2016 Mercedes C 300 cabriolet review, test drive

Mercedes' C-class cabriolet is good-looking and drives well too. It takes open-top motoring to a whole new level.

Published on Jul 22, 2016 07:00:00 AM

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2016 Mercedes C 300 cabriolet review, test drive

What’s also quite enjoyable is the handling. The C-class convertible has a bit of a dull steering, but the body control is fairly good and as long as you are patient and wait for the car to settle down in corners, it’s pretty handy when I up the pace as well. And this allows me to use the fluid steering to guide the car from apex to apex without too much fuss or bother. What’s also nice is that you can lean on brakes hard when you need to scrub off speed quite easily. Yes, there’s a bit of scuttle shake when you ride over some really bad roads and there’s a hint of flex too as you go hard from lock to lock, but apart from that, this new-generation cabriolet feels as stiff as a sedan for the most part.

What’s not too promising, however, is rear seat comfort. Yes, access to the rear is decent and if you have a cooperative co-passenger up front, legroom is manageable too, but the near vertical backrest makes you sit ramrod straight, and that’s far from ideal for long drives. What’s impressive is that the insulation of the triple-layer hood is so good, you can carry on a conversation without any typical hood flapping or excessive wind noise. And while Merc’s signature, tough-as-a-tank build may now be gone, probably forever, the insanely high levels of fit, finish and quality still remain. This is still a cabin you want to endlessly touch and feel and the small pools of light give it an even nicer ambience.

Drop-tops have never been really popular in India. Yes, the right car in the right place at the right time can be sheer magic, but finding the right conditions in which to drive with the hood open can be quite a challenge. And then there’s the fact that these cars aren’t very practical either. The C 300, for example, has just two doors, the rear seats aren’t very comfortable and with the convertible top folding into the boot, luggage space is substantially reduced too. But this isn’t a Merc you buy with your head, and looked at in this manner, the C 300 truly excels. Of course, it will be a bit expensive when Merc begins to import it sometime towards the end of the year with its Rs 65 lakh expected price tag, and the jump from a regular C-class is pretty substantial too. But look at this as a barely scaled-down S-class cabriolet at approximately half the price and with roughly 70 percent of its ability intact and you’ll begin to appreciate the true uniqueness of this car. Rs 65 lakh bargain; yeah, this probably is it.