Mercedes-Benz E300 Coupe Quick Review

TELL ME ABOUT THIS CAR
The E-Class Coupe has four seats and two doors and is available with three turbocharged engines – a four-cylinder diesel, four-cylinder petrol and V6 petrol – with prices starting at $96,000 and rising to $145,900.

STRENGTHS
1. Spacious interior, even in the back. While there’s some twisting and folding to get there, the twin rear seats of the E-Class Coupe have ample leg room for adults, while head room is good for people up to about 190cm tall.

2. The rear seats have their own air vents and separate ventilation controls.

3. Like the E-Class sedan the Coupe is a very comfortable way to travel. The E300 and E400 ride on air suspension that is very supple, so it soaks up all but the largest of bumps.

4. It’s very quiet and refined, so makes for good long distance touring.

5. The dashboard. The E-Class has one of the most elegant dash layouts in the business. There are two 12.3-inch colour screens that dominate the look; one is a customisable instrument cluster (there are three themes, with the “Progressive” one looking more modern than Sport or Classic) and the other the main infotainment screen navigated by the Comand controller. The rest of the dash layout is more classic, with fantastic open-pore wood trim and circular air vents that add to the classy look.

6. Music to your ears. The E-Class has an optional 13-speaker Burmester sound system (standard on the E400), which not only looks the part (the speaker grilles are beautifully crafted from metal) but sounds great, too. There’s fantastic clarity and depth to the sound, adding to the upmarket ambience of the luxury offering.

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WEAKNESSES
1. The E-Class Coupe looks sportier than it drives. It’s relatively heavy (more than 1.6 tonnes) so isn’t as agile as the C-Class Coupe. Think of it as more of a grand tourer, albeit one that is very comfortable and competent.

2. Performance. The E-Class will initially be available with three turbocharged engines – a 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel (E220d), a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol (E300) and a V6 petrol (E400 4Matic). Even the E400 is brisk rather than ballistic, although it has a lovely flexibility. The E300 is more economical and relatively enthusiastic, although it never feels particularly quick.

3. Other options. Mercedes-Benz has no shortage of two-door options in its lineup and, for most people, the C-Class Coupe will probably do just fine, albeit with less rear seat space than the E. The C is lighter and more agile and, crucially, much more affordable, so you can get a bigger, more powerful engine and more equipment for similar money as you can in the E-Class.

ANY RIVALS I SHOULD ALSO CONSIDER?
The most obvious competitor to the E-Class Coupe is the BMW 6-Series, however that car is a lot more expensive. Others to consider include the Lexus RC, BMW 4-Series and Audi A5 Coupe. And, if you’re wedded to Mercedes-Benz, it’s also worth considering the smaller C-Class Coupe or – if you have a bigger budget – the S-Class Coupe.