Used test: BMW 4 Series Coupé vs Mercedes C-Class Coupé interiors

These classy coupés go for eye-catching prices, but which dazzles and impresses enough to be crowned the best used car buy – the 4 Series Coupé or the C-Class Coupé?

Interiors

Driving position, visibility, build quality, practicality

Much of the charm of a coupé comes from the sense of occasion you feel when sliding behind the wheel, and in this regard, the Mercedes C-Class Coupé has the edge. The cabin features an eclectic mix of black ash wood and brushed aluminium trim, while our car was made even swankier by the optional leather-effect dashboard finish.

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Mind you, the Mercedes is let down slightly by flimsy-feeling air vents and a centre console that emits unseemly squeaks when you prod it. The interior of the BMW 4 Series Coupé interior looks a little ordinary by comparison, but feels more sturdily assembled.

BMW 4 Series Coupe vs Mercedes C-Class Coupe

The 4 Series also has the better infotainment system, aside from its slightly smaller screen. Its separate rotary dial selector, or iDrive, as it's known, is a terrific system in use and one of our favourites. It's much easier to use than the C-Class's system, which can sometimes be so unfathomable that you need to resort to the owner’s manual. That's true whether you stick with the standard Garmin-based system or find a car with the more sophisticated optional Command system fitted to our test car.

Car reviews

BMW 4 Series

Mercedes C-Class Estate

Mercedes C-Class

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Despite having pedals that are offset slightly too far to the right, both cars have excellent driving positions, with low-slung sports seats that hug you tightly at the sides. However, it’s easier to get comfortable in the C-Class, thanks to its standard electric seats with adjustable lumbar support. Fully electric seat adjustment was optional when new on the 4 Series, but adjustable side bolsters are standard, as well as a seatbelt extender that hands you your belt when you get in the car.

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Both cars have plenty of space in the front for taller adults, although if you’re much more than six feet tall you’ll want to avoid a C-Class Coupé with a headroom-robbing optional panoramic roof.

The 4 Series’ rear seats will accommodate a couple of adults in reasonable comfort. By contrast, the C-Class’s tighter rear head room means adults won’t be as comfortable in the back on long journeys. The 4 Series has a slightly bigger and better-shaped boot, too. However, the C220d comes with split-folding rear seats and a ski hatch, which, again, was an extra on the 4 Series.