Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe Review 2023

Buying a coupe like the Mercedes-Benz E-Class is typically all about ditching the practicality of a four-door saloon, and opting for style and performance instead. Yet the E-Class actually manages to prove that grace and usefulness do not need to be mutually exclusive. 

Don’t get too carried away thinking the E-Class Coupe is an MPV in a swanky suit. It has its limits, but offers space to carry four people around in leather-clad luxury. It also manages to be relaxing and comfortable to drive, meaning everyone should arrive at their destination feeling refreshed. 

It would work perfectly as a second car for a growing family, being able to help on the school run where needed. Alternatively, it could be a more than acceptable place to while away the hours on the daily commute, or heading off for a weekend away.

From launch, the number of trim levels available for the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe has been refreshingly simple. Other than the standalone AMG E 53, all other models begin with standard AMG Line specification, then offer a series of optional upgrades on top.

AMG Line should be more than acceptable for most, with 19-inch alloy wheels, satellite navigation and electrically adjustable seats. However, cars with the optional Comand Online multimedia system are certainly desirable to find. 

The four-cylinder engines promote efficiency, but can be a little noisy when pushed hard. It makes the petrol V6 E 400 or later E 450 difficult to ignore, not least because they come with the super comfy air suspension system as standard.

The size of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe actually puts this Mercedes-Benz in a fairly unique position, with no direct competitors. 

From the class below is the BMW 4 Series Coupe, which delivers a more engaging driving experience than the E-Class. However, it does not have such a luxurious interior, nor does it have the same amount of space for those in the back seats. 

It is a similar story with the Audi A5 Coupe, which will again be more cramped for rear passengers. The now-defunct BMW 6 Series Coupe offers a closer degree of interior space, but is a much more focussed driving machine. Slightly bigger is the BMW 8 Series.

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe is not a cheap car to buy, and the quality of the interior reflects the premium status of the Mercedes-Benz badge. 

Close rivals like the BMW 4 Series and Audi A5 cannot compete with the outright quality of the E-Class Coupe’s interior. The fact it shares a layout taken from the flagship Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe demonstrates just how special this interior really is. 

At the heart of the dashboard is a strip of wooden trim, which makes for a bold design statement. The options list allows different types of wood, or even metal, to be used instead of the standard black open-pore ash. LED ambient lighting is also fitted as standard, giving a classy look to the dashboard. 

Artico artificial leather is used on other parts of the dashboard, along with plenty of metal trim for switchgear and design details. The air vents are an intriguing shape, while an analogue clock is another subtle hint at luxury. 

AMG Line cars have their seats finished in a combination of black Artico artificial leather with inserts of Dinamica suede. Full leather upholstery is optional, whilst the AMG E 53 has special Nappa leather with red stitching and red seat belts.

The interior of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe features an impressive display screen, taking up more than half of the upper dashboard. It is a design first seen in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, and looks just as huge inside this smaller car. 

Although it may look like one huge display, there are actually two distinct parts at play. One screen is responsible for the normal dashboard gauges and instruments, whilst the other handles the infotainment system. Depending on the model of E-Class, and the options picked, the nature of these screens differs. 

The standard layout, as found on early E 220d and E 300 AMG Line models is an 8.4-inch multimedia screen, with conventional instruments for the driver. It works fine, but all other models benefit from the more impressive widescreen Comand Online layout. 

Cars with Comand Online have a larger 12.3-inch multimedia screen, along with a digital dashboard instead of the normal gauges. The displays can be customised from three options, and also bring extra ambient LED lighting for the cabin.  

A DAB radio, two USB ports, Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay and SD card-based navigation are all standard. Comand Online cars gain an updateable hard drive navigation system, too.

A rotary touchpad on the centre console, along with smaller touchpads on the steering wheel, controls all the functions. Voice commands can also be used. 

In 2020 the Mercedes E-Class was updated with Mercedes MBUX being added. It's one of the best infotainment systems around.

