Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe (2017 – 2023) Review

Unlike most coupes, which compromise on interior space, the E-Class can accommodate passengers and luggage with relative ease. It’s no people carrier, but will carry four in leather-lined luxury. Interior opulence is exactly where the E-Class delivers, feeling far more expensive than even its premium price tag suggests. The cabin is packed with the latest multimedia technology, while the engine range stretches from an economical diesel to a turbocharged AMG petrol. Just remember the E-Class is more of a refined cruiser than a true sports car.

When picking between a coupe or saloon model, choosing the sleeker two-door version typically means a compromise on interior practicality. By occupying a strange hinterland in the marketplace, however, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe manages to offer both grace and space. 

Being based on the E-Class executive saloon means that the two-door version is bigger than average for a coupe. It’s a noticeable step up in scale from rivals like the Audi A5 or BMW 4 Series, leaving the E-Class Coupe all by itself. It also manages to be more affordable than fancier alternatives like the BMW 8 Series or Lexus LC.

By filling this market niche, the E-Class Coupe is a (relatively) affordable premium two-door car that can cope with everyday life. Four adults will fit inside in comfort, courtesy of a generous level of rear legroom and headroom. The 425-litre boot will also swallow your luggage for a weekend away, and will be untroubled by your weekly food shop. 

Even without this considerable degree of usability, the E-Class Coupe would already be a desirable car. The proportions have created a truly handsome machine, while the sporty details provide real presence. It all makes for a bold statement, and leaves onlookers in no doubt that you are driving a ‘proper’ premium coupe. 

While it may look like a sports car on the outside, beneath the svelte bodywork is a much more relaxed and refined offering. Forget ideas of attacking your favourite country road, and adjust your mindset to enjoying the E-Class as a personal luxury car.

It does have clever steering and suspension, but these cannot overcome the sheer mass involved here. Models fitted with the optional air suspension have an enhanced level of ride comfort, but even standard cars feel pliant on rough tarmac. 

Engine choices range from affordable four-cylinder petrols and diesels through to turbocharged V6 options. All come with an excellent nine-speed automatic gearbox, with 4Matic four-wheel drive included on certain versions. The V6 motors may cost more to run, but their effortless pace suits the laid-back nature of the E-Class.

Ultimate performance can be found in the AMG E 53 4Matic+, which uses a turbocharged straight-six petrol engine. It has formidable pace, but still does not manage to transform the E-Class into a properly engaging sports car.

However, the sumptuous interior is enough to make you forget about how the E-Class drives. Leather and metal trim can be found throughout the cabin, with the floating dashboard design inspired by the opulent S-Class Coupe.

The latest models feature an advanced MBUX multimedia system, which is capable of using augmented reality for navigation instructions. Mercedes does also offer options packages to customise the E-Class, although these can add a hefty amount to the list price. 

It all means that while the E-Class Coupe is a rare beast, it manages to deliver an appealing package on many levels. A handsome exterior, luxurious interior and a wealth of equipment make it hard to ignore. The cosseting driving experience means you could find your motoring zen here. 

A sporty exterior and impressive engine performance raise your expectations. But the reality is that Mercedes has built this car as a refined grand tourer, placing the focus on comfort instead. 

As a large and rather heavy coupe, the E-Class cannot defy the laws of physics. Its speed-sensitive steering offers a reasonable amount of feedback, with the weight able to be changed depending on your mood. However, the overall feeling is that the E-Class feels happiest when driven in a relaxed manner, rather than hunting down the apex of the next corner. 

The adjustable suspension supports this, with ‘Comfort’ mode delivering the best ride quality. Most models use traditional steel springs, while earlier cars had Air Body Control available as an option. This uses air suspension to deliver an even more luxurious ride, and is a desirable option to have.

AMG E 53 coupes use a modified air suspension system, intended to offer improved cornering ability. The E 53 may have the technical prowess to cling on in bends, but it still doesn’t feel 100 percent committed to the party.

