Best Of
Best coupes 2022
Coupes are pure automotive indulgence for those lucky enough not to have practicality as their primary concern – here are our picks
Words by: Auto Trader
Additional words by: Dan Trent
Last updated on 31 August 2022 | 0 min read
Not so long ago coupe meant a two-door car somewhere on the spectrum from hardcore sports cars to relaxed grand tourers but these days the term also includes saloons and SUVs with sleekened lines, sloping rooflines and a more dynamic image. Some of the latter may be stretching the idea somewhat but, however you define it, the common theme is that, in varying degrees, coupes put style and image ahead of practicality. In the purest sense they remain an aspirational dream for those young enough not to be worrying where the kids are going sit or those who’ve reached an age where they’ve flown the nest and can indulge themselves. In short, a coupe is a car that makes you feel good about yourself.
For this shortlist we’re looking at a spread of traditional coupes, which is to say stylish two-door cars ranging from sporty to pure luxury. Some are more toward one end than the other, some manage to play both sides, some reinterpret tradition for the modern age while others are forward looking and futuristic. Take your pick!
For this shortlist we’re looking at a spread of traditional coupes, which is to say stylish two-door cars ranging from sporty to pure luxury. Some are more toward one end than the other, some manage to play both sides, some reinterpret tradition for the modern age while others are forward looking and futuristic. Take your pick!
Toyota GR Supra
It’s apparently impossible to discuss the Supra without mentioning it shares its foundations with the BMW Z4 but, where the German brand created a cruisey convertible, Toyota has used the same raw materials to reboot its classic coupe with real style. With a turbocharged engines, rear-wheel drive and lots of power it’s at the sporty end of the spectrum but the automatic gearbox, comfy interior and decent amount of boot space mean it’s just as comfortable on a road trip as it is the race track. Previous Supras were tuning legends and the embodiment of Fast & Furious culture, and it’s nice that Toyota has acknowledged that in the new one’s aggressive looks and its muscular character. Purists can even have it with a manual transmission now, too. A Japanese muscle car, reinvented but still very much in touch with its heritage.
Search for a new or used Toyota Supra on Auto Trader
Search for a new or used Toyota Supra on Auto Trader
BMW 4 Series
BMW makes hatchbacks and SUVs now but its classic sporting saloons and coupes still define the brand DNA. The new 4 Series upholds that tradition in fine style, using its 3 Series foundations to good effect but with a very different look and feel thanks to its swoopier lines and sportier set-up. There’s a ton of tech in this new car but the great news is it still delivers for keen drivers, the various systems supporting the fun of being at the wheel rather than intruding on it. While it’s obviously less practical than the saloon it’s based on you can have your 4 Series with a sensible small petrol or diesel engine as well as a big, powerful six-cylinder one. It’s reasonably practical, too. A coupe you can potentially buy with head and heart in agreement.
Search for a new or used BMW 4 Series coupe on Auto Trader
Search for a new or used BMW 4 Series coupe on Auto Trader
Porsche 718 Cayman
Oh, how the debates have raged since the 718 Cayman was launched. Had dropping the previous version’s charismatic six-cylinder engine for a turbocharged four-cylinder robbed it of its core appeal? Perhaps for some people, but the car is so good that it remains top of the class. Even if you think the engine doesn't sound quite as exciting it arguably packs a meaner punch and the rest of the car is superb. It steers and handles like few cars at any price point, and it has a beautiful cabin. The two luggage areas even give it an element of practicality. In tacit acknowledgement of the criticism Porsche even revived a six-cylinder option with the GTS and GT4 versions, so you can have your cake and eat it, should you wish. See Rory Reid’s video road test on the GTS for more.
Search for a new or used Porsche 718 Cayman on Auto Trader
Search for a new or used Porsche 718 Cayman on Auto Trader
Ford Mustang V8
Sure, the Mach-e may have appropriated some Mustang heritage to its own electrified ends. And done it rather well. But, thankfully, Ford still offers a more traditional petrol-powered Mustang to keep the real fans happy, though if you’re going all-in you should really refer to it as a fastback rather than a coupe. Sure, you can have a convertible if you want. And our own Rory Reid has one of his own. But, with apologies to Rory, the hardtop has the classic look and, paired with the 5.0-litre V8 and manual gearbox, driving manners to match. Just don’t ask about running costs.
Search for a new or used Ford Mustang on Auto Trader
Search for a new or used Ford Mustang on Auto Trader
Ferrari Roma
Ferrari has a fine tradition of building supercars seemingly one step removed from the racing machinery that maintains its proud competition heritage on racetracks the world over. But as a road car manufacturer it actually started out building more luxurious sporting coupes in the traditional gran turismo style. Which is to say the luxury lifestyle of fast cars driven to exotic locations, not the video game. The latest Roma channels that spirit and reinvents it for the modern age in glorious fashion, as Rory discovered for himself in an unforgettable drive in Italy. It may not be the fastest or sharpest Ferrari in the line-up. But, all things relative, it's still way quicker than any rivals, gorgeous to look at, lovely to be in and the road-oriented performance is probably more enjoyable, more of the time. A Ferrari for grown-ups, and a glorious modern twist on a classic formula.
Search for a new or used Ferrari Roma on Auto Trader
Search for a new or used Ferrari Roma on Auto Trader
Bentley Continental GT
We recently enjoyed a day out playing with curiosities from what Bentley calls its ‘toy box’ or, to put it another way, its amazing collection of classic models stretching back to the R-Type Continental of the early 50s. Understanding more about this incredible heritage helped us appreciate ever more just how good the latest Continental GT really is, too. It’s obviously monumentally powerful and fast, whether you go for the V8 or the W12 engined big daddy. It’s greatest trick, however, is making you feel special even when you’re just pottering about or on the daily commute. You could be doing the most boring journey possible. But if you’re doing it in a Continental GT it’ll still make you feel on top of the world.
Search for a new or used Bentley Continental GT on Auto Trader
Search for a new or used Bentley Continental GT on Auto Trader
Lexus LC
Concept cars look great at motor shows (if, indeed, such things will ever take place again) and for years Lexus teased us with a succession of futuristic looking coupes that looked way better than anything it actually sold. Then, shockingly, it actually built the LC and,, all of a sudden you could drive a Lexus that looked every bit as good as those swoopy design studies. So Japanese it’s as if the design process involved slicing at the clay model with a Samurai sword, the LC is utterly gorgeous inside and out, obsessively well-made and all the more attractive for the fact its single-minded philosophy will only appeal to a very select crowd. Cool, individualistic and very, very beautiful.
Search for a new or used Lexus LC on Auto Trader
Search for a new or used Lexus LC on Auto Trader
Alpine A110
Many consider Alpine ‘the French Porsche’ but in fact it’s more like a Gallic twist on the lightweight traditions of Lotus. Whatever, the A110 trades heavily on Alpine’s past, reinventing its classic Berlinette coupe for the modern age and – just like that car – leaning heavily on its Renault links. The result is an incredibly light car that rewards keen drivers and makes more of its modest power than you’d expect. It’s also fantastically comfortable, with ride quality more like a limo but the responses and agility of a true sports car. True, it’s small and you’ll need to pack light. But as the embodiment of less-is-more chic the Alpine is like a breath of fresh mountain air, recent updates expanding the range and finally adding welcome tech like CarPlay.
Search for a new or used Alpine A110 on Auto Trader
Search for a new or used Alpine A110 on Auto Trader