Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe E250 (A) Facelift Review
02 Aug 2013|30,919 views
It is hard, at times, to justify the saying "more is better".
That moment comes when you are faced with a car like the E-Class Coupe, when the statement can become easily arguable.
Two less doors add immediate appeal to the already good looking E-Class
For starters, how do you actually go about convincing people that the sedan, by having two more doors, is better than the coupe? Surely, coupes are much more desirable.
While looks can be very personal, we are sure that walking out from a sedan will instantly make you an 'uncle'. The same, though, cannot be said for the coupe.
Exterior
We have seen how Mercedes scored with stately boxy designs on their cars. Even of recent, the facelifted E-Class sedan retained much of the squarish overalls.
The coupe though does with svelter, sweeping lines, which help it pull off a more graceful silhouette.
That moment comes when you are faced with a car like the E-Class Coupe, when the statement can become easily arguable.
For starters, how do you actually go about convincing people that the sedan, by having two more doors, is better than the coupe? Surely, coupes are much more desirable.
While looks can be very personal, we are sure that walking out from a sedan will instantly make you an 'uncle'. The same, though, cannot be said for the coupe.
Exterior
We have seen how Mercedes scored with stately boxy designs on their cars. Even of recent, the facelifted E-Class sedan retained much of the squarish overalls.
The coupe though does with svelter, sweeping lines, which help it pull off a more graceful silhouette.
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The LED treatments on both ends score high in our books. Particularly at the rear end, the 'tetris-like' LED lights are hard not to fall for. Like a delicate piece of art, it adds a tinge of sophistication to the rump.
It is clear that the E-Class coupe wasn't conceived to portray a racer's attitude. That though does not stop Mercedes from giving it some spruced-up looks - courtesy of the AMG body kit (an $11k option). The end result is remarkable, and the car looks much more aggressive than before.
Don't get us wrong. The AMG-kitted isn't the 'fizzy' kind of exciting like its smaller A250 sibling, but more like a grown-up man in a smart, crisp-cut suit. And even in 'tamer-looking' silver paint, our test car looks adeptly sporty.
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Interior
We'd begin by saying that there is nothing much to shout about for the E-Class coupe's interior. But that is only because quality and comfort is already synonymous with the marque's offerings.
Straight after the acquaintance with the sedan, most things in the coupe look largely familiar. Although parts-sharing is a common practice in the industry, it isn't really a bad thing at all (although we'd appreciate a little more differentiation).
Tri-gauge instrument design continues to charm in the E-Class coupe
We'd begin by saying that there is nothing much to shout about for the E-Class coupe's interior. But that is only because quality and comfort is already synonymous with the marque's offerings.
Straight after the acquaintance with the sedan, most things in the coupe look largely familiar. Although parts-sharing is a common practice in the industry, it isn't really a bad thing at all (although we'd appreciate a little more differentiation).
That said, the instrumentation and panel layout still manage to pull off an elegant stance, which put the occupants at great ease. The bolstered linings and cushioned seats also make for an insulated cabin free from external obtrusions.
Red-black upholstery livens up the interior, while the rear quarters are liveable for two full-size adults
The E-Class coupe continues to be a practical commute for four, sporting two individual seats at the rear quarters that will have no problem fitting anyone shorter than 1.8-metre.
By doing without the B-pillar, the rear occupants will also have a peerless view out of the side window - a cool feature that can help to eradicate any claustrophobic feel.
 |  |
The E-Class coupe continues to be a practical commute for four, sporting two individual seats at the rear quarters that will have no problem fitting anyone shorter than 1.8-metre.
By doing without the B-pillar, the rear occupants will also have a peerless view out of the side window - a cool feature that can help to eradicate any claustrophobic feel.
 |
The Drive
The E250 coupe shares an identical lump under its bonnet with its four-door sedan cousin - a 2.0-litre four-cylinder which has been force-fed to churn out 211bhp and 350Nm or torque. But at 1,585kg, the workhorse has almost 100kg less metal to lug around.
Still, you should not expect a mind-blogging, catapulting kind of launch from the lights. Instead, the E250 coupe will hit the century mark in 7.1 seconds - sprightly enough for city use but not to the extend of 'hair-raising'.
The E250 variant now receives a 2.0-litre block instead of a 1.8-litre found in the predecessor, capable of 211bhp and 350Nm of torque
This means the coupe will still allow you to sprint between lights in a convincingly manner without losing the refined characteristics - in true fashion of the silver star marque.
