2018 Mercedes-Benz E400 Cabriolet 4MATIC Test Drive

This week I bring you the all-new 2018 Mercedes-Benz E400 Cabriolet.  This soft-top convertible grew 4” longer for 2018 as well as offering a host of new features.

2018 Mercedes-Benz E400 Cabriolet

Under the hood, the E400 has a 3-liter Bi-turbo V6 that is putting out 329-horses and a pretty impressive 354-pound feet of torque.  It is hooked to a 9-speed automatic with paddle shifters, and my review vehicle is the 4Matic, which means it is full-time all-wheel drive.

This vehicle also has the AMG package that includes 19” 5-spoke wheels, aluminum gas and brake pedal, and some lower ground effects all around, including around the dual exhaust.  The 2018 E400 has a new grill and has LED lights all around.

I find the convertible top to be impressive.  Most soft tops have visible bows on the exterior, but this one is smooth and is 3-layers thick for sound reduction and long-term wear.  It will go up and down in 20-seconds at speeds up to 31-miles per hour.  There is a partition in the trunk to show you how much cargo room you have with the top down.

Exceptional Benz Interior

Like most Benz models, the 2018 Mercedes-Benz E400 Cabriolet has an exceptional interior with attractive stitching and this one has optional flowing line wood.  As soon as you open a door, you see this is a real 4-seater convertible.  Many convertibles won’t fit two adults in the back seat, and access is easy with electric sliding front seats.

As you sit behind the steering wheel with controls, you see two extremely vivid 12.3” screens.  Right in front of you are the gauges and driver info center, then in the middle of the dash is the COMAND infotainment screen.  This is where you operate the entertainment, navigation, comfort and convenience features, and customizable vehicle settings.

All systems can be operated from a fixed mouse, or there is a more traditional round knob on the center console.  The mouse can even be used as a scratchpad for operations like entering an address for the navigation system.  Whether you use the knob or the mouse, there is a steep learning curve before it becomes intuitive, if in fact it ever does.   

Also on the console, you can change the Dynamic Select settings from Eco to Comfort to Sport and finally Sport Plus.  All 4 settings change the E400 dramatically.

The seats are comfortable, they are heated and cooled, and have a lot of adjustments for your comfort.  The headrests will blow warm air on your neck for cool days with the top down, and the rear seats fold down in a 50/50 configuration.

Car-to-X Communication

A feature I have not seen before is Car-to-X Communication. Every E-Class can automatically alert a central notification system of certain dangers, from detected wheel spin to the use of hazard flashers or even windshield wipers. The system can then alert other drivers with Car-to-X via in-dash displays or announcements, allowing precautions to be taken before reaching the hazard.

A couple of other cool features are a 64-color LED ambient lighting feature and a cabin fragrance system with 4 aromas you can choose from.  The perfume is stored in the glove box.

Standard Equipment and Options

The standard equipment list is long, but big items include keyless entry, pushbutton start, Bluetooth, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and one of the better rear cameras I have seen.  When you put the E400 in reverse, the 3-point star on the trunk raises for the camera view.

This car has over $17,000 in options.  The Lunar Blue paint and designo wood account for about $2000 of that.  The three major options are the Airbody controlled suspension system which firms up the car in corners, and softens the ride on rough roads.  This costs $1900. The second runs $9350 for the Premium 3 package.  Notable in it is park assist, wireless phone charger, Burmeister sound system, lane change assist, emergency stop assist, blind spot monitoring, evasive steering assist, and a head-up display with speed limit sign recognition.  One note on the head-up display, it is exceptional.  It reads the speed limit sign and puts it next to your actual speed.  If you go over the limit, it flashes at you for a moment.  Finally, the AMG package is $2500. 

Other options are soft-close doors at $550, the wheels are $500, and the climate controlled seats run $450.

This roadster handles great, is quiet inside especially for a convertible, and it is extremely safe and full of technology.  It even has a pop-up roll bar in the event of rollover.

What You'll Pay

This car is rated at 20 miles per gallon in town, 25 on the highway, and 22 overall.  Total MSRP on my tester the way it is equipped is $87,415.  That is a lot of money, but this is a lot of car that you’ll love every time you get behind the wheel.