2016 Mercedes C 300 cabriolet review, test drive

Mercedes says the all-new C-class convertible, its first ever, visually exhibits an independence of character with plenty of sporty appeal, and truth be told, that’s just about right. This car, apart from the nose, looks almost nothing like the C-class sedan. Even the dimensions are different. While the length and wheelbase are the same, the roofline is much lower and the size of the boot, at 285 litres and 360 litres, hood open and closed, is substantially reduced as well.

Finally, the sun peeps out and though the sky is filled with a mass of black clouds, there’s no rain. And this means I can flip the S-class-sourced hood open via the button near the elbow box; the well-orchestrated ballet of the canvas top, supports and pistons providing quite a visual treat. And what a joy it is to drive this refined, comfortable car with the top down, the moist, cool air wafting in.  

What I also discover later, as I put my foot down and use more of the power on hand is that there’s an attractive elasticity to the manner in which the engine and the nine-speed gearbox function together. It does, after all, have a useful 245hp under the hood, and with a claimed 0-100kph time of 6.4 seconds, it’s pretty quick too, enough to keep me grinning when I put my foot down. There’s no sudden surge of acceleration when I put my foot ◊ ∆ down and there’s no real kick in the back either, but what I do get is a linear and sustained push all the way from low engine speeds. And the motor has a nice snarl towards the top-end too.