On top of this, there is the seven-speed transmission that works in a seamless manner, easing the coupe through the paces. As weird as it seems, the upshifts are usually executed in a more urgent manner than the downshifts, which makes for smooth off-the-line acceleration, but less reactive during overtaking.
Still, as with the sedan, we reckon the greatest improvement in this facelift lies in its handling department. The steering is clearer and more concise now. As such, the entire package feels light on its feet, and almost clinical in its handling demeanour.
The E250 coupe shares an identical lump under its bonnet with its four-door sedan cousin - a 2.0-litre four-cylinder which has been force-fed to churn out 211bhp and 350Nm or torque. But at 1,585kg, the workhorse has almost 100kg less metal to lug around.
Still, you should not expect a mind-blogging, catapulting kind of launch from the lights. Instead, the E250 coupe will hit the century mark in 7.1 seconds - sprightly enough for city use but not to the extend of 'hair-raising'.
This means the coupe will still allow you to sprint between lights in a convincingly manner without losing the refined characteristics - in true fashion of the silver star marque.
On top of this, there is the seven-speed transmission that works in a seamless manner, easing the coupe through the paces. As weird as it seems, the upshifts are usually executed in a more urgent manner than the downshifts, which makes for smooth off-the-line acceleration, but less reactive during overtaking.
Still, as with the sedan, we reckon the greatest improvement in this facelift lies in its handling department. The steering is clearer and more concise now. As such, the entire package feels light on its feet, and almost clinical in its handling demeanour.
And when coupled with the tighter chassis (doing with two lesser doors), piloting the coupe is a joy to behold.
Do not, however, be mistaken - the E-Class coupe isn't one that leaves the driver totally immersed with a huge satisfaction from the driving involvement. It will instead do most of the job and leave the driver to enjoy a relaxing, fuss-free experience.
Two damping options are available, but their differences are hardly noticeable on our roads
Conclusion
As of now, the E250 coupe is the top-of-range and most potent coupe from the E-Class lineup on our local shores. Of course, you can opt for more grunt with competitors like the S5 coupe and the BMW 335i coupe (soon-to-be 4 Series).
But that will defeat the purpose of the coupe altogether.
What it does, instead, is to provide simple driving pleasures - suited for those who doesn't want to get too involved with the nitty-gritty details, but just pure, unadulterated driving.
And if you ask us, it is like a weekend beach getaway - a relief from all the buzz and fuss from the city.
Do not, however, be mistaken - the E-Class coupe isn't one that leaves the driver totally immersed with a huge satisfaction from the driving involvement. It will instead do most of the job and leave the driver to enjoy a relaxing, fuss-free experience.
Conclusion
As of now, the E250 coupe is the top-of-range and most potent coupe from the E-Class lineup on our local shores. Of course, you can opt for more grunt with competitors like the S5 coupe and the BMW 335i coupe (soon-to-be 4 Series).
But that will defeat the purpose of the coupe altogether.
What it does, instead, is to provide simple driving pleasures - suited for those who doesn't want to get too involved with the nitty-gritty details, but just pure, unadulterated driving.
And if you ask us, it is like a weekend beach getaway - a relief from all the buzz and fuss from the city.
It is hard, at times, to justify the saying "more is better".
That moment comes when you are faced with a car like the E-Class Coupe, when the statement can become easily arguable.
For starters, how do you actually go about convincing people that the sedan, by having two more doors, is better than the coupe? Surely, coupes are much more desirable.
While looks can be very personal, we are sure that walking out from a sedan will instantly make you an 'uncle'. The same, though, cannot be said for the coupe.
Exterior
We have seen how Mercedes scored with stately boxy designs on their cars. Even of recent, the facelifted E-Class sedan retained much of the squarish overalls.
The coupe though does with svelter, sweeping lines, which help it pull off a more graceful silhouette.
That moment comes when you are faced with a car like the E-Class Coupe, when the statement can become easily arguable.
For starters, how do you actually go about convincing people that the sedan, by having two more doors, is better than the coupe? Surely, coupes are much more desirable.
While looks can be very personal, we are sure that walking out from a sedan will instantly make you an 'uncle'. The same, though, cannot be said for the coupe.
Exterior
We have seen how Mercedes scored with stately boxy designs on their cars. Even of recent, the facelifted E-Class sedan retained much of the squarish overalls.
The coupe though does with svelter, sweeping lines, which help it pull off a more graceful silhouette.
The LED treatments on both ends score high in our books. Particularly at the rear end, the 'tetris-like' LED lights are hard not to fall for. Like a delicate piece of art, it adds a tinge of sophistication to the rump.
