Mercedes C-Class Coupe (2011 – ) expert review

1. Exterior

The Mercedes C-Class Coupe comes four years after the saloon was released in 2007. Has it been worth the wait? It’s a striking car, which will appeal to owners who love the bold lines of the Mercedes but don’t need the practicality of the saloon. It’s considerably lower (41mm) and Mercedes is expecting it to appeal to younger owners. Is it as good looking as the Audi A5 and BMW 3 Series Coupe? That’s up to you to decide of course, but in our eyes the A5 has the cleanest lines.

Our rating: 3

2. Interior

The interior is a lovely place to be, with a dark soft-touch dashboard broken up by a white ‘porcelain’ or carbon fibre swathe of trim. There’s a new three-spoke sports steering wheel with a chrome central strip and the instrument binnacle now extends over the centrally mounted sat-nav and information screen. We found the seats supportive and particularly hugging in the C 63 AMG version.

Our rating: 4

3. Practicality

The C-Class Coupe is a proper four-seater, but it’s a little claustrophobic in the rear. Space is comparable to the A5 and 3 Series Coupe, which means rear seat passengers will be fine on shorter journeys, but accessing the rear seats requires you to be quite nimble. The boot measures 450 litres, 5-litres less than the A5 but 10-litres more than the 3-Series Coupe. Parking sensors are standard, helping to make awkward situations easier.

Our rating: 3

4. Ride and handling

There’s an intuitive nature to the C-Class Coupe’s demeanour on the road – your driving style seems to be more flowing, thanks to well-weighted steering and smooth brake and throttle pedals. Its body control has heaps of composure, regardless of road or camber. This is aided by its rear-wheel drive chassis, which gives its driver heaps of confidence. With so much power in the C 63 AMG version, it can also be a complete hooligan with all of its driver aids turned off, but only if you provoke it. Ride comfort felt good, with small pot holes and motorway creases barely felt in the cabin.

Our rating: 5

5. Performance

There’s no bad choice in the petrol engine line-up, which ranges from a 156bhp, 1.8-litre turbo petrol up to the 6.2-litre hand-built AMG engine with 457bhp. We drove both and found the entry-level 1.8-litre good to drive, despite its low power. Zero to 62mph in 9 seconds is just OK, but it’s the rorty and smooth way the engine delivers which makes it enjoyable. With around three times the power, the AMG C-Class Coupe is a true performance car to rival the BMW M3 Coupe and Audi RS 5. It actually beats both to 62mph, taking 4.5 seconds. Two diesel engines are offered, with 170 and 204bhp and impressive pulling power. Both have twin turbochargers and give smooth, refined performance likely to prove exceptionally popular in the UK.

Our rating: 5

6. Running costs

That every diesel model (including those fitted with an automatic gearbox) averages more than 50mpg with emissions between 133 and 143g/km of CO2 is impressive. The small C180 isn’t quite there, with fuel economy of around 40mpg and CO2 emissions of 162 to 169g/km. The C 63 AMG is on another planet, emitting 280g/km (actually not bad for a 6.2-litre V8) and returning just 23mpg. Residual values are expected to stay strong, while insurance groups range between 34 and 46. The C 220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY is the cleanest, cheapest-to-run offering. It manages an impressive 117g/km of CO2 and 64.2mpg.

Our rating: 5

7. Reliability

Few cars feel as solidly built as the C-Class Coupe, but the C-Class saloon this car is based on has been the subject of five manufacturer recalls between 2008 and 2011, suggesting there’s still room for improvement with build quality. Hopefully any faults should have been ironed out with the launch of the Coupe. Mercedes has recently come an impressive fourth in the JD Power survey, suggesting its customer service is excellent.

Our rating: 3

8. Safety

Lots of standard safety equipment is fitted, including anti-lock braking (ABS), electronic stability program (esp) and driver, passenger, knee, pelvis and side airbags. Blind spot, lane assist and speed limit assist technology is also available to help keep you safe. A pop-up bonnet is fitted to increase pedestrian safety.

Our rating: 5

9. Equipment

The trim level AMG Sport includes the COMAND Online infotainment system, with internet connectivity, Bluetooth, USB connectivity, DAB radio, Bi-xenon headlights, parking sensors, air-con, 19-inch alloy wheels and an AMG bodykit.

Our rating: 4

10. Why buy?

The Mercedes C-Class saloon has been a highly-regarded since its launch in 2007, so a sleeker and sportier Coupe version is a no-brainer. While there’s plenty of derivatives to cater for every taste, the C 63 AMG version is a true hot-rod for the 21st Century.

Our rating: 4