The slightly unusual size of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe at 4846mm long, 2055mm wide (including mirrors) and 1427mm tall, actually gives it a notable advantage in the executive coupe market. Being bigger than coupes like the Audi A5 or BMW 4 Series means it can act as a true four-seater. 

Those in the front seats certainly get the better part of the deal, with plenty of room to get comfortable in the electrically adjustable seats. Head and shoulder room should never be a problem, and even the tallest of drivers will feel at home behind the steering wheel. 

Beneath the armrest integrated into the centre console lies a deep storage cubby, with sizable door pockets and cup holders also included.There are also pockets on the back of the front seats, plus storage nets beneath the rear seats.

With only two rear seats, the space on offer should be more than acceptable for adults on longer journeys. The sloping roofline does eat into headroom a little, but it is still substantially better than other premium coupes. Legroom should not be an issue, and the seats are more comfortable than those fitted to the related Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet.

The rear seats do split 40/20/40, adding an extra degree of usefulness to the E-Class Coupe. It means longer items can be passed through from the boot easily. That boot itself can accommodate a reasonable 425-litres, although this is slightly less than the capacity of the BMW 4 Series or Audi A5. E-Class drivers can at least point out that they have a bigger boot than that found in the (more expensive) Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe.

A powered boot opening can be found on cars with the optional Premium package, making popping the trunk a lot easier. The actual opening itself is quite narrow, which can cause difficulties in loading bigger items. At least the boot floor is flat and wide. 

There is no point lifting the boot mat to look for a spare wheel. To save space and weight, Mercedes-Benz fits run-flat tyres to the E-Class Coupe instead.

The launch line-up for the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe saw a choice of two petrol engines and two diesels. All were turbocharged, and came fitted as standard with Mercedes-Benz’s excellent nine-speed automatic transmission. 

While the E 220d may be the entry-level diesel, it has also proved the most popular engine choice. The 2.0-litre four-cylinder produces a useful 194PS, and was initially offered with the option of 4Matic four-wheel drive. Such cars are rare on the market, though. 

The 3.0-litre V6 E 350d diesel was sold until November 2018, offering 258PS and standard four-wheel drive. It delivers a lot more performance than the E 220 d, with 0-62mph taking 6.0 seconds instead of 7.4.

In 2018 the E 350 d was replaced by a new E 400 d V6 diesel, pushing peak power to an even more substantial 340PS. Four-wheel drive was retained as standard. The E 300 d was also introduced, making 245PS from its four-cylinder engine. 

The V6 diesels make sense for those covering extra miles, with a decent blend of performance and economy. Early petrol engine choices consisted of the 245PS E 300 four-cylinder, and the 333PS E 400 V6 with four-wheel drive. The 2018 update saw the four-cylinder E 350 added with 299PS, whilst the E 450 V6 replaced the E 400.

The E 300 feels relatively quick, with 0-62mph in 6.4 seconds and a top speed of 155mph. Yet the E 400 takes just 5.4 seconds to do the same 0-62mph run, and also has the benefit of standard four-wheel drive. 

At the top of the range is the AMG E 53, with its twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre straight-six producing 435PS. It comes with 4Matic four-wheel drive, and even features mild hybrid technology for an additional power boost. Zero to 62mph takes just 4.5 seconds. 

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe is designed to cover long distances with ease, and Mercedes has ensured it remains quiet and refined on the inside. Wind noise is well controlled, and tyre noise is also kept to a minimum despite the big wheels fitted. 

The four-cylinder petrol E 300 and E350 can start to sound coarse when revved hard, even though this does nothing to affect their power delivery. The E 300 does at least come with a sports exhaust system, but it can still never be as close to the sound of V6 petrols. If you want the best in tailpipe entertainment, you will need a six-cylinder E-Class Coupe. 

The AMG E 53 comes with its own unique AMG sports exhaust system, giving it a special noise of its own. It creates a deep burble when first started up, and sounds superb on the move, with pops and bangs from the tailpipe when shifting gear. 

