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Mercedes E Class CoupeApril 2009

Recommended.

This classy, elegant and roomy coupe is good value. The models with four-cylinder engines handle well, but the E500 V8 is disappointing.

Our rating:

4

User rating:

3_5
Mercedes E Class Coupe
 
 

Fifth Gear Mercedes E Class Coupe review

 
 
1. Lively engines
2. Intriguing style
3. Roomy and well-appointed cabin

WE DON'T LIKE

1. Ride is lumpy on big wheels
2. Limited rear headroom
3. E500 is dull to drive
 
 

The CLK coupe, despite being a sales success since its introduction in 1997, is no more. Mercedes has decided to replace it with an E-Class Coupe, which has been designed to fulfil the same function as a classy cruiser.

The Coupe shares its suspension, drivetrains and dashboard with the main E-Class range, but sits on a shorter wheelbase. Engines include a four-cylinder 2.1 diesel (either as an 220 or 250 CDI and a six-cylinder 3.0-litre turbodiesels (equally confusingly called 350 CDI), a four-cylinder 1.8 turbo petrol (220 and 250 CGI), a 3.5-litre petrol V6 (actually called 350 CGI) and a 5.5-litre V8 (E500, but best avoided as it is both thirsty and a bit clumsy). Economy is improved across the range, the four-cylinder units consuming up to 17% less fuel, while a low-drag body (a coefficient of 0.24 is the best ever for a production car) reduces consumption at speed across the range.

The E-Class Coupe is available in two trim levels, SE or Sport. Agility Control suspension is fitted as standard across the range, the more sophisticated dampers offering a better compromise between handling and ride than the E-Class saloon. All versions get drowsiness detection, Pre-Safe occupant protection, an active bonnet to protect pedestrians and parking guidance systems, while blind-spot monitoring, self-dipping headlights and road sign recognition (the prevailing speed limit is displayed in the message centre) are available as options. A dynamic handling package with sport setting and active steering is also available.

Fifth Gear overall car ratings

STYLING

The E-Class Coupe is not conventionally beautiful, what with its blistered rear wheel arches, angular headlights and jutting tail, but it's rakish and handsome enough. As with many Mercedes coupes, this one is pillarless, with all four side windows dropping for an unobstructed side view; an opening full-length glass roof is also available. The interior is sumptuous, if a little clumsily styled in places.

HANDLING

All E-Class Coupes handle tidily, but the four-cylinder versions on smaller wheels are decisively more entertaining than the V8 E500 on 18-inch rims. The top-of-the-range model offers less steering feel and isn't as well balanced as the smaller-engined models, which handle well enough to please the keen driver in a way that previous Mercedes coupes have never managed. Standard-fit ESP provides effective skid control, too.

COMFORT

The sumptuous interior delivers on its promise, providing four very comfortable seats and an impressively commotion-free cabin. The only flaw is some light wind rustle above 80mph. Ride quality is mostly very good on the 17-inch alloys, although sharp bumps and ridges can produce the odd unexpected thump, a flaw intensified on cars with 18-inch rims.

QUALITY & RELIABILITY

Mercedes went through a bad patch some years back for reliability and quality of finish, but it's been working hard to regain its once-mighty reputation - for example, the E-Class saloon that this coupe is based on has been the most extensively tested Mercedes ever. The fit, finish and quality of materials are of a high order, if not quite to the standard of the best Audis.

PERFORMANCE

All engines in the range, including the 250 CGI-badged 1.8 petrol turbo, perform with quiet enthusiasm and are coupled to automatics that usually find the right gear at the right time. The manual transmission is slick-shifting too. The E500 could transmit more V8 burble to the cabin and the 250 CDI sounds more diesel-like than the remarkably quiet 350 CDI, but overall these drivelines perform with the brisk civility that you'd expect.

ROOMINESS

Most coupes sacrifice cabin space for style, but this Benz has plenty of room in the back, even if taller passengers might find headroom slightly lacking. Room in the front is generous and the boot is reasonably capacious (450 litres), even more so when the two individual rear seats are folded. Stowage space for oddments is plentiful and includes big door bins, a centre cubby, plus nets beneath the rear seats and on the transmission tunnel.

STEREO / SAT NAV

A new, intermediate infotainment system offers a more affordable screen-based sat nav than the pricey Mercedes Comand system. The standard stereo has eight speakers and sounds good; an excellent 12-speaker, 500-watt system is optional.

RUNNING COSTS

Keener list prices, reasonably complete standard equipment and modest sales ambitions should help this Coupe hold its value, as will its improved standards of finish. Fuel consumption has been usefully reduced, and insurance costs should be competitive, as will those for servicing.

VALUE FOR MONEY

This new coupe costs around 5% less than the outgoing CLK and provides more equipment including leather trim and parking assist as standard, Mercedes deliberately aiming to offer better value than previously. The price climb from SE to Sport also provides good value.

ENVIRONMENT

A Mercedes with better-than average environmental credentials. The four-cylinder diesel's CO2 emissions are amongst the best in its class at under 140 g/km.

