2014 MERCEDES-BENZ E-Class Cabriolet Review

Over in Germany, more and more couples are having issues that lead to separation. Recent studies have revealed that the male subjects involved in this phenomenon have one thing in common: all of them are Mercedes-Benz engineers. Upon closer inspection, the problem was linked to a particular Mercedes development: the release of the most comprehensive facelift in the world.

One billion euro. That's how much the Germans spent on revamping the E-Class family. The exterior changes are easy to spot, and yet they're nothing but a mere hint to the technological refresh lying underneath. New engines and especially fresh safety technologies, the kind you'll only find on the new Mercedes S-Class.

That's quite a statement, but the attitude was a bit too sober for us. To spice things up, we chosen the E-Class Cabriolet for our test drive.

Mercedes-Benz may have come up with the best metal folding roofs in the world, but they still have a... soft spot for canvas tops. After all, the elegant soft top is just as much of a Mercedes tradition as the three-pointed star.

A quick glance back to the Ponton Cabriolet of the 50s, for instance, reveals this. Nevertheless, that was a larger, more fatuous model, whereas the E-Class Cabriolet sits in the middle of the Mercedes line-up. Or does it?

Last time we drove a canvas top Mercedes, the SLS AMG Roadster, we found a roof system that rivaled the best on the market, such as that on the Bentley Continental GTC.

Factor in the E-Class' much more practical nature and we have all the premises for finding a soft top wonderland, one for Alice and three passengers.

Speaking of this, a 2014 Mercedes E-Class with the AMG exterior pack isn't too far off from the Cheshire Cat's evil grin. The AMG bits do quite a lot for the car. Let's take the face, for instance.

The E-Class keeps its four-eyed look, but now its headlights use singe lenses. The optional all-LED headlights express this in the best manner. These also allow you to leave the high beam on all the time, creating cones of light that prevent dazzling oncoming vehicles. In between, sits an upright grille that acts as some sort of business card, indicating the important position of the car.