Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupé

Expert Rating:

What is it?

A stylish new two-door version of the recently replaced Mercedes-Benz E-Class saloon, that's what - should have been obvious from the title. However, those in the know will wonder where this car really sits in the grand scheme of things, as the E-Class name suggests it should compete with the likes of BMW's 6 Series Coupé, yet the Merc's pricing puts in on level pegging with the smaller 3 Series Coupé, along with the Audi A5.

Mercedes changed the name to reflect the new car's more grown up nature in comparison to its predecessor, the CLK. The coupé has expanded in size too and it feels like a bigger car than its competitors. One of the outstanding features of the new E-Class saloon was its wealth of technology, much of it as standard; the Coupé inherits it all, including drowsiness detection and a resettable Active Bonnet that reduces injuries to pedestrians in a collision.

Under that bonnet customers may choose from a wide range of engines, from a turbocharged 1.8-litre petrol unit, through two powerful turbodiesels to the range-topping 5.5-litre V8. While the latter is the most exciting, the big sellers in this part of the world will be the diesels. Though the E 350 CDI is the most desirable of them, the E 250 CDI is probably the pick of the range. From just 2.2-litres it develops 201bhp and 369lb.ft of torque, which allows it a 7.4-second 0-62mph time. The best bit though is that it puts out only 135g/km of CO₂ and manages 55.4mpg on the combined cycle.

Is it any good?

Crushingly effective is the way we'd put it. All models are supremely comfortable and refined, putting their rivals to shame on those counts. On the flip side, the Merc is not as sporty a drive as the BMW equivalent, even in E 500 guise with the fancy adaptive damping set to its sportiest level. The lack of driver engagement is partly due to lifeless steering and the fitment of automatic transmissions in virtually all models.

However, that's what Mercedes customers want apparently, and so long as you're not looking for an engaging drive, the E-Class Coupé will still impress with its other talents, namely comfort and refinement. It's an elegant car too, though there are aspects of its design that split opinion and it looks way better in metallic colours with big wheels.

Should I call the bank manager?

You may want to wait until the range is fleshed out. When the E-Class Coupé arrives on our shores in June only the E 350 CDI, E 350 CGI (petrol, direct-injection) and the E 500 will be available, but soon after the E 250 CDI will be added to the pricelists - in both manual and automatic guises. Just two trim levels will be offered - SE and Sport - with the Sport model gaining a lot more styling attitude (and tightened up dynamics) for just £1,995 extra. It's the one we'd go for.

Summary

Mercedes has purposely distanced itself from its competitors - notably BMW - with the introduction of the E-Class Coupé. It's a more mature car than the CLK ever was and it majors on comfort, elegance and refinement. On top of that there's an engine in the range for everyone, albeit we suspect either of the two diesels will suffice for most buyers' needs. The final bonus is that it's well equipped and seemingly priced competitively.

Shane O' Donoghue