2021 MERCEDES-BENZ E450 CABRIOLET

STUNNING INTERIOR ADDS TO APPEAL 

OF MERCEDES-BENZ E450 CABRIOLET

First, a few words about the interior of the 2021 Mercedes-Benz E450 4MATIC Cabriolet:

Beautiful.

Classy.

Gorgeous.

Magnificent.

Superb.

Grand.

Exquisite.

Stunning.

Dazzling.

Elegant.

Beautiful.

Oops! I repeat myself.

In nearly 20 years of reviewing cars and trucks, several of which were carrying six-figure price tags, I have never really encountered an interior like that in the E450 Cabriolet.

It took my breath away right at first glance.

Done in white and with trim in a shade Mercedes calls “yacht” blue, it has a nautical feel about it. Iit’s like stepping into a multimillion dollar catamaran for a sail around the bay.

The plush, high quality materials pamper passengers, and with the triple-layer top from Haartz in place, the ride, even at highway speeds, is coupe- and sedan-like quiet.

And it is surprisingly roomy for a convertible, seating four comfortably and giving those in the back up to 34.1 inches of legroom, which isn’t much but better than some other backseats in drop tops.

But a caveat must be acknowledged here.

Though the E-Class is certainly not shy on standard features, many of the “gotta have” items came at an extra expense.Even the diamond while metallic exterior finish came at a cost of $1,515, and that was only one of several four-figure options.

In addition to standard features for the E450 Cabriolet like dual-zone automatic climate control, 12.3-inch screens for infotainment features like navigation and the instrument cluster, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, heated power seats with lumbar support, LED headlights and taillights, and numerous safety features like blind-spot assist and surround view camera, extras that include ventilated front seats with a massage function, a driver’s assistance package that included many safety systems like lane-change assist and lane-keeping assist, 20-inch AMG spoke wheels, air suspension, an exterior lighting package, Nappa leather for the interior, and some specific styling touches ran the final tab from the $74,450 base MSRP to a grand total of $91,475, including the $1,050 destination and delivery fee.

I’d say the interior is not the only thing that will take your breath away.

Thankfully, one thing missing on the pricing is a gas guzzler tax that some performance-oriented luxury models earn.

That isn’t the say the E450 Cabriolet is a laggard when it comes to driving fun.

Unlike E-350 sedans, which are equipped with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, the E-Class Cabriolet is available only as an E450 with a 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder engine. It produces 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of peak torque while burning premium fuel at the rate of 23 miles-per-gallon city, 31 highway and 26 combined.

A mild-hybrid system Mercedes calls EQ Boost adds 21 horsepower and 184 pound-feet to the torque number, making acceleration smooth and effortless, If you want a little more in the way of throttle response you an always drive it in Sport or Sport-plus mode.

Want to conserve a little more fuel? Just select Eco mode. Or you personalize your settings to suit your style.

A 9-speed automatic transmission is standard, and Mercedes’ all-wheel drive 4MATIC system is available in place of the standard rear-wheel drive configuration.

All in all, the 2021 Mercedes-Benz E450 Cabriolet pretty much has it all. And did I mention the classy interior is unbelievably beautiful, gorgeous, magnificent …

What I liked about the 2021 Mercedes-Benz E450 4MATIC Cabriolet: Obviously, I like the overall interior, especially small details like the feel of the heft and touch of the leather-wrapped steering wheel and the way vents can be adjusted and aimed. The ride not only is solid and comfortable, but with the top up, it is extremely quiet. It feels like you’re riding in an E-Class sedan. Raising and lowering the top is a simple operation with no requirement to clear the rear trunk before lowering. It folds neatly into its own space.

What I didn’t like about the 2021 Mercedes-Benz E450 4MATIC Cabriolet: Some of the infotainment functions are fussy to work with. Some buttons on the steering wheel cross bar are so small you almost need fingers the size of a 3-year-old’s to change the tachometer and speedometer gauges to display such functions as a clock, radio station setting, navigation map, etc. The steering wheel touch functions can easily be accidentally swiped.

Would I buy the 3021 Mercedes-Benz E450 4MATIC Cabriolet? In a heartbeat. It combines the luxury of a typical Mercedes sedan with the fun and free-spirit of a convertible.