All the petrol and diesel engine options for the E-Class Coupe are turbocharged, and all come fitted with a nine-speed automatic gearbox as standard. The 4Matic four-wheel-drive system is also available on select versions, replacing the standard rear-wheel-drive setup.

Petrol choices began with the 245PS four-cylinder E 300, and 333PS V6 E 400. An update in 2018 added the short lived four-cylinder E 350 and replaced the E 400 with the more powerful 299PS E 450 V6. The latest 2020 petrol engines all feature mild-hybrid technology, using the Mercedes EQ Boost system.

The diesel range starts with the four-cylinder 194PS E 220d, which has fast become the most popular engine option. It offers impressive fuel economy and respectable pace for those covering longer distances. The four-cylinder 245PS E 300d was also offered for a short period.

However, the early 258PS E 350d and later 340PS E 400d V6 diesels offer effortless ability that suits the nature of the E-Class. Indeed, for both petrol and diesel models, choosing the V6 engine option will deliver a more rewarding driving experience. 

For ultimate speed, the AMG E 53 is equipped with a turbocharged straight-six petrol engine. With 435PS, it offers rapid acceleration, and benefits from a mild-hybrid boost of power. Four-wheel drive is also fitted to help transfer it all safely to the road.

Mercedes-Benz has continued to push the boundaries of safety technology, and the E-Class Coupe is no exception to this. 

There are multiple airbags inside the cabin, along with standard features such as electronic stability control. The optional Driving Assistance Package adds more safety tech, including active blind-spot assist, lane-keeping assist, and evasive steering assist.

The newest 2020 versions can sense if the driver has their hands on the steering wheel. If not, the E-Class will initiate a series of warnings, before finally activating the brakes to slow and stop the car. 

Front and rear parking sensors are standard on all models, plus a reversing camera. Updated versions gain an impressive 360-degree surround-view camera, along with a parking assist programme. 

There is no spare wheel as standard, but all models come with run-flat tyres and tyre pressure monitoring.

It may not be the most obvious choice of tow car, but the E-Class Coupe does have the ability to pull sizeable loads.

All non-AMG petrol and diesel E-Class Coupes have an official maximum braked towing capacity of up to 1800kg. This is reduced to 750kg for unbraked trailers.  

AMG E53 models sold before 2020 were rated with a maximum capacity of 1900kg.

As well as meaning it has no natural rivals, the size of the E-Class Coupe also endows it with a useful degree of practicality. Coupes typically require a compromise on space for passengers and luggage, but the E-Class lets you have your cake and eat it.

Room in the front is genuinely luxurious, with plenty of adjustment to accommodate driver and passenger whatever their size. There are only two seats in the back, but they should prove roomy enough to carry adults on longer journeys. Headroom is slightly limited by the coupe roofline, but should only become a problem for the very tall. 

At 425 litres, boot space in the E-Class Coupe is actually larger than Mercedes-Benz’s flagship S-Class Coupe. This is less capacity than an Audi A5 or BMW 4 Series, but the back seats do split 40:20:40 to accommodate bulky items.

Inherited from the extravagant S-Class Coupe, it has a dashboard that appears to float above the centre console. 

LED ambient lighting adds to the effect, while quality materials like open-pore ash wood and metal detailing feature extensively. The latest 2020 models all have genuine leather upholstery, whereas earlier entry-level versions used Artico artificial leather instead. The AMG E 53 features carbon fibre trim, plus sports seats clad in Nappa leather.

For many potential buyers, a few moments inside the E-Class Coupe will probably be enough to convince them to sign the paperwork.

One of the interior highlights of the E-Class Coupe is the widescreen display that dominates the dashboard. It features two screens: a digital dashboard and a separate multimedia display. The size of these varies depending on the model chosen, with those using the Comand Online system gaining larger 12.3-inch units. 

The standard level of technology is extensive, with DAB radio, two USB ports, Apple CarPlay and Bluetooth all included. All models have satellite navigation, with Premium models using a more advanced hard-drive-based version.

