Sharing just its bonnet and front wings with the C-Class saloon, the Coupe boasts frameless door windows and a curvaceous rear end, which in our opinion makes it the best-looking Merc for years. It’s the most advanced too, with a range of turbocharged petrol and diesel engines promising strong economy as well as performance.

So, this luxury German Coupe is stylish, but can it offer as much long-distance comfort as it can fun when the road gets more interesting?

Performance

There’s a brace of 2.0-litre petrol engines along with the 2.1-litre diesel fitted in the 220 d we tested and the more powerful 250 d. Power is a reasonable 168bhp, while torque is more impressive at 400Nm, enough shove to get from 0-62mph in 7.8 seconds in the manual and 7.5 if you mash the throttle with the 9G Tronic nine-speed automatic fitted.

We’d recommend the latter, because it certainly suits the car down to the ground. With smooth shifts and less effort from the driver, the auto instantly feels more luxurious, and you also get the option to change manually if you choose to. This is, however, one area where the auto falls down slightly, as nine gears feels like an awful lot to choose from, or remember which gear you are in.

Ride and Handling

The steering feels weightier than the C-Class saloon

As with most Mercedes models, there are lots of ways to customise the driving experience. Choose the AMG Line trim and it gets a 15mm lower ride height and firmer suspension, but this can be superseded by the Airmatic Dynamic Handling Package, which allows you to choose different settings for a smoother or more focussed drive. The steering feels weightier than the C-Class saloon, while the lower driving position also adds up to a sportier feel. This clearly isn’t an out-and-out sports car, but rear-wheel drive, coupled with high-performance tyres adds up to lots of grip, so it’s easy to cover ground without shedding much speed. Doing so is comfortable too, with most bumps filtered out of the cabin and the same goes for wind noise. The diesel engine can get a bit unruly at higher revs, but is less of an issue when you drive at a steady speed.

Interior and Equipment

The AMG C 63 S version of the C-Class Coupe makes 503bhp and can accelerate from 0-62mph in 3.9 seconds.

The Coupe clearly takes most of its interior from the C-Class saloon, which is no bad thing, as it has one of the best in the business. Mercedes has really improved its cabin quality of late and the Coupe feels truly luxurious. There are just two trim levels: Sport and AMG Line, both of which are well-equipped as standard. The tablet-style infotainment screen gets a reversing camera and sat-nav, while Artico upholstery, parking sensors and autonomous braking are also included. Go for the AMG Line and the steering wheel is enhanced, along with larger alloys, black roof lining and an AMG body kit. There are also several packs, including a Premium Package which brings highlights like a panoramic sunroof and keyless entry, or a Premium Plus Package adding a Burmester stereo upgrade and eight-inch infotainment screen. Space in the front is excellent, with plenty of seat adjustment for taller folks, however the Coupe has the rear space disadvantages you’d expect versus the saloon. Access to the rear seats is tight and the sloping roofline cuts into headroom and makes the seats rather upright. There’s space for four adults in a pinch, but the rear is better suited to kids. The boot is fairly large for a Coupe, with 400 litres of space, however the BMW 4 Series and Audi A5 both have more with 450 litres.

Cost

Both the auto and manual 220 d return 68.9mpg

Prices range from just over £30k to just under £38k, with the 220 d AMG Line coming in at £36k. Saying that, the version we tested came in at just under £43k with a list of tasty options, including the Airmatic Dynamic Handling Package, Premium Plus Package and LED lighting. Both the auto and manual 220 d return 68.9mpg and emit between 106g/km and 116g/km depending on which gearbox and alloy wheels you choose. This puts it roughly on an even footing with the BMW 420d, which has economy from 63 to 70mpg.

Our Verdict

The C-Class Coupe has taken a big step forwards, with more style, technology and a better drive. It’s not the cheapest car, but importantly, it feels expensive from behind the wheel. With competition as tough as the 4 Series and A5, this segment is hardly a walkover, but we can see plenty of reasons why someone would fall for the charms of this coupe.