Mercedes E-Class Coupe: Prices, specs and reviews

Mercedes has announced its new mid-size E-Class coupe, which is expected to rival the likes of the BMW 6 Series and Audi A5.

It will be available in three trim levels - one diesel engine lifted from the saloon and two petrol units. Each will be mated to a nine-speed automatic gearbox and have adjustable air suspension as standard.

Orders have already opened, but customers will have to wait until April next year to get their hands on the car.

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Here are all the details.

Design

Many of the styling cues are taken from the C-Class and S-Class coupes, including smoother wing panelling and wider taillights. The LED taillights feature opening and closing patters, illuminating from the centre outwards when the vehicle is unlocked and running in the opposite direction when it is locked.

The E-Class also has a noticeably taller roof and features the double-bubble bonnet first seen on the legendary 300SL. There are fewer lines than on other Mercedes models in an attempt to give a sleeker and more luxurious appeal.

Inside, flashes of high-grade materials and a swooping dashboard highlights how the company is aiming to deliver a grand interior for mid-range money. Vast amounts of leather and polished wood are similar in design to the S-Class and look noticeably more upmarket than the C-Class coupe.

Technology

Inside, the car is home to an optional 12.3ins display that Mercedes says has been designed to represent a "floating windscreen". The virtual instrument cluster can be customised using three different themes - Classic, Sport and Progressive - each displaying different information depending on which style is selected.

Entry-level models come with a seven-inch digital instrument cluster as standard and an 8.4ins touchscreen display in the centre of the dashboard, which are both fixed into a single frame finished in high-gloss piano-lacquer.

Navigating the instrument cluster and infotainment system can be done via touch controls on the steering wheel, with an optional touchpad available on the centre console that can recognise finger writing and voice controls.

Engines

The E-Class coupe starts with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine that launched with the saloon earlier this year. The diesel engine, which Mercedes claims is capable of delivering 64.1mpg, will be available on E220d models.

Petrol options begin with the E300, which uses a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine. Power output is rated at 242bhp and 273lb-ft of torque and the car is said to be capable of hitting an average 40.4mpg with emissions of 189g/km.

The range-topping E400 features a 3.0-litre V6 and Mercedes's 4Matic all-wheel drive system. It has 328bhp, although the extra performance hurts the E-Class's efficiency figures, scoring a claimed 33.6mpg and emissions of 183g/km.

Towards the latter half of next year, Mercedes will also reveal an "E50 4Matic mild hybrid" variant that is expected to house its new "in-line six-cylinder engine that is set to have its debut in the S-Class", reports Autocar.

Prices

Prices for the entry-level diesel E220d start at £40,135, with the cheapest petrol coming in at £41,025 for the E300. The E400 4Matic starts at £50,775, £4,000 shy of the E43 AMG E-Class saloon.

Reviews

The E-Class Coupe is one of the "best looking coupes in years", according to AutoExpress. Its long and curved roofline make it look "very classy", while the lack of B-pillars down the side of the car "adds to the high-end appearance".

The same level of luxury transfers to the cabin, adds the magazine. The cabin is well lit and easier to see out of compared to the E-Class saloon.

While driving assistance "can feel frustratingly intrusive" on most modern cars, Top Gear says the driverless braking and steering features on the E-Class Coupe seem "entirely natural".

Buyers may want to avoid the E300, which the website says sits in a "no man's land" compared to the more economical E220d and range-topping E400. Those looking to save money on fuel and tax may want to consider the E220d, while the E400 will be more appealing to drivers who "enjoy spending money".

The E-Class saloon provides "all the ingredients" to spawn a "gorgeous" coupe, Top Gear concludes, making the E-Class Coupe a "predictably brilliant" two-door car alternative.