Updates for 2020 bring the new Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) to the E-Class Coupe. This includes being able to use the multimedia display as a touchscreen, along with new voice commands. These operate like a smartphone assistant, responding to the phrase “Hey, Mercedes” to adjust settings.

New prices for the 2020 Mercedes E-Class Coupe have just been announced, with only a marginal increase in expenditure needed. Compared to the smaller C-Class Coupe, the pricing for the E-Class offers better value for money. 

The range begins at £45,020 for the diesel E 220d in AMG Line Premium specification, with the petrol E 300 slightly more at £45,500. The impressive petrol V6 E 450 4Matic starts at £59,210, while the performance AMG E 53 is yours from £66,060. 

Finance offers on the newest 2020 E-Class Coupe models are yet to filter through to Mercedes showrooms, but deals can be found on the pre-facelift model. Outgoing versions from dealership stock start at £39,923 for an E 220d in AMG Line specification. With a £2,500 deposit, on a 48-month PCP deal limited to 10,000 miles per year, this would cost £552 per month.

Having proven popular with buyers since launch in 2017, there is a relatively plentiful supply of used E-Class Coupes available. Mercedes-Benz dealerships can offer manufacturer-approved models, and are likely to have the best stock of nearly-new examples. Older models can be found at independent used showrooms.

Prices for an E 220d in AMG Line specification start at around £19,000 for the oldest examples. However, a nearly-new model with a low mileage from a Mercedes-Benz dealer will be closer to £30,000. The V6 E 400d is relatively easy to find on forecourts, with nearly-new prices in the region of £35,000.

Diesel E-Class Coupes have been so preferred by new buyers that finding a petrol version needs more determination. Early examples of the four-cylinder E 300 start from £28,000, with the V6 E 400 closer to £32,000.

Be patient should you want to find the performance AMG E 53. They do exist on the used market, but are in short supply. Should you find one, bank on spending at least £45,000.

With powerful engines and plenty of technology, the E-Class is no featherweight. This has a notable effect when it comes to fuel consumption. Of the latest 2020 versions, the four-cylinder diesel E 220d is the most frugal on paper, with an official 48.7mpg in WLTP tests. For comparison, the V6 diesel E 400d records 39.2mpg on the same test.

Petrols fare worse, with the four-cylinder E 300 proving something of a false economy. It’s official 35.3mpg is only marginally better than the 32.1mpg achieved by the V6 E 450, which delivers far more performance. The AMG E 53 is better than you might expect, with the potential for up to 30.4mpg. In short, if you want a petrol, buy on performance rather than economy.  

Insurance group ratings range from 34 (out of 50) for the E 220d, through to group 48 for the E 400d AMG Line Premium Plus. 

Almost all examples of the E-Class Coupe are covered by the latest VED (road tax) regulations. Any version registered after March 2017 will be subject to these rules. 

Bargain hunters should keep an eye out for the handful of E 220d models registered before April 2017. These cars qualify for a yearly VED charge of just £30.

All later cars crossed the £40,000 list price threshold, meaning they incur the additional £325 annual charge after the first year of registration, taking the annual total to £475. This premium lasts for five years after the first year.

Mercedes-Benz has been particularly generous with the standard specification of the E-Class Coupe. All versions are variants of the AMG Line trim, which comes fitted with plenty of special equipment. 

From launch, basic AMG Line cars came fitted with 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and satellite navigation that uses an SD card. This trim was discontinued after the 2018 update. 

An optional Premium package installs a huge panoramic sunroof, along with a memory function for the front seats. Intelligent LED headlights and a Burmester sound system can be found in the Premium Plus package.

Updates in 2018 made adaptive multibeam LED headlights standard across the range, along with the Comand Online media system. The latest 2020 versions now have the impressive MBUX multimedia system, plus a 360-degree camera and leather upholstery on all models.

AMG E 53 models benefit from a range of special features, with unique styling elements, an AMG performance exhaust and carbon fibre interior trim. Air suspension and four-wheel drive are also fitted to all AMG E53 coupes.