2022 Mercedes-AMG C63 Cabriolet

Mercedes-AMG has produced some killer supercars of late, but we sometimes feel that the brand's less powerful drop-tops get overlooked, and a case in point is the 2022 Mercedes-AMG C63 S Cabriolet. Sure, these convertibles add a bit of weight and they might not be so tight in the corners, but the act of losing the roof adds a ton of pleasure to the driving experience, and isn't that what sports cars are all about? The 2022 C63 S Cabriolet remains mostly unchanged for the new year, but we do lose the normal 63 derivative, meaning the end of the 469-hp model. You still get the 503-hp S with its sublime 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine, along with interior and exterior styling that will melt the heart of anyone that has one. The C63 S Cabrio goes up against traditional foes such as the brand-new BMW M4 Convertible.

The hardtop C63 S is already a stunner of a car, but the Cabriolet is arguably even better looking, especially with the top down. Mercedes-AMG has given this car an aggressive look thanks to a set of 19-inch AMG twin five-spoke wheels and an AMG body kit that includes a vertical-bar AMG grille, sculpted side sills, and four trapezoidal AMG exhaust outlets at the back. Mercedes-AMG also offers an AMG Night Package, which adds deep Gloss Black accents to the side mirrors, side-sill inserts, and rear diffuser.

The Mercedes-AMG C63 S Convertible measures in with an overall length of 187.1 inches and is 79.4 inches wide when you include the side mirrors or 73.9 inches without them. The overall height for the fairly compact AMG C63 S Convertible is 55.3 inches. Track width in the front is 64.4 inches and 62.7 inches in the rear. The two-door C63 S Cabriolet rolls on a 111.8-inch wheelbase and tips the scales at a hefty 4,277 pounds.

This car's biggest party trick isn't the fact that it can lose its head but that it can snap your neck. Under the hood of the 2022 Mercedes-AMG C63 S Cabriolet lies a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine that produces a tasty 503 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. Gone is last year's non-S 469-hp/479-lb-ft unit. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a nine-speed automatic transmission. With so much power on tap, the C63 S Cabriolet accelerates effortlessly and feels indecently fast when you keep your foot in it. All that low-down torque also makes for a relaxed city driving experience and there is always enough power when you need it. The C63 Cabriolet will do the 0-60 sprint in 3.9 seconds, on to a top speed of 180 mph. The nine-speed transmission is on par with modern autos but not as sharp as a true DCT.

The coupe impressed us with its razor-sharp handling, and the good news is that we found much of the same was apparent in our AMG C63 S Cabriolet review. This car still handles like it's on rails. The C63 S Cabriolet comes standard with AMG Ride Control Sport Suspension with three-stage damping and the AMG Dynamic Select driving modes, which gives you a wide range of driving configurations. You also get access to a Race mode that is tuned for use on a track and reduces the intervention of the car's electronic systems. The AMG Drive Unit is standard too, with its steering-wheel-mounted control to switch between modes quickly, as is dynamic engine mounts. Scuttle shake is virtually absent from the cabin of the compact convertible, but the ride can get jarring when the car is being driven in its sportier settings. With the large wheels, the C63 S Cabriolet can become unsettled at lower speeds. We recommend having it in comfort mode the majority of the time.

When you stick two turbochargers onto a high-performance V8 engine, you can expect awesome power figures and disgusting fuel consumption numbers. Mercedes-AMG has managed to keep the C63 S Cabriolet civilized enough in this category: It will return a respectable 17/25/20 mpg on the city/highway/combined cycle. That combined figure is guaranteed to end up in the teens when you spend most of your time in the city or suburbia. With a 17.4-gallon tank of premium gas onboard, the C63 S Cabriolet should see a max range of 348 miles.

Yes, this might be a topless muscle car, but it is still a Mercedes, and for that reason, the 4-seater C63 S Cabriolet offers one of the best looking interiors amongst its competitors. Not only does it look great, but the 2-door cabrio will seat four adults in comfort. In the front, the 42 inches of legroom should be enough for six-footers and above. Things naturally get a lot tight in the back, but the space is still usable: with 32 inches of legroom, smaller comrades will be able to remain comfortable for short journeys. The sport seats in the front are heated and feature 14-way power adjustability with memory; they are also covered in Nappa leather.

Anyone interested in a C63 Cabriolet will not care much about cargo space or practicality in general, but that is not to say you can't live with the C63 Cabriolet daily; you just won't be able to carry much stuff. The C63 Cabriolet offers 8.8 cubic feet of trunk space where the top is up. This is enough space for a small trip to the shops or one large and one small suitcase. The rear seats also split 50/50 for even more practicality. The new BMW M4 Convertible offers 10.6 cubes of trunk space. The closest thing that Audi has to this is the S5 Cabriolet with its trunk measuring a smaller 7.3 cubes. Inside the cabin, the C63 offers a glovebox, a center console storage bin, and a small nook in front of the shifter. Those in the back get a fold-out armrest.

You get what you pay for, as they say, and in the 2022 C63 S Cabriolet, you get quite a lot. This drop-top features 14-way power-adjustable and heated front seats, an Airscarf neck heating system and Aircap, a system which cocoons occupants in what is essentially an air bubble. You also get dual-zone automatic climate control, remote start, a 64-color ambient interior lighting system, a power soft top, a garage door opener, and driver assistance features such as Adaptive Highbeam Assist, active brake assist, attention assist, and blind-spot warning with exit warning assist. The exterior also features LED headlights, power-folding mirrors, and an illuminated entry system.