Should you pick one of the popular diesel engines, the four-cylinder versions will act as a reminder to what is beneath the bonnet when cold. The diesel V6s do reduce the clatter, but the six-cylinder petrol options sound sweeter. 

Mercedes-Benz has a reputation for building safe cars, having pioneered life-saving technology like airbags in the 1980s. The Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe continues that legacy, being packed with safety kit. 

The E-Class Coupe has not been formally crash tested by Euro NCAP, but the similar E-Class saloon was tested when first launched. It scored the maximum five-star rating, and the Coupe is likely to perform just as well in similar circumstances. 

Helping promote safety are the wealth of airbags fitted as standard. This includes curtain bags, window bags and a knee airbag for the driver. The E-Class can automatically start braking if it thinks a collision is imminent, and the central locking will open automatically after a crash.

All E-Class Coupes come with electronic stability control and traction control as standard, along with Attention Assist to warn if the driver is at risk of falling asleep. The optional Driving Assistance Package adds more features, including Active Blind-Spot Assist, Lane-Keeping Assist, and Evasive Steering Assist. 

Front and rear parking sensors are fitted to every model, along with a reversing camera. Later models feature the option of an advanced 360-degree surround-view camera, with Remote Parking Assist also available. This lets the driver park the car remotely by using a compatible Apple device – handy if you need to get into a tight space with no room to open the doors.

ISOFIX child seat mountings are provided on the two rear seats, with automatic child seat detection sensors included. The front seats slide forward electronically, making it easier to gain access to the rear bench. 

Mercedes-Benz does not include a spare wheel, but all models come with run-flat tyres and tyre pressure monitoring.

Mercedes-Benz generally performs well for reliability, ranking 13th out of 30 manufacturers in the latest HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Index with an overall satisfaction score of 87.9%. The E-Class saloon scored an impressive average of 9.22 out of 10 for reliability. 

It is unlikely that novice drivers will be looking to insure an Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe, with it being pitched at those with more experience behind the wheel. 

The lowest insurance rating goes to the AMG Line E 220d diesel, placed in group 35 out of 50. Sitting above this is the E 300 petrol at group 37, with the more powerful E 400 in group 41. 

More performance means a higher insurance rating, with the diesel E 400d 4Matic rated as group 48 in AMG Line Premium Plus trim. 

Mercedes-Benz fits an alarm as standard to all E-Class Coupes, with remote tracking available through the MercedesMe online system. Investing in a standalone tracker may also be worthwhile.

Due to when the first examples of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe were delivered, some fall into a different VED (road tax) scheme than later examples. 

Models registered before April 2017 are rare to find, but would see the E 220d eligible for road tax of just £30 a year. A petrol E 300 of a similar age would be liable for £205 per year, with the E 400 higher still, at £305. 

All versions registered after March 2017 fall into the new VED regime. A list price in excess of £40,000 means that they incur the additional £325 annual charge after the first year of registration, taking the annual total to £475.

Mercedes-Benz has kept trim levels for the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe relatively simple since launch, with only minor changes being made. 

Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe AMG Line is the starting point for Coupe ownership. Models made before the 2018 update come with 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, ambient interior lighting, SD-card satellite navigation and heated front seats. 

A Premium package adds a panoramic glass sunroof and memory function for the front seats. The Premium Plus pack goes further, with the Burmester surround-sound system and intelligent LED headlights. 

Models made after November 2018 all begin at Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe AMG Line Premium specification, with Multibeam LED headlights and the Comand Online multimedia system now standard. 

The Mercedes-AMG E 53 4Matic+ benefits from 19-inch AMG wheels, a 360-degree parking camera, AMG bodystyling and Nappa leather upholstery. Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe E 53 Premium Plus models have 20-inch alloy wheels, privacy glass and a panoramic glass sunroof. 

All versions of the E-Class Coupe are well equipped, offering good value for money. Cars with air suspension and the Comand Online system are especially desirable.