Mercedes-Benz C-Class Cabriolet Review

Cruise in style with this handsome four-seat cabriolet

Strengths & weaknesses

  • Seats four in comfort
  • Upmarket-looking interior
  • Stylish design with nicely integrated fabric roof
  • Expensive
  • Entry-level C180 engine lacks power
  • Some drivers may prefer a folding hard-top

If you're after a convertible car that will make you feel a million dollars and ease away life’s stresses and strains, then the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Cabriolet should be at the top of your shopping list.

But, unfortunately even the cheapest version of the C-Class Cabriolet - the C180 - costs nearly £39,200 even though it has a rather weedy 1.6-petrol engine that wont really give you the kind of thrills you might be expecting. The C200 or C220d are better choices, but they lift prices to almost £41,900 and £44,500 respectively. This car, in any form, is certainly not what you'd call affordable. 

In terms of competition, immediate rivals include the BMW 4 Series convertible, a car that boasts a folding hard-top roof, and the Audi A5 Cabriolet. Those after something a little more left-field might consider the Range Rover Evoque convertible. As for the high-performance Mercedes-AMG C43 and C63 models, these stray into the territory of BMW’s M Series or a Porsche Panamera in terms of price and performance, not to mention Mercedes’ own SL-Class roadster.

The C-Class Cabriolet feels special when you're sat inside. The sleek design of the dashboard hints at the car’s sporting pretentions with a small, chunky steering wheel, deeply cowled dials, satin chrome-wrapped air vents and aluminium-look pedals.

The interior looks good, and a majority of the materials feel of high-quality, but there are some areas where the price doesn't quite match the product. The intuitive media system is operated by either a rotary controller, a touchpad or (for some features) voice control. It comes with either a 10.3- or 12.3-inch display perched on centre of the dashboard.

The C-Class Cabriolet offers plenty of space, even families could consider using it from day-to-day as the two back seats are spacious enough for adults and they also feature Isofix mounting points for childseats. With the roof raised, there’s 360-litres of luggage space in the boot, but when it’s lowered that drops to 285-litres.

The fabric roof (available in a choice of four colours) is well insulated, so noise at motorway speeds is acceptable, while the electrically powered system folds it away in less than 20 seconds while driving at speeds of up 31mph.

Mercedes' Aircap technology, which manages airflow over the top of the windscreen and behind the back-seat passengers, along with the Airscarf system, which pipes hot air to the neck of those sat in the front seats, are standard on all models and make driving the C-Class Cabriolet with the roof down a much more pleasant experience - even on a chilly autumn day.

In terms of safety, the C-Class Cabriolet includes autonomous emergency braking, Attention Assist that can detect if the driver is drowsy or inattentive, multiple airbags plus numerous other active safety features that use data from cameras and sensors around the car to help avoid or mitigate the effects of collisions. The car achieved a maximum five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP.

In terms of engines, there is substance to complement the style. There's a choice of seven engines, ranging from frugal diesels to a high-performance twin-turbo V8 unit that delivers eye-watering performance.

Those sporting credentials are apparent in all versions, as the C-Class Cabriolet has a well-judged balance between comfort and sportiness, with separate driving modes to tailor the way the car feels to your taste plus lots of grip and accurate steering. Spend extra on the Airmatic adaptive suspension and the ride can become as smooth or sporty as you like.

Key facts

Warranty 3 years
Boot size 360/285 litres
Width 1810mm
Length 4686mm
Height 1409mm
Tax From £210 in first year and £140 or £465 thereafter, to £1815 in first year and £140 or £465 thereafter

Best Mercedes-Benz C Class Cabriolet for...

Best for Economy – Mercedes-Benz C220d Cabriolet

With an official fuel consumption of up to 51.4mpg and CO2 emissions as low as 126g/km (depending on wheel size), the C220d delivers the most mileage for your money.

Best for Families – Mercedes-Benz C200 Cabriolet

It’s not exactly designed for school run duties but nonetheless anyone buying a C-Class Cabriolet that wants a sound all-rounder that offers good value for money should start with the C200 version.

Best for Performance – Mercedes-AMG C43 4Matic Cabriolet

The C43 brings all the performance you need in a car like the C-Class Cabriolet, while the benefits of four-wheel drive can be appreciated when the weather turns bad, as it provides superior traction.

History

June 2016 New C-Class Cabriolet goes on sale

September 2016 First Cabriolets arrive in UK

April 2018 Facelifted model range goes on sale

May 2018 ‘Nightfall’ edition of Cabriolet goes on sale

July 2018 First facelifted Cabriolets arrive in UK

Understanding Mercedes-Benz C Class Cabriolet names

Engine C220d

Diesel models are designated with a d, while petrol models have no letter. The numbers vaguely relate to the amount of power produced: the bigger the number, the greater the power.

Trim Sport

There is just one main trim level, AMG Line for mainstream Mercedes versions, while Mercedes-AMG models have added equipment.

