2009 Mercedes-Benz CLK550 Cabriolet Montrose CO

November 20, 2009   By Brian Alexander, Content Editor



2009 Mercedes-Benz
CLK-Class

DriverSide Overview
The modern four-seat luxury convertible is tasked with making sense of a tricky balance. Not only must it partially capture the aesthetic allure of the two-seat roadster, it must do so while maintaining the usability and spacious interior of a larger coupe. That’s no easy feat because, no matter how you mash them together, eventually something’s got to give. But the 2009 CLK550 Cabriolet from Mercedes-Benz makes the best of the situation, maintaining typical coupe sophistication while successfully infusing the top-down flair typically reserved for the roadster experience. Overall though, it’s a car that’s best enjoyed in a relaxed rather than spirited manner, and truly rewards on longer drives due to its comfortable, ergonomic cabin and the flat-out grunt offered up by the 5.5-liter V-8 engine. If you’re looking for less power at a lower price point, it’s nice to know there’s also a more affordable V-6 engine on offer.








What's to Like
There’s no replacement for the low-down grunt provided by a big V-8, and with peak torque coming at just 2,800 rpm, the CLK550 feels potent at any speed. Despite the continued use of a soft-top roof, wind noise isn’t an issue in the CLK. In fact, it’s downright quiet inside. A solid list of options accompanies the CLK550 standard, though the CLK350 might leave you checking a few extra boxes.

What's Not to Like
Like most convertibles, trunk space is limited, though we’ve certainly seen much worse. The backseat isn’t very useful for adults, but it’s a nice option when you’ve got some extra cargo, and children aren’t likely to have legroom issues. Not only is navigation not included as standard (it arguably should be at this price), its also unapologetically last-generation technology. Not typical Mercedes-Benz.

The Drive:
DriverSide Driving Impressions
The CLK550 Cabriolet works best as a point-to-point vehicle. Get in, put the top down, eat up huge chunks of mileage in total comfort. While it doesn’t have the weapons-grade aural splendor of Mercedes-Benz’s AMG offerings, it makes a suitably throaty sound and we’d hardly consider it a slouch – 0-60 is dispatched in a mere 5.2 seconds. Not bad for a car banging on the two-ton mark. But on a back road, the CLK isn’t a car you attack hairpins with. The steering is a bit wooly and the chassis too soft (like most convertibles), so it’s at its best when driven enthusiastically, not at qualifying pace. You won’t be disappointed when you’re forced to put the top up either, as road and wind noise are surprisingly absent from the experience.

Engine and Drivetrain
The CLK350 Cabriolet gets its power from a 3.5-liter V-6 engine, which makes 268 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. While tho...

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