Just in time for the summer, Mercedes has taken the wraps – and roof – off its latest E-Class. The fourth instalment in the E-Class story, the cabriolet joins its highly acclaimed saloon, estate and coupé siblings, but is the new arrival as multi-talented?

If you’re in the market for a plush convertible, you’re spoiled for choice. The Audi A5 and Lexus IS250C are very tempting and so are the BMW 3-Series and Volvo C70, but Mercedes is hoping to tempt you away from these with its four-seater E-Class cabriolet. And let’s be clear from the outset – you could very easily be tempted.

Replacing the open-topped CLK, the E-Class cabriolet is a genuine four-seater with the bomb-proof build quality of Mercs of old. Everywhere you look there are top-notch materials, with everything screwed together beautifully – there really is a sense of utter durability with everything.

There’s also a sense of serious technology at work, and while the interior is very soberly designed, there’s also plenty of comfort on offer too. A proper four seater, there’s ample room for two up front with another pair behind, each getting decent leg room, with more than enough head room, even with the roof up.

The E-Class cabriolet’s roof mechanism is something that Mercedes has put a lot of effort into, and they’ve done a brilliant job. You’ll find no folding hard top here; these compromise the packaging too much, which is why there’s a good old-fashioned soft-top.

Except it’s not so old-fashioned; almost an inch thick, this fabulously well-insulated roof offers virtually all the comfort and refinement of a fixed roof, without pinching all the boot space when it’s stowed – not that the roof is especially generously proportioned. Even better, you can keep the roof down pretty much all year round, thanks to a world first; a technology which Mercedes is calling Aircap.

Aircap technology

Aircap works by blowing a stream of warm air from the top of the windscreen frame over the cabin – and it works. Even at very low temperatures, at motorway speed, the E-Class’s interior remains warm and free from buffeting. Because the Aircap rises from the top of the windscreen frame it looks a bit ugly and it increases wind noise too, but it’s a brilliant advance that’s help cabriolet owners pose all year.

However, while many will buy the E-Class mainly for its posing capabilities, this is also a car that will appeal to the enthusiast driver. Far more accomplished dynamically than its predecessor, the E-Class is genuinely fun to hustle along a twisty road. With well-weighted steering, strong brakes and a chassis that invites you to drive quickly, the E-Class is still best suited to cruising – but it can cope with much more too.

Performance or economy

Even the entry-level E-Class cabriolet, the 1.8-litre E200 CGI, can serve up 181bhp and 147mph, along with 199lb ft of pulling power and 0-60mph in 8.3 seconds. Those wanting more performance can go right up to the 5.5-litre V8-engined E500 Sport, which packs 387bhp to give an electronically limited top speed of 155mph plus 0-62mph in 5.3 seconds.

Apart from the largest petrol and diesel engines, all E-Class cabriolets are available with a six-speed manual gearbox – but just 2.5 per cent of CLK buyers chose to change gears themselves. All engines are available with an automatic transmission, packing either five or seven ratios depending on the model – opt for an E350 CGi, E350 CDi or E500 and you’ll have to accept an auto whether you like it or not. Incidentally, CGI is Mercedes-speak for a petrol, while CDI is a diesel.

If your priority is optimum fuel consumption, there’s a choice of three diesels available, kicking off with the 2,143cc E220 CDi that averages a claimed 53.3mpg and produces 143g/km of CO2. Even the largest diesel engine, the 3-litre unit in the E350 CDi, is claimed to average 41.5mpg while emitting 185g/km. The E250 CDI we drove officially averages 52.3mpg in manual form (45.6mpg with an auto) and was plenty sprightly enough – it makes you wonder why anyone would bother opting for a petrol engine.

Predictably, Mercedes has packed the E-Class cabriolet with safety kit. Naturally there is ESP, brake assist, anti-lock brakes and airbags galore (nine of them to be precise), but there are also a stack of other technologies to help you avoid a crash, or look after you should the worst happen.

Attention Assist monitors no fewer than 70 parameters to stop you crashing through inattention (the biggest cause of accidents), while Agility Control allows the driver to choose the best chassis setting for the situation. Both of these are standard, and so is an Active Bonnet, which helps to protect pedestrians from serious injury if they’re hit by the front of the car.

Self-dipping headlights

Also available, optionally, is Adaptive High Beam Assist, which provides a series of steps between main and dipped beams, so you can see better at night. It works by detecting vehicles in front or approaching, and adapts the headlamp beam to light the way as effectively as possible, but without dazzling other drivers.

Just two trim levels will be offered at launch: SE and Sport. The entry-level SE provides 17” alloy wheels, parking sensors, leather trim, heated front seats and Aircap. To these, the Sport adds 18” alloys, AMG body styling, intelligent lighting and sports seats.

Compared with the outgoing CLK cabriolet, the E-Class is slightly cheaper, which is especially impressive when you consider just what a leap forward the new model represents. The cheapest E-Class cabriolet is £33,800 (the E220 CDi) while the range-topping E500 Sport is £53,390 – although it can be only a matter of time before a more costly AMG derivative joins the range.

Whichever end of the scale you can afford to buy, the new E-Class cabriolet is unlikely to disappoint. A refined, fast and capable mile muncher, the new model is also great on back roads too. Packing such great engines, cutting-edge technology and complete usability, it’s going to be interesting seeing how Mercedes comes up with something better for the next generation.

Key Facts

Model tested: Mercedes E-Class cabriolet E250 CDi manual and auto
On the road price: £35,465, £36,980
Date tested: March 2010
Road tester: Richard Dredge