2025 Mercedes-AMG CLE53 Cabriolet First (American) Drive: Hold Onto Your Hat!

It’s almost shocking to think Mercedes-AMG now offers just two convertible models—the SL63 and the all-new 2025 AMG CLE 53 Cabriolet. For a marque that’s long balanced luxury with high-performance drop-tops, the lineup feels lean. But as any enthusiast knows, chopping off a car’s roof isn’t just about open-air thrills—it fundamentally alters the vehicle’s rigidity, handling, and ride dynamics. And no one wants an AMG car that feels anything less than razor sharp.

Not long ago, Mercedes-AMG’s stable included the tire-shredding E63 Cabriolet and the C63 S Cabriolet, both packing an unmistakable V-8 growl. But when those offerings received their face-lifts a couple of years ago, the open-air Cabriolet variants disappeared along with their thunderous eight-cylinder heartbeats. Now, though, Mercedes has consolidated its coupe and convertible lineup under the new CLE nameplate, bridging the gap between the C-Class and E-Class two-doors. With it comes the return of Affalterbach’s magic touch, this time wrapped around a turbocharged inline-six engine. It’s different, but history has proven AMG knows how to make even a downsized powertrain deliver spine-tingling performance.

There are plenty of places where a high-horsepower convertible feels right at home, and Miami is one of them. Cruising through South Florida’s most exclusive neighborhoods, the 2025 Mercedes-AMG CLE53 Cabriolet turned loads of heads, as its sleek design and aggressive stance demanded attention. While Miami’s stop-and-go traffic didn’t provide the perfect opportunity to unleash the car’s full 443 hp, we did feel its refined ride quality and hear its lively exhaust sound. Even at low speeds, the new CLE53 Cabriolet delivers the kind of presence and panache that make top-down driving a memorable, unique experience.

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Going Topless

In flawless 80-degree weather, our open-air route in the AMG53 CLE Cabriolet took us through some of the city’s most exclusive neighborhoods, from the high-rise luxury of Brickell—where Mercedes is building a stunning 67-story tower packed with apartments, office spaces, and a hotel—to the lush, tree-lined streets of Coconut Grove, where dense canopies create a tropical driving paradise.

We kept the top down for most of the drive, relying on Mercedes’ clever Aircap system to keep the cabin comfortable. This system, which features a retractable spoiler atop the windshield and a second deflector behind the rear headrests, redirects airflow, reducing turbulence for a more serene open-air experience. Some breeze inevitably finds its way in, but the system does its job well.

Like other Mercedes convertibles, the new CLE53 Cabriolet is only available with a soft top, which can be lowered or closed in 20 seconds at speeds up to 37 mph. That’s quick enough for most urban environments; in a place like Miami, low speed limits and heavy traffic mean you rarely push much faster than that anyway.

If the weather takes a turn and you need to drive with the top up, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how quiet the cabin is when closed. Thanks to a multilayered fabric roof designed to keep exterior noise at bay, we could hold a conversation without having to raise our voices significantly. Mercedes offers the soft top in black, red, or gray, adding a level of customization so owners can tailor their CLE Cabriolet to their personal tastes.

In addition to Aircap, Mercedes offers Airscarf to further increase top-down comfort. The system channels warm air through headrest vents to keep your neck and shoulders toasty when the top is down. Miami’s balmy climate hardly calls for it, but this feature is a game-changer elsewhere, such as Los Angeles during winter, where crisp coastal mornings and evening canyon drives make Airscarf a welcome luxury, open-air motoring, Airscarf ensures your convertible season lasts for as long as you want it to.

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Familiar Design, Familiar Cabin

Like the latest Mercedes models, the AMG CLE53 Cabriolet embraces a classic luxury ethos, delivering opulence without being ostentatious. Its cabin exudes refinement, seamlessly integrating advanced technology into a sleek well-appointed interior. Slide into the driver’s seat and a seatbelt extender automatically brings the belt closer to your shoulder, eliminating the awkward reach typical of two-door cars.

Front and center is the familiar 11.9-inch touchscreen running Mercedes’ MBUX infotainment system, which includes voice controls activated by the phrase, “Hey, Mercedes.” While the system is designed to enhance convenience, we did trigger it a few times unintentionally just by mentioning “Mercedes” in conversation. A quick “Cancel” command shuts it down, but it’s something that happens more often than we’d like.

Tech-wise, there’s everything you need. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard along with built-in navigation, ensuring you stay connected and on course, whether cruising city streets or coastal highways.

