Motoring News
2022 MERCEDES-BENZ E 350 EQ CABRIOLET
2022 MERCEDES-BENZ E 350 EQ CABRIOLET
By ALISTAIR KENNEDY
The mid-sized E 350 Merc convertible combines sheer driving fun with long-range grand touring capacity.
Mercedes-Benz has updated its E 350 sedan, coupe and convertible models with mild hybrid technology adding extra power, smoother engine response and lower fuel consumption.
Five variants are available: E 200, E 350 and AMG E53 with the coupe body plus E 350 and AMG E 53 convertibles. We’ve just spent a thoroughly enjoyable week behind the wheel and under the roof – only when we had to – of the E 350 Cabrio.
STYLING
The E-Class is the mid-sized model in the Mercedes-Benz passenger car range. The current Benz family styling has been adopted with a diamond patterned infill to the grille and the traditional three-pointed start in the centre. Headlights are Multibeam units with 84 individually controllable LEDs with adaptive high beam.
The wheels on the E 350 are 20-inch AMG multi-spoke alloys.
The optional Night Package adds some attractive exterior design elements.
Although most current convertibles come with solid roofs Mercedes has catered for the motoring purists by sticking with a traditional fabric roof.
There’s a wide range of body colour choices, nine of them standard or no-cost option colours available as well as two cost options. The standout to our eyes, and most who saw it, was the rich burgundy Rubellite Red in our test car.
Four fabric soft tops are available, we had the matching dark red.
INTERIOR
Obviously, as a two-door, access to the rear seats is through the front doors, unless you’re young and agile enough to jump over when the top is down. Once seated there’s decent legroom although the passenger sitting behind the driver may occasionally need to compromise.
To cater for rear seat occupants the front doors are wide and need to be opened cautiously in tight parking spaces.
All Mercedes E 350 variants have leather upholstery with a choice of five different colour combinations.
ENGINE / TRANSMISSION
All three E350 variants come with a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine generating 220kW of power and 400Nm of torque with a nine-speed automatic transmission sending power to the rear wheels.
The EQ Boost system uses a 48-volt integrated electric motor to add up to 10 kW and 150 Nm for short periods. Additionally, the system utilises high-efficiency energy recuperation to supply power to the battery, making it possible to drive without the combustion engine. M-B describes this as “sailing”.
The E 350 sedan and coupe variants do the zero to 100 km/h sprint in 5.9 seconds with the convertible only marginally slower at 6.1 seconds.
SAFETY
Standard safety features across the E-Class coupe and cabriolet range include nine airbags, enhanced ABS brakes; electronic stability control program; acceleration skid control; active bonnet; tyre pressure warning; run-flat safety tyres; traffic sign assist; and a 360-degree camera.
Attention Assist uses a sensor and detailed algorithm to detect fatigued driving behaviour.
Driving Assistance Package Plus adds active distance assist; autonomous emergency braking; brake assist with cross-traffic function; lane keeping and lane assist; stop-and-go assist; blind spot monitoring; evasive steering assist and route-based speed adaptation.
Pre-Safe Plus helps prevent, or reduce the effect, or rear collisions crashes. If the car’s rear radar detects a potential rear-end collision, it rapidly flashes the rear hazard warning lights to alert the driver.
Specific features in the E-Class convertibles include with head air bags in the doors and specifically-designed roll-over protection.
A head-up display is available with the Vision Package option.
INFOTAINMENT
The Benz E250 uses the latest version of the company’s MBUX widescreen multimedia system.
Information is displayed on two 12.3-inch high-resolution digital screens. In front of the driver is the digital instrument cluster with the central touchscreen providing access to the usual range of features including smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto; Bluetooth phone and audio; wireless smartphone charging; and embedded NTG6 satellite navigation.
Our test car had the optional Burmester premium sound system.
There’s also remote interactivity with other vehicle functions through the Mercedes ‘me Connect’ app.
DRIVING
At start up the central information screen displays the following warning, no doubt at the behest of the M-B legal team, ”Do not let the system distract you from the traffic situation”. While this clearly applies to every new car nowadays it’s even more relevant to the E-Class because there’s so much to learn before hitting the road.
There’s also a plethora of tiny controls on the chunky Nappa leather AMG steering wheel feels great
We couldn’t have picked better weather for our test and did a couple of open-air runs along our favourite route on the Central Coast hinterland. Opening and closing the roof takes around 15 seconds and can be done at speeds up to 30 km/h.
We escaped from Sydney’s urban jungle, including its numerous tunnels, with the roof closed and found the interior to be quite well insulated. Once the top was folded, we were able to activate the Aircap auto draught-stop and air scarf neck-level heating systems to reduce the effect of the outside elements. Although we didn’t need it, seat heating is available.
Fuel consumption is excellent, listed at 7.8 litres per 100 kilometres on the combined cycle. We averaged 8.2 L/100 km overall, managing just 6.4 L/100 km during our two rural grand touring cruises.
SUMMING UP
With so many SUVs on the road, all providing differing degrees of sensible and practical motoring it was an absolute delight to enjoy a really enjoyable driving experience with the Mercedes-Benz E 350 Cabriolet.
There’s sufficient interior space to almost qualify as a family vehicle although most of the time should be spent out on the open road. It’s high comfort levels, smooth and powerful engine and excellent fuel economy make it an ideal long-distance grand tourer.
RATINGS:
Looks: 9/10
Performance: 9/10
Safety: 9/10
Thirst: 8/10
Practicality: 7/10
Comfort: 8/10
Tech: 8/10
Value: 8/10
AT A GLANCE
MODEL RANGE
E 350 Sedan: $129,591
E 350 Coupe: $132,543
E 350 Cabriolet: $146,344
Note: These prices do not include government or dealer delivery charges. Contact your local Mercedes-Benz dealer for drive-away prices.
SPECIFICATIONS (Mercedes-Benz E 350 2.0-litre turbo-petrol Hybrid two-door cabriolet)
ENGINE:
Capacity: 1.991 litres
Configuration: Four cylinders in line
Maximum Power: 220 kW @ 5500 rpm
Maximum Torque: 400 Nm @ 1800 rpm
Fuel Type: Premium unleaded / electric
Combined Fuel Cycle (ADR 81/02): 7.8 L/100km
CO2 Emissions: 177 g/km
DRIVELINE: Nine-speed automatic
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
Length: 4841 mm
Wheelbase: 2873 mm
Width: 1860 mm
Height: 1420 mm
Turning Circle: Not supplied
Kerb Mass: 1906 kg
Fuel Tank Capacity: 66 litres
BRAKES:
Front: Ventilated disc
Rear: Ventilated disc
STANDARD WARRANTY:
Five years / unlimited kilometres
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