A CLASSIER C-CLASS COUPE (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

Introductionword count: 66

This second generation version of Mercedes' C-Class Coupe targeted two-door versions of BMW's 4 Series and Audi's A5 more effectively than the Three-Pointed Star had ever managed before. Unique styling made it stand out, there was a sporty set-up promising an invigorating drive, plus there was class-leading sophistication when it comes to suspension and automatic transmission. The result was indeed a classier kind of C-Class Coupe.

Modelsword count: 13

2dr Coupe [C220d] / 2.0 petrol [C200] / 4.0 petrol [C 53 AMG])

Historyword count: 404

Mercedes has a history stretching back to the 1950s of creating stylishly compact coupes based on its mainstream saloon designs. It's a formula that's proved pretty successful, allowing buyers to enjoy some of the glamour of the brand's exotic luxury sporting models, without the need for an appropriate lottery win. Prior to 2015 though, there hadn't really been enough of these people for Mercedes to seriously threaten its German prestige brand rivals in the executive compact coupe segment. But that started to change with this car, the second generation C-Class Coupe. At the 2015 launch, it had only been since 2011 that the Stuttgart maker had brought us a car of this kind branded as a 'C-Class Coupe'. But the heritage behind this model line was, as we suggested at the beginning, quite considerable. The 'W187' series 220S of 1951 began the post-war trend for sleek two-door Mercedes models that were relatively affordable but full of stylish charm, and was followed by a series of further coupes from this company that, over the decades, became more sophisticated and slightly larger. That meant they were pricier too, and by 1997, the brand's least expensive coupe was a CLK-Class model that was very much a premium luxury product and really too expensive to compete with the volume contenders in this segment from Audi and BMW. To create something more affordable, Mercedes brought us the C-Class Sports Coupe in 2001, a car that was then lightly facelifted and re-badged as the 'CLC-Class' in 2008. Both models though, did without the stylish quality that a proper coupe bearing the Three-Pointed Star on the bonnet really ought to have. For that, we had to wait until the launch of this car's predecessor, the first generation C-Class Coupe, introduced in 2011. It was a big improvement on anything the brand had previously offered in the modern era in this segment, but it struggled to make much of an impact on the market dominance enjoyed by direct competitors like BMW's 4 Series and Audi's A5. This MK2 design though, bothered its rivals a great deal more, with beautiful looks borrowed from the large S-Class Coupe, a roomier cabin, extra technology and on the road dynamics that made this model a great deal more engaging to drive than its predecessor. There was a light facelift in 2020, then this car sold until late 2023, when it was replaced by the CLE Coupe.

What You Getword count: 252

There's always a danger in this part of the coupe market that the contenders end up as little more than two-door versions of the saloons they're based on. Here, only the front wings and grille are shared with this car's four-door C-Class stablemate, everything else being based closely on the stylish aesthetics of Mercedes' larger and much more exclusive S-Class coupe. So the exterior looks right. What about the cabin? Well you enter through long doors and once you get comfortable then look around, you'll take in the way that the design team here made every effort to differentiate this car from its four-door stablemate. Take the way that the electrically-extending 'belt butler' graciously delivers your restraint buckle for example. Then there's the integral sports seats themselves, bespoke-designed for this model. Enough on the front; what of the rear? Once you're in the back, there are certainly signs of improvement over the previous generation design. The extra body length and width of this MK2 version does indeed translate into extra room for your knees and shoulders, but unless you're fairly diminutive in size, you'll still need some co-operation from those in front if you're to get absolutely comfortable on a longer trip. Finally, let's check out the boot space. Pulling up the tailgate reveals a large opening but also quite a high loading lip over which heavier items must be man-handled. Once you get your stuff in, you'll find a well shaped luggage bay that's 400-litres in size on all mainstream variants.

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