Used Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet 2010-2017 review

Open-top cars don’t always have to be sporty little two-seaters. You might like the wind to go through your hair at a slightly slower pace, or, perhaps, not even at all. You might like to feel the sun on your face but not sweat forming on your brow because of the stress of driving in traffic. Well, if that sounds like you, check out the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet, because there’s no finer way of relaxing in the sun, especially when used examples begin at £8500.

That sensation of relaxation starts with the engine range, because every option has enough power to make decent progress without needing to be thrashed to high heaven. The entry-level 184bhp 200 petrol is fine for those pottering around town and even the occasional motorway jaunt; the 306bhp 350 and later 333bhp 400 V6 petrols are good for anyone looking for something sportier, while the 408bhp 500 V8 is a real rarity and a bit of a motorway missile.

Most will be well served by the 169bhp 220 diesel, which has enough performance and the best fuel economy, although the 204bhp 250 diesel is equally economical but gives you a little bit more overtaking oomph. Top of the diesel tree is the torquey 350 V6 diesel, which is as capable wafting through town as it is charging across a continent.

The only major fly in the ointment of the E-Class is the gearbox choices. The six-speed manual doesn’t really suit a classy convertible and the strange foot-operated parking brake might make hill starts a problem. The majority of examples are automatic; that's fine for the most part, but the seven-speed version can dither about which gear to be in.

Unlike the BMW 4 Series Convertible, the E-Class errs more on the side of comfort rather than providing a sporty drive. Mercedes did give the car adaptive dampers that monitor how you’re driving and adjust themselves accordingly, but you can’t override them as you can in some rivals. Potholes make the body flex and wobble slightly, too.

Those sitting in the front will be impressed by the well-built dashboard and easy-to-use controls. The infotainment system can take some time to get the hang of, but at least it comes with shortcut buttons and a rotary dial that makes it easier to operate on the move than those that require you to interact with a touchscreen.

Space is fine for anyone in the front, and if you can find a car with ‘Airscarf’, which directs warm air from the air conditioning system on to the back of your neck via vents in the head restraints, you can even drive with the top down in winter and stay warm. The rear seats aren’t bad for adults, but some rivals offer a bit more leg and shoulder room.

Boot space is pretty good, though, because the cloth roof takes up a lot less space than a folding metal one does. As with most convertibles, the boot will shrink when the roof is down, but you’ll only need to sacrifice 90 litres of luggage capacity; most rivals lose a lot more than that.

An early 2010 example with more than 100,000 miles on the clock will cost you £8500, but if you want something with fewer miles on it, you’ll need to increase your budget to £9500. A facelifted car from 2013 starts at around £13,000, while a low-mileage example from 2017 can be as high as £25,000.

Check the value of a used Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet with What Car? Valuations

If you’re keeping a tight grip on the purse strings, you should look at a four-cylinder E-Class for the best fuel economy. Both the 220 and 250 diesels have an official figure of 53.3mpg (NEDC) and emit 142g/km of CO2. The 350 V6 diesel isn’t too far behind the smaller ones, with an official figure of 47.1mpg and a 162g/km CO2 output. The 200 petrol is still pretty decent at 42.2mpg and 153g/km.

Further up the performance scale is the 350 V6 petrol, which has an official average of 39.2mpg and emissions of 175g/km, while the thirsty 500 V8 petrol has an ambitious average of 31mpg and 213g/km. A more efficient 400 V6 replaced the V8 after the facelift and is a bit more frugal at 37.7mpg and 173g/km.

Most examples of this generation of E-Class Cabriolet will fall under the previous road tax system, which was based on the amount of CO2 a car emitted, with only the very last examples registered after the 1 April 2017 changeover date being affected by the current flat rate system. Of those, watch out for the surcharge on cars that cost £40,000 or more when new, because it will make them much more expensive to run. Read more about road tax costs here.

Servicing costs will be higher than they are for rivals from Audi and BMW. Mercedes-Benz also doesn’t do cheaper main dealer servicing for older cars, so running an E-Class Cabriolet could be pricey. It might, therefore, be a good idea to investigate whether there's an independent Mercedes specialist near you that can carry out a service using the same genuine parts, because they'll charge much less.

Which version you should buy depends on whether you want a more traditional look or something sportier. If you’re not a fan of big wheels, side skirts and sports suspension, you should probably pick an SE model.

Sport (later renamed AMG Sport and then AMG Line) models still ride pretty well, given that they have firmer suspension and often bigger wheels. They will suffer a bit more from road noise, though.

Unless you must have a petrol car because you don’t do many miles, we’d go with a diesel-powered E-Class Cabriolet. The E220 diesel provides more than enough performance for most people's needs without costing you a fortune to run.

Our favourite Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet: E220 CDI SE

The Audi A5 was available not only as a coupé but also as an open-top cabriolet. Just like the tin-top version, the cabriolet was wilfully stylish and had a wide range of engine options. However, it's no sports car on a twisty road and the pedals are horribly offset in models with a manual gearbox.

If you fancy a flash two-door that handles nicely, take a look at the BMW 4 Series Convertible. In terms of practicality, the BMW beats the E-Class Cabriolet for rear seat space, but it has a slightly smaller boot, due to its bulkier folding metal roof.

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