Road Test: 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE 450 4MATIC Cabriolet

There are days when a car feels like the right tool for the job. and then there are days when the car becomes the day itself. The 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE 450 4MATIC Cabriolet falls firmly into the latter category. On a crisp fall morning in Port Colborne, with Lake Erie still shaking off the last of its fog, the CLE 450 sat waiting in Spectral Blue Metallic paint, looking every bit the modern grand tourer Mercedes intended it to be.

2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE 450 4M Cabriolet promised refinement and indulgence in equal measure. The plan was simple: drop the soft top, point the long nose east, and follow the lakeshore roads toward Dunnville; a route made for convertibles and unhurried storytelling.

A New Chapter in Open-Air Luxury

The CLE replaces both the C-Class and E-Class convertibles in the Mercedes lineup, and from the moment you slide into the Macchiato Beige ARTICO man-made leather seats, it’s clear the brand took the best elements from both predecessors. The cabin blends modern minimalism with timeless craftsmanship: flowing black wood trim, the Burmester Surround Sound upgrade, and the crisp digital displays that frame the driver’s view.

Top down, the morning air immediately becomes part of the experience. The car’s Aircap wind deflector and subtle cabin aerodynamics make conversation easy, even at speed. And when the temperature dips, Mercedes’ familiar Airscarf neck warmers turn shoulder-season drives into something you look forward to rather than tolerate.

From The Lake to the River: On the Road

Leaving Port Colborne on Highway 3, the CLE 450 quickly reveals its personality. It’s athletic, but not frantic; the mark of a grand tourer rather than a sports car. The 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six is one of Mercedes’ best engines: velvety, confident, and paired with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system that adds instant torque and seamless stop-start operation. Combined output is 375 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque from the engine, plus an electric boost of up to 23 horsepower and 148 pound-feet when needed from the integrated starter generator.

Acceleration to 100 km/h takes 4.2 seconds; quick enough to make straightaways memorable, but not so aggressive that it undermines the ride quality. Passing slower traffic between Wainfleet and Lowbanks requires nothing more than a flex of your right ankle.

The 9G-TRONIC transmission deserves special mention. It shifts invisibly in Comfort mode, but when you select Sport or Sport+, it sharpens without sacrificing the car’s natural smoothness. Mercedes tuning is about balance, and the CLE 450 demonstrates it mile after mile.

Handling the Curves

The route along Lakeshore Road offers a series of relaxed bends, and the CLE settles into them with assurance. Despite its size, the cabriolet never feels cumbersome. With standard 4MATIC all-wheel drive and the optional 20-inch AMG multi-spoke wheels, steering is direct and predictable. Even with the large wheels, the suspension doesn’t crash or complain over rougher county pavement.

The Night Package’s darkened accents pair beautifully with the blue paint, giving the CLE a slightly more assertive look without veering into ostentation. From the outside, it feels elegant. From behind the wheel, it feels composed.

As the road tightens near Rock Point Provincial Park, the car’s poise becomes even more apparent. The CLE 450 is not chasing lap times, rather it’s delivering calm confidence, even on uneven secondary roads. With the top down, the experience is immersive: the smell of lake air, the muted burble of the inline-six, and the wind swirling gently around the cabin.

The Interior: A Calm Oasis

By the time Dunnville’s welcome sign appears, the CLE 450’s interior comfort becomes the primary storyline. The multicontour seats with massage, an option well worth the $1,200, are among the best in the segment. Heated, ventilated, and shaped perfectly for long drives, they add a sense of effortless travel that few convertibles match.

The large portrait-style infotainment screen delivers crisp graphics and thoughtful interface design. Apple CarPlay works flawlessly, though Mercedes’ native navigation is equally polished. The Burmester audio upgrade is rich and expansive, particularly impressive in a cabriolet where acoustics often struggle.

There’s real trunk space too, which is not something convertibles always boast. A weekend bag or two? No problem.

Efficiency and Practicality

Despite its performance capabilities, the CLE 450 returns respectable fuel economy: 10.2 L/100 km city, 7.4 on the highway, and 8.9 combined. Our drive landed near the higher end of that range, unsurprising given the mix of spirited passing and coastal idling.

The fabric soft top raises and lowers quickly and quietly, and when up, the cabin isolation is excellent, nearly coupe-like.

Final Thoughts

Some cars are designed to impress. The 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE 450 Cabriolet is designed to remind you why you love driving. It transforms an ordinary route; Port Colborne to Dunnville, into an experience loaded with texture and emotion.

It’s quick but not brash, luxurious but not fragile, technologically advanced yet rooted in the Mercedes traditions of craftsmanship and comfort. It fills the space once occupied by two separate models, and does so with clarity of purpose.

The CLE 450 isn’t just a new chapter in Mercedes’ cabriolet story; it’s a strong argument that the age of the grand touring convertible is alive and well. And on a cool Ontario morning with the top down, that’s all the proof you need.

2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE 450 4MATIC Cabriolet
Price as Tested: $95,000
Engine: 3.0L turbocharged inline-six with 48V mild hybrid
Power: 375 hp + 23 hp (ISG)
Torque: 369 lb-ft of torque + 148 lb-ft (ISG)
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Drivetrain: 4MATIC all-wheel drive
0–100 km/h: 4.2 seconds
Fuel Economy (L/100 km): 10.2 city / 7.4 highway / 8.9 combined
Top Speed: 210 km/h (limited)
Competition: Audi A5 Cabriolet, BMW 4 Series Convertible, Ford Mustang Convertible, Lexus RC
Website: Mercedes-Benz Canada

AT THE WHEEL

From the Lake Erie Shoreline, Ontario

A cool fall breeze rolled in off Lake Erie as the CLE 450 and I cruised the quiet stretch between Wainfleet and Dunnville. With the top down and the Airscarf warming my shoulders, the drive became less about speed and more about sensation; the sound of the inline-six, the faint smell of woodsmoke from nearby farms, and that unmistakable coastal calm. It’s the kind of Ontario drive that rewards you for slowing down and letting the scenery set the tone. Some cars simply take you from A to B. This one invites you to savour the journey.