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SO you’re the kind of person who wants to stand out from the crowd?
No wait a minute, that can’t be right. This week I’m writing about a new Mercedes.
That makes the word “crowd” completely redundant. Only a few can afford a new Mercedes and in the case of the E-Class I’ve been driving you can trim that down to only the few of the few.
Let’s start again: So you’re the kind of rich businessman who wants his car to stand out in the car park?
Yep, that’s much better, and that’s why instead of spending your profits on a big, beautiful and luxurious Mercedes E-Class you choose an E-Class Coupé.
Racy
No doubt about it, this is a stunning looking motor. Let’s start (here we go again) by talking about its speed and handling because with a racy face like the one on the Coupé it should go like a bullet.
Well actually, let’s not. If you want an E-Class Coupé that really matches its appearance you don’t buy a 220d with, as its name suggests, a 2.0-litre diesel engine. Don’t get me wrong, though, I’m absolutely not knocking this car in any way.
Why? Because it’s so smooth, swish, quiet and beautifully put together that there’s no way owners will ever be tempted to test out its handling abilities. Quite simply it’s just not that sort of car.
Who cares that it hasn’t got a 3.0- litre V6 that hurls it from 0-62mph in 5.3s on its way to 155mph. You can buy one like that but I can’t see E-Class Coupé owners wanting anything other than the 220d.
Mercedes think so, too, which is why it correctly predicted that it would be the big seller.
Sink into the Coupé’s beautiful and luxurious electric leather seats and the last thing you’ll be thinking about is throwing it around. This car shouts Grand Tourer at you.
Putting your foot down would be like opening a Poundstretcher shop in Mayfair.
Instead of blasting about, it needs to be silently transporting its occupants to their second house in the country. That’s how swish it is.
Just hearing the engine in the 220d takes a lot of effort, but push it hard and it is possible. Meanwhile, the car will barrel along silently at 80mph turning over at just 1,650rpm in the ninth gear of its standard auto box.
You could almost say that its silence and lack of revs is a naughty niggle as I often found myself going far too fast without having a clue of the speed I was doing.
It’s that combination of speed and silence that makes the E-Class 220d such a magnificent long distance cruiser, not to mention the fact that it averages more than 60mpg which in a car that weighs 1,735kg is a tremendous achievement.
If the E-Class Coupé’s luxury world of leather, wood veneer, gorgeous colourful displays and hidden dark blue lights gets a bit too much, move to the practical side.
Its huge 3ft 4in boot should be big enough for most shopping trips but the rear seats fold forwards to leave a flat six feet deep loading area which is compromised by the rear parcel shelf leaving just 15 inches of height in the centre.
View
Strangely, the wide open view from the Coupé’s front seats is decidedly impressive, especially as it’s dominated by two large bonnet bulges, which reminded me of the old Chrysler Crossfire.
The difference is that in the Crossfire they were covering a Mercedes 3.2-litre V6 which produced 215hp and 310Nm (229lb) of torque.
The engine in the E-Class Coupé punches out 194hp and 400Nm (296lb) of torque. No wonder it’s so effortless to drive.