Mercedes E-class coupe: Test Drive Review

The sportier two-door coupe version of the recently facelifted upper medium E-class is not what you’d call an all-new model, but the previous car’s twin rectangular headlamps have been ditched in favour of shapelier lights to better complement the more recent additions to Mercedes’ range.

The odd cosmetic nip and tuck has been made inside and out too, but it’s hardly a major overhaul. Trim levels have been simplified for this generation though, so you’re left with the easier choice of SE or AMG Sport. There’s also a lot of new tech on offer, including heaps of new safety kit and full-beam headlights that dip when they detect other vehicles on the road but continue to illuminate the surrounding area. The latest AMG Sport model tested here costs £2435 more than its predecessor, but Merc reckons the payoff is £2640 worth of additional kit.

Given the competition, the Mercedes won’t tick the box for driving enthusiasts. The BMW 4-series has that side of things well and truly sewn up, and fellow rival Audi’s A5 coupe is arguably slightly more interesting too.

Where the Merc excels is with ride, refinement and build, and if a softer, more leisurely coupe is your thing then the E-class is the best of the bunch. It’s handsome too, the mild facelift making it more shapely from the front end.

As sharp as it is in those areas, the Mercedes also falls short of its rivals on the costs front. A lofty P11D of £39,055 contributes to 79.8ppm, leaving it trailing more affordable competitors. An equivalent Audi A5 2.0 TDI 177 Black Edition auto costs £35,520 and records 73.4ppm, while the very new BMW in 420d M-Sport Professional Media auto guise costs £37,070 and musters 73.8ppm. The Merc does come cheaper and cleaner in E220 CDI SE manual form, but then so do the other two coupes.