Mercedes-Benz has pushed the E-Class to the head of the class with its cutting edge technology, and the company's coupe treatment may well be the perfect foil for the smartest car it's ever made.
In the automotive world, as in life, balance is a desirable trait. Loading up a car with tyre-frying power, for example, requires input on the handling side of the ledger.
Likewise, a car that oozes technology can't get by on gigabytes of driver aid technology; it also needs to draw the eye.
Mercedes-Benz has pushed the E-Class to the head of the class when it comes to outfitting a car with cutting edge technology, and the company's coupe treatment may well be the perfect foil for the smartest car it's ever made.
Mercedes-Benz E-Class 2017: E220 D
Safety rating
Engine Type
2.0L turbo
Fuel Type
Diesel
Fuel Efficiency
4.9L/100km
Seating
4 seats
Price from
$40,700
Is there anything interesting about its design? 9/10
What's most interesting about the E-Class Coupe's design is its restraint – and in its subtlety lies its genius.
It's absolutely bereft of cuts, crinkles, bulges and bends, and it's all the better for it. A classically full sweep across the roofline from grille to rear bumper is uninterrupted by such trivialities as a b-pillar, while its low roofline and high sides accentuate the car's extra 123mm of length over the E-Class sedan.
Inside, it's a similar story but told differently, with the E-Class's standards-shattering flat panel dash and centre stack augmented by bespoke circular alloy vents. Sports seats in leather up front are complemented by a pair in the rear, while bold stitching, alloy details and textured wood bring a real point of difference to the coupe.
The company's coupe treatment may well be the perfect foil for the smartest car it's ever made.
It's absolutely bereft of cuts, crinkles, bulges and bends.
Even though it's based on the E-Class sedan, the extra dimensions of the coupe give it a definite point of difference. Its 123mm of extra length equates to 113mm extra space between the wheels, and there's also 74mm extra width overall.
Of course, its roofline is also 75mm lower, which negates some of that extra size.
Up front, the driver and passenger seats are slung very low in the car, with the wheel mounted quite vertically. The usual puzzling array of instrument stalks behind the wheel will bedevil those who haven't driven a Merc before – and occasionally those who have – while the large TFT screens that make up the dash and centre stack arrays are strictly a finger-free zone.
Up front, the driver and passenger seats are slung very low in the car, with the wheel mounted quite vertically.
The screens themselves are brilliantly clear and easy to navigate.
The usual puzzling array of instrument stalks behind the wheel will bedevil those who haven't driven a Merc before.
The screens themselves are brilliantly clear and easy to navigate, but it can be a trial to navigate via the scroll wheel or scribble pad when in a hurry.
Access to the rear is respectably straightforward, with a large aperture appearing behind the electrically sliding seats. The rear pews are wide and comfortable for larger occupants, though headroom is a compromise for anyone over 180cm or so.
There are ISOFIX child restraint mounts on both rear seats, as well as a two cup holder-equipped centre armrest. There is a pair of cup holders under the dash that can be hidden under a cover, while bottle holders are present and correct in both doors.
Boot space is reasonable but not as big as expected at 425 litres, while the split seats fold forward to reveal a large opening and an almost flat load space capable of taking a lot more kit.
Does it represent good value for the price? What features does it come with? 8/10
Merc has launched the E-Class Coupe in three variants initially, with high performance versions to come.
First in line is the E220d, which at $96,000 before on-road costs looks like a bit of a good deal.
Step up to the $110,900 RRP E300, and the powerplant changes to a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine. It also scores 20-inch alloy rims, a sports exhaust system, adaptive air suspension, heated front seats and LED headlights.
Topping the launch range is the E400. Priced at $145,900 RRP, it's powered by Merc's twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine, and picks up '4MATIC' all-wheel drive (AWD) as well.
Spec-wise, it adds a sunroof, head-up display, a 13-speaker surround sound stereo and tinted rear glass.