This review has been tagged with: Mercedes | Mercedes E Class Coupe

There are 38 variants of the E Class Coupe

E Class Coupe variants Price (£) Fuel type Engine
size (cc)
CO2 emission
(g/km)
200 BlueEFFICIENCY SE 2dr £31,465 1796 164
220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY SE 2dr £31,975 2143 128
200 BlueEFFICIENCY SE Auto 2dr £32,985 1796 156
200 BlueEFFICIENCY Sport 2dr £33,600 1796 167
220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY SE Auto 2dr £33,610 2143 134
250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY SE 2dr £33,710 2143 134
250 BlueEFFICIENCY SE 2dr £34,115 1796 156
220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Sport 2dr £34,125 2143 131
200 BlueEFFICIENCY SE 2dr £34,935 1796 168
200 BlueEFFICIENCY Sport Auto 2dr £35,020 1796 161
250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY SE Auto 2dr £35,230 2143 134
220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY SE 2dr £35,460 2143 135
220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Sport Auto 2dr £35,645 2143 138
250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Sport 2dr £35,745 2143 138
250 BlueEFFICIENCY Sport 2dr £36,150 1796 161
200 BlueEFFICIENCY SE Auto 2dr £36,355 1796 157
350 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY SE 2dr £36,845 2987 154
200 BlueEFFICIENCY Sport 2dr £36,970 1796 173
220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY SE Auto 2dr £36,980 2143 138
250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY SE 2dr £37,080 2143 135
250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Sport Auto 2dr £37,265 2143 138
250 BlueEFFICIENCY SE 2dr £37,485 1796 157
220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Sport 2dr £37,510 2143 142
200 BlueEFFICIENCY Sport Auto 2dr £38,390 1796 164
250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY SE Auto 2dr £38,600 2143 138
350 BlueEFFICIENCY SE 2dr £38,775 3498 164
350 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Sport 2dr £38,880 2987 157
220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Sport Auto 2dr £39,030 2143 142
250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Sport 2dr £39,130 2143 142
250 BlueEFFICIENCY Sport 2dr £39,520 1796 164
350 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY SE 2dr £40,215 2987 159
250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Sport Auto 2dr £40,650 2143 142
350 BlueEFFICIENCY Sport 2dr £40,910 3498 167
350 BlueEFFICIENCY SE 2dr £42,245 3498 168
350 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Sport 2dr £42,250 2987 162
350 BlueEFFICIENCY Sport 2dr £44,280 3498 175
500 Sport 2dr £52,915 5461 254
500 Sport 2dr £56,495 5461 257
 

Average

3_5

User reviews (11)

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Neil Liley
1

I own an E Class Coupe 250CDI Sport Auto. This would have been one of the best cars you could wish to own. Period. It is such a shame that these cars are failing due to faulty fuel injectors, mine at 5000 miles. I wish that Mercedes had checked these injectors during the "most extensive testing ever"

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mathai rosa
1

I got a lemon in the form of my CLK Diesel Auto. This car made more visits to the dealership than my previous 2 Mercs put together and had fatal flaws in the braking. Three years later, it is still patchy. It carries the 3d LED cluster on the boot-lid.The gear shifter came lose, window jamming, the list goes on! THIS CAR IS STILL SHY OF 60K MILES! I can understand the above owner's concern. I test drove the E-coupe and it feels right. It is not true that it is based on E- class. It is a clone between C and E. Apart from Glasgow Mercedes, the service is appalling. If they don't make reliable cars, the least Daimler Benz could do is to listen to customers.

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A Mason
3

Shame about the injectors one the e class 350 diesel - they went at 9,000miles having previously been 'reprogrammed' 2 weeks earlier. The front central arm / storage box is clumsy and strangely configured. Excellent sound system. Shame there is no rear central arm rest.

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Deasy1
5

Have the e class 350CDI sport. Been excellent. No problems whatsoever and the Command sat nav is also v good. There have been problems with the 250cdi diesel engines which I believe has been resolved now.

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Ian Fereday
5

I changed my Lexus IS250 for the E250 CGI Coupe Sport as soon as it became available here (Thailand). Two months on, I have to say I am delighted with my choice. I regularly drive 600 mile journeys and the Merc is every bit as good as the Lexus. Comfort is good, road noise is there from the 18" wheels, but performance is adequate. By the way, my car cost £105,000 here due to 200% import duty. Think yourselves lucky in the UK to have cheap cars available!

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George
5

I own a E coupe 250 cdi. The car is amazing! now i have 30.000 miles and had no problem with it. great car!

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Neil Liley
5

I left a comment on here in March, just after my cars injectors failed. After a year and 10000 mls, I now think this is an excellent car, early injector faults aside. If you are looking for this type of car. I think this is the best of the bunch and something of a bargin when you look at the standard spec. It is a pleasure to own.

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John
4

Have been driving a manual E 250cdi cabrio sport and I am truly amazed at how this thing moves and handles like a sports car but returns nearly 50mpg and shows only 2000rpm @ 90mph in 6th gear!!!! It is truly an astounding piece of engineering! OK it`s not a Porsche but man o man it`s good!! A bit short geared and you have to move up the box quickly to make the most of it whilst accelerating, but it`s the overtaking mid-range that`s good and it pulls strongly even in the high gears.

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Andrew
1

I have owned an E250 cdi now for 2 years, like everyone else I experienced the problem with the injectors after about 3000 miles. I have again experienced The same problem this evening after another 41,000 miles! I am hearing rumours that Mercedes Benz knew that the replacement injectors two years ago were only going to last approx 38,000 miles. But before this problem happened they were hoping to have a recall to change all the injectors but they expired! I have been one of three unlucky owners experiencing this problem forth second time, is anyone esle aware of this issue?

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paul
5

I have owned my E350 cdi for a year now and still enjoy driving it. Yes its no Porsche, but comfort and class beats neck breaking acceleration and I really enjoy the options of flappy paddles or auto if I am feeling lazy. Getting an average 40 miles to the galleon which I think is good for a 3 litre car that really goes! I am sure I made the better choice as was looking at BMW coupe to start with. My Mercedes coupe is everything I need, a cruiser for the motorway and has all the gadgets you need, particularly the heated seats in this weather.

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