A MORE CREDIBLE COUPE (some text hidden) SECTIONED_new_mercedeseclasscoupe_2017

By Jonathan Crouch

Introductionword count: 80

The sixth generation Mercedes E-Class Coupe launched in 2017 proved to be sleeker and more stylish than ever, this 'C238'-series model dialling up the desirability and aiming to offer a slightly larger, more sophisticated and arguably more prestigious approach to Executive coupe motoring than obvious competitors. It did so with a more efficient engine for the volume version, plus astonishing technology and comfort aimed at making likely buyers question the need for a larger, more expensive full-Luxury segment coupe model.

Modelsword count: 19

3dr Coupe (2.0 diesel [E220d] / 3.0 diesel [E350d/E400d] / 2.0 petrol [E300] / 3.0 petrol [E400/E 53 AMG])

Historyword count: 344

The E-Class Coupe. It's the kind of car that Mercedes does very well: a luxury coupe with a prestigious badge that rewards you for a lifetime's endeavour without necessarily needing a lottery win. Here's the sixth generation 'C238'-series version launched in 2017. No other brand can replicate this recipe in quite the same way - and no other brand has a car quite like the E-Class Coupe. Yes, the same kind of budget would buy you better versions of the BMW 4 Series Coupe or the Audi A5 Coupe from this period, but these cars don't have the GT grandeur of this E-Class. And anyway, they're separately targeted by Mercedes' C-Class Coupe model. This slightly larger E-Class Coupe has a model history going back half a century. Its original ancestor, the Paul Bracq-designed W114 'Stroke 8' Coupe, was unveiled in 1968 and further model series followed, for a while using 'CLK' branding. The CLK variants were based on relatively compact Mercedes C-Class underpinnings, as was the direct predecessor to this design, the first modern-era E-Class Coupe, launched in 2009. This 'C238' version though, shared its proper executive-sized platform with the tenth generation E-Class saloon - which made all the difference. It proved to be a significantly bigger car than the previous model, both inside and out, and got a raft of fresh technology that the old car couldn't have dreamed of providing. Probably the most significant addition was the all-new 2.0-litre four cylinder diesel powerplant that the vast majority of customers for this variant went on to choose. And there was plenty else that was new to this model line; 4WD, air suspension, all-new infotainment technology, sophisticated safety systems and cutting-edge assistance features that allowed owners to take a step closer to fully autonomous driving. Plus Mercedes put greater effort into giving this variant a sportier feel than the saloon it's based upon. This model sold until mid-2020, when it was significantly facelifted and mild hybrid engine tech added. It's the pre-facelift 2017-2020-era version though, that we're looking at here as a used buy.

What You Getword count: 397

For half a century, there's been a mid-range coupe in the Mercedes line-up and this stylish sixth generation E-Class Coupe is likely to remain longer in the memory than most. The most elegant touch is one we particularly like, the pillar-less side profile that references the Mercedes W114 'Stroke 8' of 1968, the coupe recognised as the originator of this model line. The absence of this central bar together with the frameless window design means that with everything opened up (ie. all the side windows down), you get a wonderful sense of airy freedom that on the move is further enhanced if you've a car whose original owner also selected the optional panoramic glass sunroof. Take a seat inside and Mercedes' now traditional 'belt butler' hands you your seatbelt over your shoulder on an extending arm, a nice little touch that really sets the tone for this car. Take a look around and you'll find that, as expected, apart from a few extra trimming panels, the basic architecture of the cabin is shared with the E-Class Saloon, the only really unique difference being the more distinctive air vents - there are no fewer than four of them in the centre of the fascia, all with styling that's supposed to echo the look of a turbine engine. The other main cabin talking point is this double-screen instrument panel which was standard on six cylinder models but optional on four cylinder variants. It combines a 12.3-inch virtual instrument display with a second centre-dash 'COMMAND Online' monitor of the same size, both screens fitted into a single frame. Once you're in the back, there are certainly signs of improvement over the previous generation model. The 113mm increase in wheelbase does indeed translate into extra stretching space - there's 74mm more knee room. Plus thanks to 74mm of body width, there's 34mm more space for your shoulders. And boot space? Well you'd expect that this sixth generation model's 123mm of extra body length would have provided for a larger boot in this 'C238'-series car. Actually, when you lift the lid you find that the reverse is true, there being actually 25-litres less than there was before, the total now being 425-litres. Should you want to carry longer items, the split-folding rear seat has two larger outer sections and a narrower middle portion that's ideal for pushing through skis or golf clubs.

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