Review and photos by
Jil McIntosh, CanadianDriver.com

Although I’m very fond of the C-Class sedan – and it’s the furthest my budget could possibly stretch into the German automaker’s offerings – I’ve always thought of the E-Class as being the “quintessential Mercedes.” Large but not unwieldy, elegant yet modern, it’s simply a big, beautiful Benz. For 2011, it reaches out to even more people with the addition of three new models: a new station wagon, diesel-powered sedan and my tester, the E-Class Cabriolet. Any car where the roof goes down is a fine one in my books, but in almost all aspects, this one takes it a bit beyond.

2011 Mercedes-Benz E350 Cabriolet

Two powertrains are available, and mine was the E350, which uses a 3.5-litre V6 and, like all E-Class models, a seven-speed automatic transmission. It starts at $67,900; for $77,500, you can move up to the E550, powered by a 5.5-litre V8. Both come with a fully automatic soft folding roof – something that, after a flurry of retractable hardtops, seems to be making a comeback. It has much to do with weight, especially given the pressure on automakers to reduce their overall fuel consumption and the direct link between vehicle weight and vehicle thirst, as well as rear-passenger and trunk room. (more…)