A 12.3-inch digital driver's display is standard and is complemented by a 10.25-inch central color display. Graphics for both screens are crisp, but some might find the system a bit too complicated to use. The driver can access the screen menus via the console controller or right touch control buttons on the steering wheel. This system includes all the contemporary features you'd expect from a car in this class, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, a 13-speaker Burmester sound system with a FrontBass system, Bluetooth streaming, dual USB audio ports, HD Radio, and SiriusXM radio. AMG Track Pace is optionally available as an easy way to record and store performance data, while wireless charging is also on offer.

The 2021 Mercedes-AMG C63 Cabriolet was recalled four times - for a malfunction with the vehicle location for emergency services, an issue with the front seatbelts which may not fully retract, improperly installed rear headrests, and faulty front-seat position switches. There have been no recalls for the 2022 model yet.

Mercedes-AMG will cover the C63 Cabriolet with a four-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, including corrosion cover, a drivetrain warranty, and roadside assistance for the same time period and mileage.

The high price of the 2022 AMG C63 S Convertible means that like most other sports cars, it hasn't been sent for a safety review by the NHTSA or IIHS, so, unfortunately, there is no official crash safety rating available for this vehicle. On the other hand, its cousin, the C-Class Sedan, is one of the safer cars on the road and has placed close to the top on both the IIHS and NHTSA rankings.

The new AMG C63 S Cabriolet includes safety features such as ten airbags - including front knee airbags and side airbags for all outboard occupants - adaptive automatic high beams, crosswind assist, blind-spot warning, a rearview camera, attention assist, and active brake assist. The optional Driver Assistance Package adds features such as active steering assist, adaptive cruise control, and evasive steering assist for $1,700.

Mercedes-AMG has been building some of the best performance cars the world has ever seen in recent years, and while most focus on the hardcore hardtop versions, the cabriolets are just as good. The C63 S Cabriolet manages to strike an outstanding balance between being a laid back drop-top and a capable sports car thanks to its relatively compact dimensions and sorted chassis. This car is a force to be reckoned with and will surprise many dedicated sports cars on the road. Its engine is simply phenomenal, and there is always power on tap as long as you ignore the fuel bills. While not as dynamic as a BMW M4, the handling is sharp and still offers good feedback. On the interior side of things, very little beats the C63 S Cabriolet. The cabin is beautifully put together and feels genuinely luxurious. The C63 Cabrio is surprisingly practical and will haul four people and a good amount of stuff with ease. It's pretty, it's fast, and it can lose its top. Awesome.

You no longer have two options like you did last year. Gone is the base model C63 Cabriolet and all that's left is the C63 S Cabrio. The catch is that the S adds quite a few dollars to the base price tag and comes in with an MSRP in the US of $87,100 excluding tax, registration, and a destination fee of $1,050. To drop 0.1 seconds off your 0-60 sprint time and add an "S" logo to your behind, many won't consider it good value, but that's your lot. To put this price into perspective, the C43 Cabriolet will cost you $67,000, and the larger but less powerful E53 Cabriolet will set you back $84,350. The all-new BMW M4 Competition xDrive Convertible is one of the most exciting drop-tops for sale in the USA and starts at $86,300.

Considering that this car will rarely, if ever, see a track, it doesn't make sense to spend the extra money on the slightly more powerful C63 S. Last year, we said we would rather spend that extra money on extra options on the base model, yet the S is the only model that remains this year and your sole option. With 503 hp and a ton of torque on offer, the C63 S Cabrio offers more power than most will ever be able to exploit fully on public roads, and it does so while carting its occupants around in extreme luxury. We would spend extra on the $1,700 Driver Assistance Package, which adds features such as active steering assist and evasive steering assist. We'd also splurge on the head-up display and nothing more to cap the price at a whisker below $90,000. This would perfectly round off a car that already offers standard LED headlights, dual-zone climate control, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto integration, auto adaptive high beams, power seats, and more.

Trying to figure out the Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-AMG lineup of cars can get seriously confusing, but all you need to know for this comparison is that 43 is less than 63, which means less power and a lower asking price. These cars are based on the same platform, share similar dimensions, and offer the same type of interior experience and build quality, but the most significant differences are under the skin. The C43 Cabrio is powered by a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 engine that produces 385 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque. That is 118 less horsepower and 132 lb-ft less torque. Another big difference is the fact that the C43 Cabrio sends its power to all four wheels via the brand's 4Matic system, instead of just the rears in the C63 Cabrio. The C43 is still blisteringly fast and should be more than a handful for the everyday driver. If you're power-hungry, the C63 S is the way to go, but if you're just looking for some "cheap" casual fun, the C43 Cabriolet is the one to go for.

The E53 Cabriolet sits above the C63 Cabriolet in the AMG lineup. It's bigger and has a more expensive price tag. The E53 drop-top is a physically larger car and rolls on a 113.1-inch wheelbase, while weighing over 300 pounds more. Under the hood, this executive muscle car packs a 3.0-liter turbocharged straight-six that produces 429 hp and 384 lb-ft. Its party trick is an electric motor that adds another 21 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. This virtually eliminates turbo lag and makes this battleship feel faster than the numbers suggest. The official 0-60 sprint takes 4.4 seconds, and this car will top out at 155 mph. The E53's tech specs are better, as it uses the more up-to-date MBUX system. It also offers more space and a larger trunk. The E53 Cabriolet starts at $84,350 and should be your choice if you enjoy a more laid-back cruise.