2017 Mercedes C300 Cabriolet Review
Car Tested: 2017 Mercedes C300 Cabriolet; Road Test No.808
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 79.81 lakhs
The Mercedes C300 Cabriolet is a comfortable tourer with an open top!
Open top motoring – don’t we all love the thrill that it offers? There is nothing as relaxing as cruising down the country roads with fresh air blowing on your face. The Mercedes C-Class is available in a variety of iterations like the C sedan, C43 AMG, C63 S AMG and now the C300 Cabriolet which Merc is targeting towards those people who want to soak in some fresh air and love to calmly explore some unexplored locations.
Motor Quest: There are very few convertibles available in India and the C300 is one of the relatively cheaper options. Apart from this, Mercedes also offers the E400 Cabriolet and the S-Class Cabriolet. While the E Cabrio gets a V6 engine, the larger S Cabrio gets a V8 engine.
While the front fascia is similar to the sedan, it is the side and rear profiles that stand out
Exteriors – On the outside, the styling cues of the C-Class are evident from the front fascia which shares a lot of elements with the C sedan. The headlamps, grille, etc. have a strong resemblance to the sedan. Move over to the side and that’s when you realise that what you’re seeing is something different. The long waistline of the car blends into the stylish rear that is inspired by the S-Class coupe while a canvas top in a contrasting shade completes the picture. The C Cabriolet does look premium and commands attention wherever you take it. For the body, you get a choice of 4 colours while for the roof you get to choose from 4 colours too. The styling looks complete and it has the usual royal sense that a Merc boasts of.
The dashboard is shared with the C, lots of equipment on offer
Interiors – Step inside the C300 Cabriolet and you notice how a major part of the insides are again shared with the C-Class sedan. The dashboard has a similar layout as the sedan with the steering, instrument cluster, centre console, etc. feeling quite familiar. You also get the updated COMAND system but sadly there’s no touchscreen on offer. However, what you do get is a new set of buttons in the centre which toggle the roof operations. It takes 20 seconds for the soft top to open/close at speeds up to 50 km/hr. Along with that you also get an AirCap which is a spoiler-like wind deflector that pops out above the windscreen along with a screen below the rear seats. Aim? Reduce wind turbulence. Works? Not much of a difference.
Some additional buttons on centre console for the roof
Most of the components are shared with C sedan, which is actually a good thing
The front seats are extremely comfortable with good levels of support for the thighs, back, lumbar, etc. The seats are expectedly electrically adjustable and come with memory function too. Space at the front is pretty much more than enough. The doors have a wide opening and the seats move all the way ahead for the rear passengers to get in easily. However, space at the rear is slightly compromised but still it is decent enough for medium-sized adults to sit. What you also get is a host of equipment like Burmester audio system, park assist, navigation, LED lights, etc. since the C300 is offered in only 1 trim. However, what is disappointing is the boot space which isn’t that great and worsens when you open the top, thus reducing the practicality factor.
The 2.0-litre, 4-cyl engine packs in quite a lot and offers a fun-filled drive
Performance – There’s a 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder, petrol engine under the hood which unleashes a maximum of 245 horses at 5500 RPM and 370 Nm of twist from 1300-4000 RPM. The engine feels extremely refined and NVH levels are splendid. The mill also sounds pretty sweet at high RPMs though you miss out on the exciting blip sounds that come packaged with bigger engines. The engine has good power delivery and it pulls without any effort right from the lower RPMs. The turbo kicks in smoothly and acceleration is powerful when you mash the throttle. The free-revving engine goes all the way to 6500 RPM without complaining.
The engine has very good performance for city and highway driving alike
The engine-gearbox combo offers a smooth driving experience
0-100 km/hr comes up in a quick 7.03 seconds (VBOX) while the claimed top speed is 250 km/hr. The engine makes the C300 fun to drive and performs flawlessly whether you want to cruise down the highway or give it the beans throughout. Being a good cruiser, 100 km/hr in 9th gear comes in somewhere near the 1500 RPM mark. Talking about gearing, Mercedes has plonked in the 9G-TRONIC gearbox which is again super smooth and does its work quietly. There are the usual driving modes on offer like Eco, Comfort, Sport and Sport+ along with another Individual mode. Eco and Comfort are best suited for in-city jaunts and relaxed drives on the highway while the Sport modes keep the engine running at slightly higher RPMs so that you can accelerate quickly and always be in the power band. Sport+ also makes throttle response more sensitive. The Individual mode helps you tweak the suspension and steering settings based on your liking.
The C300 has a splendid ride while handling is good too if you don’t intend to push it aggressively
Driving Dynamics – The Mercedes C300 Cabriolet doesn’t get an Air Suspension but even the regular suspension does a very good job on our pothole-laden and uneven road surfaces. Since this is not an out-and-out performance car, the ride is plush and the softly sprung suspension makes sure the passengers are always comfortable. Ride remains composed at high speeds too. The steering is precise but could have done with more feel and the C300 doesn’t feel as eager on the corners as other performance cars. Sure, it will keep you entertained but it will also remind you that it is more of a luxury cruiser and less of a performance vehicle. The 17-inch Pirelli Cinturato P7 225-section tyres have nice grip but they tend to make you realise around the corners that you could’ve done with better rubber since these aren’t performance-oriented. No complaints on the braking front though, with stopping power being more than adequate.
On the safety front, it goes without saying that these cars get a gazillion features
Safety and After Sales Service – In terms of service, we’ve said it time and again that Mercedes has one of the best service when we talk about luxury automakers. The Mercedes C300 Cabriolet is loaded with safety features like PRE-SAFE, NECK-PRO head restraints (front), ATTENTION ASSIST, dual stage airbags at the front along with front sidebags, windowbags, pelvis bag and knee bag, PARKTRONIC, Cruise Control with SPEEDTRONIC, ABS with BA, ADAPTIVE BRAKE, ESP and TPMS.
The Mercedes C300 Cabriolet is a good buy if you want something exclusive but don’t want to spend crores
Verdict – So should you buy one? If your criteria is long and comfortable drives, punchy engine, tons of equipment and of course open top motoring, you should definitely get the C300 Cabriolet because it is the cheapest convertible from Mercedes’ stable in India and offers a lot for that price. It is also a unique luxury car and will stand out on our roads and bring you all the attention too. However, if you’re looking for a track machine that can double up as a hot performance car for our roads, we’d ask you to check out the Mercedes SLC43 AMG too.
The C300 Cabriolet sits between the A3 Cabriolet and E400 Cabriolet in India
What’s Cool
* Looks smashing, sure-shot head turner
* Loaded with a lot of equipment
* Engine is very punchy and quick
* Who doesn’t love roof-down driving?!
What’s Not So Cool
* Reduced practicality due to small boot
Alternatives: Audi A3 Cabriolet, Mercedes E400 Cabriolet
The C-Class range is now pretty strong with a lot of variety
Further Reading –
Mercedes C250d Review
Mercedes C-Class Petrol Review
Mercedes C-Class Diesel Review
Mercedes C-Class vs BMW 3-Series vs Audi A4