Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe full 9 point review
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Performance
The E-Class Coupe is available with five of the engines from the saloon. These include four-cylinder and V6 petrols and diesels, as well as a V8 petrol, delivering between 204- and 388bhp. The 1.8-litre turbo in the E250 CGI and the V6 diesel in the E350 CDI stand out for being smooth, punchy and efficient; the slow-build E350 CGI needs to be worked hard, but is deceptively quick and strong at the top of the rev range.
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Ride & Handling
There are three different chassis set-ups for the E-Class Coupe, which influence the suspension, the steering and, in some cases, the throttle response and automatic gearshift speed. In effect, you can have the car as a gentle grand tourer or an out-and-out sports coupe. The selectable Sport mode ruins ride comfort and does little for the handling, but otherwise, the suspension is very well-damped and absorbs the worst of surfaces.
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Refinement
What's particularly impressive about the E-Class Coupe, considering it has frameless side windows, is the near-absence of wind noise. Most of the engines are smooth and quiet, although the four-cylinder diesel is a bit gruff when accelerating hard, and the automatic gearboxes shift seamlessly. The big wheels and tyres kick up some road noise on certain surfaces, but it's never excessive.
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Buying & Owning
Running costs should be reduced, with all but the V8 getting the company's Blue Efficiency measures to trim fuel consumption and CO2 emissions; even the E350 CGI returns a very respectable 32.5mpg. Traditionally, Merc's mid-range coupes have slightly stronger resale values than the saloons they are based on. Insurance groupings are relatively low, but servicing is expensive.
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Quality & Reliability
Mercedes went through a dark period when the perceived quality and the reliability of its cars were a long way from the 'over-engineered' feel of old, but there are signs the company has now put that period behind it. We're not saying the E-Class Coupe is class-leading, but it's up there with the best, and it has undergone more testing miles than any other car in the company's history in an effort to iron out any reliability gremlins.
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Safety & Security
The E-class Coupe has nine airbags, force-limiting seatbelts and the company's Pre-Safe system that puts you in the best position to survive a crash, but it also does more than most cars to help you prevent one in the first place. There's a driver drowsiness detection system as well as stability control and anti-lock brakes, while the options include a speed limit alert, blind-spot and lane-change warnings, and automatic braking if a collision is inevitable.
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Behind The Wheel
The seats are firm and supportive, and visibility is surprisingly good for a fastback Coupe. However, while the interior layout is orderly, it's not intuitive: the menu-style control system is complex, and its shortcut buttons are on the dashboard rather than grouped around the controller, where you’d expect them. The more options you specify, the more fiddly it gets, and there’s also the quirky Mercedes single-stalk indicator/wiper.
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Space & Practicality
The distance between the Coupe's wheels is 115mm shorter than the saloon's and it has a steeply sloping roofline – two factors which limit who can ride comfortably in the back. Rear legroom is adequate, and the rear seats fold to form a shallow, but large and square, boot; the large, wide-opening doors make access to the rear relatively easy, if sometimes slightly undignified.
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Equipment
There are only two trim options with the Coupe – SE and Sport – and both are well specced. SE is the luxury model and features leather upholstery, climate control, heated front seats and a parking guidance system. Sport adds a bodykit from Merc's AMG tuning division, firmer suspension and more powerful brakes. The steering is also more direct, there are grippier seats and intelligent lights with five different beam patterns plus LED daytime running lamps.
E-Class rivals
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Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe E350 CDI BlueEFF. Sport 2dr
Fine if you want to have the E-Class Coupe at its sharpest (there's even an optional dynamic handling pack that makes it even sharper), but you'll pay for it with a sometimes harsh ride. The engine and spec are great, though.
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