The CLE53 Cabriolet comes standard with a Burmester 3D surround sound system; blasting house music through its speakers while cruising top-down in Miami only amplified the experience. The audio’s clarity, depth, and punch made every moment of the drive feel like a private concert under the sun.

Optional leather seating is another thoughtful touch, especially as it is designed to stay cool under direct sunlight. Mercedes claims the leather’s unique coating keeps the seats cooler than by up to 23 degrees Fahrenheit, and while we didn’t break out a thermometer to verify, we certainly didn’t find ourselves jumping off scalding-hot seats after extended top-down driving.

One minor unrelated drawback: The sun’s glare occasionally made it difficult to see the infotainment screen. Fortunately, Mercedes anticipated this issue—the screen tilts slightly at the push of a button, making it easier to read in bright conditions. Small details like these showcase the brand’s attention to real-world usability, ensuring the CLE53 Cabriolet is just as enjoyable in the sun as it is in the shade.

As with any coupe or convertible, the car comes with a few compromises. The back seat, while usable, isn’t exactly a first-class experience—legroom and headroom are tight, making it best suited for shorter trips or smaller passengers. As for trunk space and unlike some convertibles that maintain a fixed cargo area regardless of the top’s position, the CLE Cabriolet’s storage capacity fluctuates. With the roof up, you get a respectable 13.6 cubic feet of space, but drop the top and that shrinks to 10.4 cubic feet as the soft panel folds into its compartment. If you plan a weekend getaway or need to haul more than a few bags, your best bet is to stash extra cargo in the back seat and enjoy the open-air drive without worrying about a cramped trunk.

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The Drive

We’ll reserve our full driving impressions for when we can spend more time behind the wheel of the Mercedes-AMG CLE53 Cabriolet, as Miami’s heavy traffic didn’t allow us to push it the way a proper AMG deserves. That said, our initial experience with its 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six mild-hybrid powertrain left a strong first impression. With 443 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque on tap, the CLE53 is punchy off the line, delivering effortless acceleration for freeway entrances and quick overtakes.

The mild-hybrid system enhances the powertrain’s low-end responsiveness, providing a smooth yet brisk rollout without any abrupt jolts. Paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, the overall performance feels well-calibrated, delivering seamless shifts and refined behavior even at low speeds. From what we sampled, the new CLE Cabriolet carries the AMG badge with confidence—now we just need an open road to see what it’s truly capable of.

The standard AMG Ride Control suspension gives the CLE53 Cabriolet flexibility to tailor its damping to your preference, adjusting shock rates on the fly. Given Miami’s traffic and road conditions, we kept it in Comfort mode for a plush, relaxed ride, but Sport, Sport+, or Race are available for those looking for a sharper, more dynamic, rear-drive setup.

To enhance maneuverability, the car comes equipped with rear-axle steering, allowing the rear wheels to turn up to 2.5 degrees. At 191 inches long, the CLE isn’t exactly compact, but this feature makes a noticeable difference. Whether squeezing into tight parking spots or tackling winding roads, the rear steering helps shrink the car’s footprint, improving both low-speed agility and high-speed stability. It’s the kind of engineering touch that makes everyday driving feel more effortless—without sacrificing the AMG spirit.

Last year, we attended the international press launch of the Mercedes-AMG CLE53 Cabriolet in Spain, where we got to drive it harder than in Miami. "The more you drive it, the more you realize this isn’t a hardcore driving machine, even in its raciest drive modes," buyer's guide director Zach Gale wrote in his review. "Luxury comes first in the CLE lineup, but the CLE53 Cabriolet does have a satisfyingly sporty edge. Still, comfort and isolation are higher priorities in this car, whose personality shifts depending on the drive mode and specification of the model you’re driving." Perhaps Mercedes is saving sportier dynamics for a CLE63 with a V-8 (hopefully?), though nothing is confirmed right now.

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Is It Worth It?

With a starting price of $83,750, the 2025 Mercedes-AMG CLE53 Cabriolet is far from an entry-level luxury convertible, but its wealth of standard features makes it a compelling package. From its gutsy turbocharged inline-six hybrid powertrain to its advanced tech and comfort-focused amenities, this performance convertible delivers a well-rounded experience that blends AMG’s signature capability with everyday usability.

Interestingly, this car costs only about $5,000 more than the priciest non-AMG CLE Cabriolet, making the upgrade to Affalterbach engineering an easy justification for those who want extra power. For buyers looking to combine luxury, performance, and top-down thrills, the 2025 Mercedes-AMG CLE53 Cabriolet makes a strong case for itself.