“Driving bliss in style and on a budget”
There is something to be said about the sun, warm weather, and a convertible. It’s the trifecta from a driver’s, or more specifically a car enthusiast’s, perspective. We relish the ability to take the top down and hit the open road, with the sun shining and nothing but the sky above us as our companion. You get an instant sense of freedom and nostalgic thoughts of cruising Route 66. I believe this image has been ingrained into our pop culture memories through books, movies, and advertising, but it’s for good reason. Those feelings are truly elicited; driving a convertible coupe, or for that matter any convertible, is the closest most drivers are ever going to get to the thrill of riding a motorbike. Now, before any of my motorcycle-riding audience attacks me with pitchforks and axes, as a rider myself, I can say the sense of freedom elicited by riding is what parallels the convertible experience.
Now that the setting is staged, let’s up the fun quotient with a vehicle that makes the experience ever so blissful, relaxed, and sublime. The CLE 300 is the perfect tool for the convertible/cabriolet experience. It provides ample power and a cloud-like drive. The seats are grand-touring comfortable, offering support and cushioning in all the right places. Add to this Mercedes’ AIRSCARF® (a series of vents positioned just below the headrest, right where your head meets your shoulders, providing an adjustable flow of warm air that gently blows on your neck, cocooning you in a proverbial warm scarf), and you’re able to enjoy endless miles of open-top cruising, day or night, hot or cool.
Under the sculpted long hood lies a 2.0L inline-4 engine paired with a mild 48v hybrid system (the latter runs all auxiliaries and assists with stop-and-go systems). The power plant delivers a healthy 255 horsepower and more than adequate 295 lb-ft of torque. The power is channeled through Mercedes’ 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system, sending power imperceptibly to each of the four corners as needed. The result is a car that provides spirited performance without alarming your passenger. In my week behind the wheel, I never wanted for extra power or felt the car was underwhelming in any way. The suspension soaks up everything the roads have to offer, but if you are called to push the CLE hard and aggressively, you will quickly learn that this is a grand-tourer, not a sports car or sports coupe. If that is your preference, then the SLS or GT would better serve your needs. Rather, this is a relaxed cruiser, meant to get you to your destination in style and on a relative budget, with an as-tested price coming in just under $87,500 CAD.
What strikes me most about the CLE 300 is that it’s by no means the best car that Mercedes produces, nor is it the most technologically advanced. Rather, it punches way above its weight class (pun intended). It makes you ask the question: Why do I need to spend more, when it truly feels more than luxurious and wouldn’t feel out of place at any Hampton Golf and Country Club or while cruising up and down Rodeo Drive?
