PREMIUM cabriolets – or convertibles – can be an enigma. The Mercedes-AMG C43 Cabriolet costs thousands of dollars more than its coupe sibling, which is much lighter and also faster.

The need for extra underfloor bracing, to compensate for a steel roof being replaced by a fabric lid above a driver’s head, means that the steering and suspension becomes pressured at every turn, with dull handling often the result.

Either way, this is the most affordable way to get into a Mercedes-AMG-tuned drop-top, and the Benz’s performance division understands a thing or two about creating dynamic vehicles. The middling, medium-sized C43 Cabriolet has been placed above a standard Mercedes-Benz C300 Cabriolet, but it sits well below the Mercedes-AMG C63 Cabriolet flagship.

Could this middle grade model best balance cruising comfort with bruising performance? And could it nestle into an elusive spot between top-down enjoyment and driver entertainment?