What’s the difference between a cabriolet and a convertible?

Cabriolet or Convertible: What’s the Difference between the Two?

Mercedes-Benz of Scottsdale, AZ, has sold many different Mercedes-Benz models over the years. From the classics to the cutting-edge, we’ve dealt with them all. And in that time, there’s a couple questions that get asked quite often: “what’s a cabriolet,” and “how is that different from a convertible?” That’s what we are here to answer today.

Here is the real difference between a cabriolet and a convertible. Keep reading to learn more.

Cabriolet vs Convertible

There is no functional difference between a cabriolet and convertible in modern automobiles. Which word you use generally depends on where you’re from. Cabriolet—often shortened to cabrio—is the common name for a convertible in many European countries. Since Mercedes-Benz is a German company, its vehicles follow this naming scheme. Cabriolet is a French word from the 1800s that originally referred to a horse-drawn carriage with a top that could be pulled over the passengers in poor weather and collapsed in nice weather. Cars were first invented in Europe and subsequently marketed as horseless carriages, so it makes sense that cabriolet was also used for automobiles.

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