The brand new Mercedes-Benz CLE Cabriolet is larger than each the C- and E-Class convertibles that it replaces. You may inform. The again seat is genuinely usable by adults, or as I came upon, completely acceptable for putting in a big baby seat. It wasn’t even laborious to put in it again there (studying the guide is a should, although, and reducing the roof is very really helpful).
Then there’s the trunk, which is in fact what I am right here to speak about. As is typical for convertibles, the CLE Cabriolet’s trunk area differs relying on whether or not the roof is up or down. On paper not less than, both state of affairs yields volumes which are larger than common: 10.4 down and 13.6 when up. The latter is healthier than fairly just a few luxurious sedans.
On the left is roof up, on the best is roof down.
You may see the partition that should be lowered earlier than reducing the roof (which you are able to do inside by way of heart console buttons or exterior the automotive by holding the important thing fob lock button). The bit dealing with the digicam right here is inflexible, nevertheless it’s related to a skinny piece of vinyl that sits beneath the folded roof.
The partition is customary working process for convertibles like this, however I’ve all the time discovered it to be a guide operation. Seize and both push or pull.
Not so the CLE Cabriolet.
As a substitute, press this button on the trunk lid. I initially thought it was an influence trunk lid button, however nope.
OK, let’s examine how a lot this sucker can maintain. As with each Baggage Check, I take advantage of two midsize curler suitcases that may have to be checked in on the airport (26 inches lengthy, 16 huge, 11 deep), two black roll-aboard suitcases that simply barely match within the overhead (24L x 15W x 10D), and one smaller inexperienced roll-aboard that matches simply (23L x 15W x 10D). I additionally embrace my spouse’s fancy in a single day bag simply to spruce issues up a bit (21L x 12W x 12D).
Beginning with the highest down.
Surprisingly, one of many greatest luggage can match beneath the partition together with one of many medium luggage. I needed to put the blue bag in first, inserting it perpendicularly so it might slide beneath the partition, earlier than swiveling it length-wise within the automotive. The smaller medium bag had no concern sliding beneath lengthwise.
To the best you possibly can see that I added one other medium bag and a really squished fancy bag only for illustrative functions. In order that’s three suitcases and the equal of a soft-sided duffel bag in a four-person convertible with the highest down. That is actually good!
Let’s examine how significantly better it will get by placing the roof and partition up.
However first, let’s point out there’s a trunk pass-through. As traditional, Mercedes makes use of little buttons on both sides of the trunk which are so significantly better than each different means you may see (particularly by way of not hampering area, as wire-based pulls do). I truly wanted to pop the seat ahead so as to set up the kid seat. As I stated, studying the guide is a should, however then it’s extremely simple.
OK, I truly present you this not due to the pass-through itself, however due to the opening threshold.
It is mainly the dimensions of fancy bag! Ergo, we simply acquired some bonus area right here. I’d not have been in a position to stuff this again there with the partition in place, though there’s a probability you possibly can put it right here after which decrease the partition afterward. I do not know, did not strive. Let me know when you personal each a CLE Cabriolet and a Samantha Brown QVC in a single day bag and need to give it a whirl.
With fancy bag stuffed again there, that is in actual fact all my luggage minus the larger blue one. Once more, wow!
This successfully matches the Cadillac CT4 and CT5, and betters the Alfa Romeo Giulia and Genesis G70. Now, that 13.6-cubic-foot determine is definitely larger than what’s printed for the C-Class, however that may match all my luggage, so I do not know what is going on on with its official measurement of 12.6 cubic-feet.
As for convertibles, it in all probability will not shock you that I have not examined many through the years. They do not even get their very own class in my Baggage Check Mega Roundup. They’re lumped into “Different” together with Honda Ridgelines and Mercedes Sprinters. In actual fact, that is solely the third two-row convertible I’ve examined (not counting the Wrangler and Bronco).
Nonetheless, the CLE Cabriolet is the brand new Convertible Automobile Baggage Check Champion! The statuette is within the mail to Stuttgart as you learn this. The CLE’s bag quantity with the roof and down smokes the 4 Collection Convertible and laughs on the Lexus LC 500. Hell, the two-door Ford Bronco is not that significantly better.
So very thrilling. However there’s extra!
The CLE Cab even has the fold-up little field beneath the trunk ground that you simply’d discover in Mercedes sedans. OK, now that is simply too thrilling. I will want to chill off.