Mercedes-Benz is aiming to please sunseekers with the 2025 Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Cabriolet. More power and sharper styling make this droptop a rockstar.
Mercedes is attempting to satiate sunseekers with the 2025 Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Cabriolet
Mercedes-Benz is out to show that performance can come in all shapes and sizes. While EVs and performance SUVs have hogged much of the spotlight these days, it can be easy to forget that the company also offers souped-up droptops that can add some extra spice to your commute up and down the coast.
That includes the 2025 Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Cabriolet which adds more power, style, and fun to an established performance formula that’s attempting to still stand out in a rapidly evolving performance vehicle market.
CLE 53 chops the top but still shares link to coupe model
Styling is largely shared with the CLE coupe
At first glance, the bulk of the styling here on the 2025 CLE 53 Cabriolet mirrors its coupe counterpart with the front end largely getting the same exterior changes including a revised front bumper with larger air intakes, wider fenders, and a slightly wider track. However, a prominent exception is that it does not get the hood-mounted air vent seen in the coupe but we expect a lot of buyers will not notice that missing detail.
Instead, we suspect the majority of them will quickly lower the fabric-lined top and soak in the sunshine. Mercedes says that the switch to a fabric top is an attempt to reduce weight and the folding roof is accompanied by the company’s Aircap wind-diverting system in the windshield and the Airscarf vents in the seatbacks.
The rest of the interior is lifted from the coupe with faux leather and microsuede sport seats standard on all models. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster is also standard and it’s joined by a slightly smaller 11.9-inch infotainment screen that can be adjusted to help reduce glare. Buyers can also go for optional leather seats that have a special coating to help prevent them from becoming too hot in intense sunlight.
Performance still mixes power with efficiency
Hybrid power helps give the cabriolet serious performance
Performance for the CLE 53 AMG Cabriolet is also shared with the coupe and all models get the familiar 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six that makes 443 hp and is mated to a mild-hybrid system that features an integrated electric motor that helps provide extra power at low speeds while also providing juice to the 48-volt hybrid system. The hybrid system is also supposed to increase fuel economy, but Mercedes didn’t reveal final mileage numbers.
A nine-speed automatic and all-wheel drive are also standard and handling is sharpened with the addition of a four-wheel steering system. These upgrades help the cabriolet make tracks on the pavement with Mercedes saying that the droptop can make the sprint to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds with that figure dipping to 4.1 seconds when Overboost is active. That’s close to the coupe’s figures but like other convertibles, the Cabriolet’s extra weight does hold it back a bit in that regard.
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CLE 53 Cabriolet will be flagship model
CLE 53 Cabriolet interior blends sport with luxury and technology
The German automaker also didn’t reveal pricing, but the Cabriolet will emerge as the flagship model in the CLE family when it makes its way to dealerships later this year. As a result, look for the base price to be higher than the coupe with a fully optioned Cabriolet potentially going over the $100,000 barrier.
That’s alot of money, but with the amount of fun, comfort, and, technology that you get here in the Cabriolet, we suspect that most buyers won’t mind the premium especially as they take in all the amenities that this droptop has to offer.
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