2017 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Cabriolet: First Look

Competes with: Audi A5/S5 Cabriolet and BMW 4 Series Convertible

Looks like: A baby S-Class Cabriolet

Drivetrain: 241-horsepower, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (C300) or 362-hp, twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 (C43 AMG) with nine-speed automatic transmission; rear- or all-wheel drive

Hits dealerships: Late summer 2016 (C300), Fall 2016 (C43 AMG)

CARS.COM — Mercedes’ compact luxury car gets a new body style for the 2017 model year with the launch of the Cabriolet model at the Geneva Motor Show. It’s the first convertible for the C-Class lineup and it comes in two forms: the C300 with a turbo four-cylinder engine and the C43 AMG with a twin-turbo V-6. The C300 arrives at dealerships in late summer and will be followed by the C43 AMG in the fall.

Related: More 2016 Geneva Motor Show Coverage

Exterior

The smooth surfaces and sweeping bodyside lines that are showing up on the majority of Mercedes’ newly redesigned cars are visible on the C-Class Cabriolet. With its soft-top up, the convertible does a decent imitation of the new C-Class coupe thanks in part to the top’s graceful roofline. The dimensions of the coupe and Cabriolet are nearly identical.

Mercedes says the C-Class Cabriolet’s fully automatic soft-top opens or closes in less than 20 seconds and is operable at speeds up to 31 mph. A black top is standard but dark brown, dark blue and dark red tops are available.

Standard C300 features include LED headlights and 18-inch wheels. An optional Sport Package includes a sport suspension, larger front brakes, AMG-style bumpers and side sills, 18-inch AMG-style light-alloy wheels, a flat-bottom steering wheel and AMG sport pedals. 

Interior

The C-Class sedan’s design theme carries over to the Cabriolet, and you should expect the same kind of high-quality materials that are in the four-door model. Mercedes’ Airscarf neck-level heating system, heated front seats and an air conditioning system that adapts based on whether the roof is closed or open are standard.

Available features include heat-reflecting leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, a head-up display, Mercedes’ Aircap system that’s designed to reduce top-down cabin turbulence, a Burmester premium stereo and Comand Online. Comand Online includes a larger 8.4-inch dashboard screen, navigation and Wi-Fi hot spot capability.

Under the Hood

The C300 is powered by a 241-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine while the C43 AMG gets a 362-hp, twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6. Both engines work with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The C300 is available with rear- or all-wheel drive, but all C43 AMGs have all-wheel drive.

The C300 offers a standard suspension, a sport suspension or an air suspension. The C43 AMG comes with the adaptive AMG Ride Control sport suspension and features stiffer steering knuckles and more negative front camber for better cornering, according to Mercedes. A performance exhaust is optional for the C43 AMG.

Safety

Standard features include Mercedes’ Attention Assist driver-drowsiness monitor, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind spot warning, a backup camera, pop-up roll bars behind the rear seats and upward-deploying side curtain airbags in the front doors.

The optional Driving Assistance Package adds adaptive cruise control with steering assist, pedestrian recognition with automatic braking and lane departure prevention. Also available are a surround-view camera system and adaptive high-beam headlights.