Missing from the standard specs are items like inductive phone charging (a $270 option for all three models) and metallic paints for the E220d and E300 (costing an average of $1531 per colour).
What are the key stats for the engine and transmission? 8/10
There are three engines on offer initially for the E-Class Coupe line-up, including an entry-level diesel.
The E220D runs a 143kW/400Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, backed by a torque-converting nine-speed automatic transmission, driving the rear wheels.
A 180kW/370Nm version of Merc's popular direct injection 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine propels the E300, and it too sports rear-wheel drive and a nine-speed auto.
There are three engines on offer initially for the E-Class Coupe line-up.
Finally, the E400 runs a 3.0-litre direction injection V6, with twin turbochargers helping to figures of 245kW and 480Nm. It also uses Mercedes-Benz's full-time AWD along with the nine-speed auto.
The E300 and E400 are also fitted with a sportier exhaust system that's more vocal when the drive mode selector points to Sports or Sports Plus mode.
How much fuel does it consume? 8/10
A 150km test loop in the E400 saw a dash-indicated figure of 11.1 litres per 100km, against a combined fuel economy claim of 8.5 L/100km.
Over 150km of open road driving, the E400 acquitted itself well as a long-distance tourer par excellence.
Merc claims a combined fuel economy figure of 4.9L/100km for the E220D, while the E300 is said to use 7.1L/100km.
Each car has a fuel tank capacity of 66 litres.
What's it like to drive? 9/10
Over 150km of open road driving, the E400 acquitted itself well as a long-distance tourer par excellence. Its air suspension system gives up a modicum of precision in tighter going, but the ride comfort trade off makes perfect sense in this car.
On balance, this is a car that will make ridiculously short work of an interstate run.
Even dressed in 20-inch rims and a set of staggered 245/35 and 275/30 R20 tyres front and rear, the E300's composure on typically coarse country roads is deeply impressive.
It steers with confidence, too, with only the sharpest of potholes shaking its composure.
The E300's composure on typically coarse country roads is deeply impressive.
It steers with confidence, with only the sharpest of potholes shaking its composure.
Engine performance from the twin-turbo six-potter is best described as adequate; the E400 weighs 1950kg, and it takes a while for the V6 to spool up and get things cracking from low speeds.
there are few cars better equipped than the E-Class to keep you safe in the case of a crash.
Unsurprisingly, it isn't as happy in tighter terrain, with the car's longer wheelbase and excess bulk playing against it, despite the presence of AWD.
On balance, this is a car that will make ridiculously short work of an interstate run.
Warranty & Safety Rating
Basic Warranty
3 years / unlimited km
warranty
ANCAP Safety Rating
What safety equipment is fitted? What safety rating? 10/10
From a safety standpoint, there are few cars better equipped than the E-Class to keep you safe in the case of a crash.
Its driver assistance systems are comprehensive, and include the ability to steer away from a potential crash, seats that propel you away from a side-impact crash, a high-pitched whistle prior to a rear-end crash to prep your ears, and so much more.
Add nine airbags, AEB with cross-traffic detection, comprehensive radar cruise and blind spot monitoring, a 360-degree camera and more, and it's little wonder the E-Class qualifies for a maximum five-star score from ANCAP.
What does it cost to own? What warranty is offered? 8/10
Merc offers a three-year/unlimited kilometre warranty on the E-Class Coupe, with service intervals of 25,000km or 12 months.
A fixed-priced service program is in place, and costs a total of $2280 for the first three services.
Verdict
There's a premium of between $3000 and $6000 to step up to the coupe over the more practical sedan... but really, this is not a choice of practicality.
The E-Class Coupe is one of the prettiest Mercs of recent years, and it deserves to be praised on that alone.
It carries over all the safety and technology from its sedan sibling, placing it in a bigger, more relaxed and great-looking package that is a pleasure to drive and to look at.
In terms of value, the E300 is probably the pick of the three, but overall, the E400 offers the most pace and poise for the money.
Sedan or coupe - which Merc E-Class is your pick? Tell us what you think in the comments below.
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