The 4 Best Luxury Convertibles Under $100,000

They may not the most practical of vehicles, but there’s still a romance to the convertible, or, as our European friends sometimes refer to it, the cabriolet. Who doesn’t want to feel the sun on their skin and the wind through their hair once the weather starts to warm up? The convertible has evolved over the decades and is now good for more than just weekend fun (though that remains what they are best for). This is especially true of the current class of luxury options that each feature cushy interiors, more reliable soft tops, and potent powertrains that make them better suited to everyday driving.

Unfortunately, following the discontinuation of the Audi A5 and S5 Cabriolet, there are only four luxury convertibles to choose from under $100,000, and they’re all made by either BMW or Mercedes-Benz (the excellent Lexus LC is just a tad too expensive). With that in mind, here are four convertibles you won’t want to retire come summer’s end.

More from Robb Report

• How the Brilliant, Simple BMW 2002 Changed the Marque Forever

• A Collection of Classic BMWs Was Smashed Up by a Wandering Moose in Sweden

• Brabus Just Turned the Mercedes-AMG S-Class Into a 985 HP Sedan

Our Best Luxury Convertibles Under $100,000 Picks:

—Best Overall: Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Cabriolet
—Most Traditional: BMW 4 Series Convertible
—Best Sports Car Alternative: BMW M4 Convertible
—Best Interior Features: Mercedes-Benz CLE Cabriolet

Best of Robb Report

• The 2024 Chevy C8 Corvette: Everything We Know About the Powerful Mid-Engine Beast

• The World’s Best Superyacht Shipyards

• The ABCs of Chartering a Yacht

Sign up for RobbReports's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.

Best Overall: Mercedes-AMG CLE Cabriolet

One of the better performance luxury convertibles of recent years, the Mercedes-AMG C Series, may be no more, but it’s been replaced by better in almost every way. Last year, the German marque replace the redundant two-door C- and E-Class models with a new car, the CLE. The first AMG version of the cabriolet delivers everything you expect from the performance sub-brand including a bold design, luxury amenities and exhilarating performance. Like the sub-brand’s other models, the AMG CLE, looks more aggressive than the standard version of the car and has a driver-focused cabin covered that features a top-notch Burmester sound system. The best feature might be under the hood, though. There you’ll find a hybrid-assisted 3.0-liter inline six that makes 443 hp and 413 ft lbs of torque, enough to push the car to a top speed of 155 mph.

In Production Since: 2024
Top Powertrain Option: 3.0-liter inline six with hybrid assist
Power: 443 hp and 413 ft lbs of torque
Zero to 60 mph: 4.0 second
Top Speed: 155 mph
Starting Price: $82,600

Most Traditional: BMW 4 Series Convertible

If you dreamed of driving a convertible growing up, chances are you pictured yourself in something like the current BMW 4 Series. The car, which used to be the 3 Series Convertible, sports a pleasing (if a tad dated) exterior with an elegant and comfortable interior. The biggest surprise, though, might be how potent it is. It’s not as powerful as its M car counterpart, but the twin-turbocharged inline-six in the range-topping M440i xDrive delivers close to 400 horses and has all-wheel drive.

In Production Since: 1985 (has been known as the 4 Series since 2014)
Top Powertrain Option: Twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six (M440i xDrive)
Power: 386 hp and 398 ft lbs of torque
Zero to 60 mph: 4.6 seconds
Top Speed: 155 mph
Starting Price: $58,700

Best Sports Car Alternative: BMW M4 Convertible

The BMW M4 Convertible is the closest thing to a pure sports car you’ll find in this class. As the rest of this list makes clear, there are plenty of powerful convertibles out under $100,000, but the priciest entry takes things up a notch or three. In addition to a heavily sculpted exterior this vehicle comes with a monstrously powerful twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six that generates well over 500 horses. Thanks to all that oomph, this car can rocket from zero to 60 in just 3.6 seconds, though you might want to put the top up before putting the pedal to the metal.

In Production Since: 2014
Top Powertrain Option: Twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six
Power: 523 hp and 479 ft lbs of torque
Zero to 60 mph: 3.6 seconds
Top Speed: 180 mph
Starting Price: $95,300

Best Interior Features: Mercedes-Benz CLE Cabriolet

If you have spent any time over the last decade wondering why Mercedes-Benz continued to sell two-door versions of the nearly indistinguishable C- and E- class, you weren’t alone. Last year, the German marque finally did away with these models and replaced them with the CLE coupé and cabriolet. The latter is a more modern convertible than the two models it replaces, with a sleeker look and four-person cabin with some crucial tech features like a wind-deflecting and neck-warming systems. It also packs punch thanks to a capable 3.0-liter inline-six  with mild hybrid assist that makes 375 hp and 369 ft lbs of torque. Thanks to that the car has some serious zip, cable of hitting 60 mph in just 4.2 seconds.

In Production Since: 2024
Top Powertrain Option: 3.0-liter inline six with mild hybrid assist
Power: 375 hp and 369 ft lbs of torque
Zero to 60 mph: 4.2 seconds
Top Speed: 130 mph
Starting Price: $66,450