, even in Sport Plus mode. That powertrain is allied to solid, unspectacular handling in what feels like a heavy yet sti€ car, beautifully built, that perfectly marries a sunny disposition with stern work ethic.

Choice of four engines, and rear- or all-wheel drive, but all have the same two-door body