Mercedes-Benz C Class Cabriolet Engines

Diesel: C220d, C300d Petrol: C180, C200, C300, C43 AMG, C63 AMG

The two diesels are comparatively new and are variants of the same four-cylinder, 2-litre engine, both of which offer impressive economy.

The C220d is tuned to produce 194hp, while the C300d has 245hp available, and both have twin-turbocharger technology that means they deliver effortless performance throughout the engine’s rev range. 

For our money, the C220d is all you need. It’s able to achieve more than 51mpg and can go from 0-62mph in 7.5 seconds and the top speed is 149mph, while the C300d manages 47mpg and the acceleration takes 6.3 seconds while the top speed is 155mph. The C220d is also offered with 4Matic four-wheel drive, which could be useful for some drivers. 

As mentioned earlier, we’d avoid the C180 petrol. With 156hp, it’s a bit underpowered for a car like this. A good compromise is the C200.  With 184hp, it’s able to get from 0-62mph in 8.5 seconds and top speed is 146mph. Some may be tempted by the more potent C300, though.

For a more aggresive experience, there are two Mercedes-AMG models. The C43 4Matic has a 3.0-litre V6 under the hood that pushes out 390hp and hits 62mph from a standing start in 4.8 seconds. Meanwhile the 4.0-litre V8 in the seriously hot C63 produces 476hp, or gets ramped up to 510hp in the C63 S, but because they lack the four-wheel drive of the C43 they struggle to maintain traction, especially in poor weather.

 

Fuel

Fuel economy

Power

Acceleration (0-62mph)

Top speed

C220 d

Diesel

68.9mpg

170hp

7.8 secs

145mph

C220 d auto

Diesel

68.9mpg

170hp

7.5 secs

145mph

C220 d 4Matic

Diesel

61.4mpg

170hp

7.6 secs

143mph

C250 d

Diesel

67.3mpg

204hp

6.7 secs

153mph

C250d 4Matic

Diesel

61.4mpg

204hp

6.9 secs

149mph

C180

Petrol

n/a

156hp

8.9secs

138mph

C200

Petrol

38.2mpg

184hp

8.5 secs

146mph

C200 4Matic

Petrol

38.2mpg

184hp

8.8 secs

143mph

C300

Petrol

38.2mpg

258hp

6.2 secs

155mph

C43 4Matic

Petrol

28.5mpg

390hp

4.8 secs

155mph

C63

Petrol

24.8mpg

476hp

4.2 secs

155mph

C63 S

Petrol

24.8mpg

510hp

4.1 secs

174mph

Mercedes-Benz C Class Cabriolet Trims

AMG Line

The C-Class Cabriolet might only be offered in one trim level – AMG Line – but the good news is it’s not wanting for much in terms of equipment. 

It features LED lights all-round, front and rear parking sensors, an automated parking system, a reversing camera and a wide range of safety kit as standard. You also get sat-nav, DAB radio, keyless entry, keyless start and a 10.3-inch full colour infotainment screen. Certain versions upgrade that to a 12.3-inch screen and it’s possible to have it as an optional extra, too. 

Pick the Premium pack and it adds the aforementioned 12.3-inch screen, adjustable ambient lighting for the cabin, an uprated Comand online system, a mid-range audio system, adaptive lights and wireless charging for smartphones. Go for the Premium Plus and you’ll be treated to a 360-degree camera pack, powerful Burmester audio system and a keyless-go system for hands-free opening and starting of the car.

Mercedes-Benz C Class Cabriolet Reliability and warranty

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class Cabriolet comes with a three-year unlimited mileage warranty against manufacturing or material defects and up to 30 years warranty against perforation due to corrosion from the inside out. The cars also come with roadside assistance that comprises up to 30 years pan-European cover.

The current C-Class models are still relatively new to make a definitive judgement on reliability, but Mercedes-Benz is the 18th most reliable carmaker in the list of 34 manufacturers in the latest Driver Power survey.

Used Mercedes-Benz C Class Cabriolet

This could be a very good way indeed to get the car of your dreams without paying top-dollar prices. For example, used examples of the C-Class Cabriolet are available on BuyaCar for just over £20,000, which is less than half the cost of a new example.

That’s a seriously tempting saving, that would get you a 2017 model with less than 30,000 miles under its wheels. Spend a little more – around £27,000 to £30,000 – and you could get your hands on a one-year-old model that would still feel fresh and should be blemish-free. 

Of course, those prices are for the lower powered petrol or diesel models. If you crave a C43, it’s likely to cost at least £38,000 on the used car market, while C63 versions are more than £40,000.

Other Editions

C Class (2014 – 2021)

The Mercedes C-Class is a is a luxurious and hi-tech family car

C Class Estate (2014 – 2021)

The Mercedes C-Class estate is a stylish, comfortable family car but its boot could be bigger and its handling more satisfying

C Class Coupe (2015)

Sporty, stylish and upmarket: the Mercedes C-Class Coupe covers all the bases