Mercedes C Class Coupe

Mercedes C Class Coupe

Recommended. Mercedes finally joins BMW and offers a compact two door coupe version of its 3 Series rivalling C-Class. The result is a classy, satisfying car.

Instead of offering a cheaper entry into C-Class motoring with its coupe-like three door hatchback, Mercedes will now sell you a pricier and decidedly svelter two door C-Class coupe. It's aimed at the younger, sportier driver, and buyers of the Audi A5 and BMW's long-established 3 Series Coupe, and sits beneath the larger E-Class coupe.

Mechanically identical to the four-door saloon, in the UK it comes with a choice of five engines, starting with a 1.8 petrol, the 220 CDI 250 CDI diesels forming the centre of a range filled out with a 250 petrol four cylinder and a 350 petrol V6. At the pinnacle of the range comes the C63 AMG equipped with this sporting sub-brand's spectacularly powerful 6.3 litre V8. The 1.8 petrol and the two diesels come with six-speed manuals as standard, while the rest of the range, including the C63, is fitted with a paddle-shift seven speed automatic.

Stop-start comes on all versions including the automatics, which in some cases, have lower emissions than the equivalent manuals. That said, CO2 emissions figures are compromised by the decision to fit all UK-spec cars with 18-inch wheels and an AMG body kit as standard, to counter the S-Line and M-Sport option packs offered by Audi and BMW. So what could have been a company-car tax advantageous 117g/km for the C 220 CDI manual becomes 133g/km, for example.

The coupe itself is more or less the same size as the saloon apart from being lower, which means reasonable space for two adults in the rear and a decently sized boot that's extendable by dropping the rear seats. The coupe's suspension is the same as on the C-Class saloon, although every version comes with lowered sport suspension, speed sensitive steering and adaptive damping. Standard-fit kit includes DAB radio, intelligent bi-xenon lighting, parktronic, and an AMG sports steering wheel.