Mercedes-AMG CLE53 Cabriolet: The Good and the Bad

These days, convertibles are a rare breed, let alone convertibles with actual performance to boot. Most of them died decades ago, never to be seen again. The 2025 Mercedes-AMG CLE53 Cabriolet, then, is one of the last examples of a dying breed.

The CLE53 has all the qualities that make a mid-range AMG great: A silky smooth engine, excellent cornering abilities, and a luxurious cabin loaded with technology. Add to that unlimited headroom, and Mercedes-AMG managed to produce a genuinely fun, open-top performance car. Not many automakers can say they still have one of those.

The Good

Photo by: Jeff Perez / Motor1

Lovely Powertrain
Excellent Cornering Abilities
Premium Cabin
No Roof

Convertible or not, the CLE53’s powertrain is sublime. The turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six mild-hybrid setup makes 443 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque, which sends the sporty convertible to 60 miles per hour in a respectable 4.4 seconds (or 4.2 seconds with the optional Race Start package, which includes launch control). The top speed is limited to 155 mph. It’s managed via a nine-speed automatic transmission, and power is sent to all four wheels.

It’s a punchy setup. The CLE53 Cab rips off the line and races to 60 with impressive acceleration. There’s an immediate burst of torque from the mild-hybrid setup, while the inline-six is sumptuously smooth up to redline. The nine-speed shifts quickly, responding at a moment’s notice when you tug at the paddles.

In the corners, the CLE53 exhibits excellent body control. The suspension is tight and the steering is quick; Mercedes added a good bit of extra rigidity to the chassis to make up for the lost roof, and it works wonders.

Photo by: Jeff Perez / Motor1

Photo by: Jeff Perez / Motor1

If you’ve been in any modern Mercedes, the CLE53’s cabin should look familiar. There’s a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster ahead of the steering wheel and an 11.9-inch touchscreen on the dash, both running the latest version of the brand’s MBUX software. No Hyperscreen, thankfully.

One thing you’ll get in the CLE53 Cabrio that you won’t find in any of Benz’s hardtops is the ability to tilt the screen to avoid glare. The CLE53’s screen tilts at up to 40 degrees to keep your view unobstructed, even in the brightest environments. It’s a pretty neat feature.

The Bad

Photo by: Jeff Perez / Motor1

A Little Stiff
Clunky Software

For as expertly as the suspension handles tight corners, it can be a little rocky for everyday use. In either Sport or Sport+ mode, the ride stiffens up and sends more of those road imperfections to your rump. Every piece of broken pavement is transmitted to your backside; thankfully, Comfort mode tones down the ride harshness significantly.

On the infotainment side, MBUX works well enough, with a clean home screen and crisp, modern graphics. But don’t go digging too deep into the screen while driving. There are so many options that trying to access even basic functions while on the move is a dangerous task.

Otherwise, it’s hard to find fault with the CLE53 Cab. At $83,750 to start, it’s certainly not cheap, asking more than the 386-hp BMW M440i Convertible ($74,225). But the Benz is significantly less than the BMW M4 Competition droptop ($97,175). In that respect, you won’t find much better for the price.

Competitors

BMW M440i Convertible

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