2014 MERCEDES-BENZ E-Class Cabriolet Review

We’re driving like that at highway speeds now and there’s no discomfort at all. The only hint comes in the form of a few decibels of wind noise at the top of the windscreen, where the Aircap is located. Stick to the speed limits and you’ll be able to fully enjoy the music with the roof folded.

We’ve experienced such open air amenities in the past, but only in Targa-like vehicles, such as the McLaren 12C Spider. Never in a full convertible like this.

Together with the nature of the E-Class, this ability to filter out the wind contributes to a well-being feeling. This is not the overwhelming kind, but it will make you want to drive the car over and over again. Even with a small engine.

In fact, given the comfort-orientated nature of the car, the powerplant you choose is not a matter of how sporty the experience gets. It’s more of a premium-feel thing.

The car still feels OK to drive with smaller engines, so the more capable ones only come to boost the refinement levels. For example, when you’re overtaking, a six-cylinder unit will be able to hold on to a gear instead of asking the transmission to downshift and go through the rev range. But let’s get into the details.

The revamp has brought two new engines for Europe. The first is the E250. A turbo four that delivers 211 HP at rpm and 350 Nm (258 lb-ft) between 1,200 and 4,000 rpm. The direct-injected, stratified charge-capable unit needs 7.5s to send the Cabriolet past the 62 mph mark (7.1s in the Coupe). As for the average EU cycle fuel efficiency, this sits at 6.3 l/100km (37.3 mpg). If you’re not into specialty stuff, this engine will do for everyday driving.

However, it’s the other new unit that you’re going to want. We’re talking about the E400, a twin-turbo 3.0-liter powerplant. The powerplant delivers 329 HP between 5,250 and 6,000 rpm and a beefy 480 Nm (354 lb-ft) between 1,600 and 4,000 rpm. The cheeky V6 promises to sip no more than 7.8 liters of petrol per 100 km (30.2 mpg).