It is a great time of year for a convertible, and this week I have the newly refreshed 2014 Mercedes-Benz E350 Cabriolet, a 4-seat cloth top convertible.
This roadster comes with a 3.5-liter V6 engine and a 7-speed automatic transmission. This combination produces 302-horses, which moves this car extremely well. It feels like you have 350-horses or more, with smooth, steady acceleration.
2014 Mercedes-Benz E350 Cabriolet
As you would expect from a Benz, the E350 comes fully equipped with leather interior that is ultra-plush. Front seats are extremely comfortable with multiple adjustments, it would be hard to imagine anyone not being able to find their comfy spot. Back seat room is limited and not for adults.
As standard equipment, you get the Mercedes Comand system that operates the CD/DVD and Bluetooth connections. You also get ambient lighting, heated seats, garage door opener, collision warning, electronic stability control and much more.
Test Vehicle Options
Options on my test vehicle include a $1515 upcharge for the Diamond White paint, a $590 wood steering wheel, $350 rear spoiler, and the Premium 1 package which gets you the navigation system, Harman Kardon surround sound stereo, ventilated headrests, and rearview camera.
The lighting package will set you back $1500 and you get LED lighting with active curve illumination. The Sport package gets you 18”AMG 5-spoke wheels, and last is the Lane Tracking package for $875 and with that you get blind spot monitoring and lane assist.
The 2014 E-Class has a restyled front end, new rear taillights, and new interior center stack that looks much sleeker, and the dash is different and looks great with lighter colored stitching.
The E350 ragtop still has some of its CLK roots, but has aggressive bodylines, and I give Mercedes kudos for how quiet the car is. You get no wind noise at all, and there is zero road noise. Trunk space is not great, but that is typical of convertibles. Fuel economy is OK, and if you use the Eco button on the dash, you get the start/stop system that boosts mileage in town and works very smoothly.
In Mercedes fashion, this car rides smoothly and handles extremely well in turns. This car is a great cruiser and would make a good daily driver unless you regularly use a back seat. From a value standpoint, I find it overpriced as it compares to the Audi S5 which is about the same price, but some will like the Benz more.
On a personal note, the color combination of this car is a little odd. It is Diamond White as I mentioned, with a black interior, which is OK, but it has a red top. Interesting.
2014 Mercedes-Benz E350 Cabriolet
- What I liked most: Drive and handling, and interior.
- What I would change: This car would look great with 19” or larger wheels.
- MSRP: Base price $60,200, as equipped $70,965.
- Fuel Economy: EPA rated at 20 City/28 Highway.
- 2014 Mercedes E350 Cabriolet in a few words: Fun to drive and a great interior.
- Warranty: 4 year/50,000 mile bumper-to-bumper with roadside assistance.
- Manufacturer’s Website: Mercedes-Benz