It is clear that the E-Class coupe wasn't conceived to portray a racer's attitude. That though does not stop Mercedes from giving it some spruced-up looks - courtesy of the AMG body kit (an $11k option). The end result is remarkable, and the car looks much more aggressive than before.
Don't get us wrong. The AMG-kitted isn't the 'fizzy' kind of exciting like its smaller A250 sibling, but more like a grown-up man in a smart, crisp-cut suit. And even in 'tamer-looking' silver paint, our test car looks adeptly sporty.
It is clear that the E-Class coupe wasn't conceived to portray a racer's attitude. That though does not stop Mercedes from giving it some spruced-up looks - courtesy of the AMG body kit (an $11k option). The end result is remarkable, and the car looks much more aggressive than before.
Don't get us wrong. The AMG-kitted isn't the 'fizzy' kind of exciting like its smaller A250 sibling, but more like a grown-up man in a smart, crisp-cut suit. And even in 'tamer-looking' silver paint, our test car looks adeptly sporty.
Interior
We'd begin by saying that there is nothing much to shout about for the E-Class coupe's interior. But that is only because quality and comfort is already synonymous with the marque's offerings.
Straight after the acquaintance with the sedan, most things in the coupe look largely familiar. Although parts-sharing is a common practice in the industry, it isn't really a bad thing at all (although we'd appreciate a little more differentiation).
We'd begin by saying that there is nothing much to shout about for the E-Class coupe's interior. But that is only because quality and comfort is already synonymous with the marque's offerings.
Straight after the acquaintance with the sedan, most things in the coupe look largely familiar. Although parts-sharing is a common practice in the industry, it isn't really a bad thing at all (although we'd appreciate a little more differentiation).
That said, the instrumentation and panel layout still manage to pull off an elegant stance, which put the occupants at great ease. The bolstered linings and cushioned seats also make for an insulated cabin free from external obtrusions.
The E-Class coupe continues to be a practical commute for four, sporting two individual seats at the rear quarters that will have no problem fitting anyone shorter than 1.8-metre.
By doing without the B-pillar, the rear occupants will also have a peerless view out of the side window - a cool feature that can help to eradicate any claustrophobic feel.
The E-Class coupe continues to be a practical commute for four, sporting two individual seats at the rear quarters that will have no problem fitting anyone shorter than 1.8-metre.
By doing without the B-pillar, the rear occupants will also have a peerless view out of the side window - a cool feature that can help to eradicate any claustrophobic feel.
The Drive
The E250 coupe shares an identical lump under its bonnet with its four-door sedan cousin - a 2.0-litre four-cylinder which has been force-fed to churn out 211bhp and 350Nm or torque. But at 1,585kg, the workhorse has almost 100kg less metal to lug around.
Still, you should not expect a mind-blogging, catapulting kind of launch from the lights. Instead, the E250 coupe will hit the century mark in 7.1 seconds - sprightly enough for city use but not to the extend of 'hair-raising'.
This means the coupe will still allow you to sprint between lights in a convincingly manner without losing the refined characteristics - in true fashion of the silver star marque.
On top of this, there is the seven-speed transmission that works in a seamless manner, easing the coupe through the paces. As weird as it seems, the upshifts are usually executed in a more urgent manner than the downshifts, which makes for smooth off-the-line acceleration, but less reactive during overtaking.
Still, as with the sedan, we reckon the greatest improvement in this facelift lies in its handling department. The steering is clearer and more concise now. As such, the entire package feels light on its feet, and almost clinical in its handling demeanour.
And when coupled with the tighter chassis (doing with two lesser doors), piloting the coupe is a joy to behold.
Do not, however, be mistaken - the E-Class coupe isn't one that leaves the driver totally immersed with a huge satisfaction from the driving involvement. It will instead do most of the job and leave the driver to enjoy a relaxing, fuss-free experience.
Conclusion
As of now, the E250 coupe is the top-of-range and most potent coupe from the E-Class lineup on our local shores. Of course, you can opt for more grunt with competitors like the S5 coupe and the BMW 335i coupe (soon-to-be 4 Series).
But that will defeat the purpose of the coupe altogether.
What it does, instead, is to provide simple driving pleasures - suited for those who doesn't want to get too involved with the nitty-gritty details, but just pure, unadulterated driving.
And if you ask us, it is like a weekend beach getaway - a relief from all the buzz and fuss from the city.
Do not, however, be mistaken - the E-Class coupe isn't one that leaves the driver totally immersed with a huge satisfaction from the driving involvement. It will instead do most of the job and leave the driver to enjoy a relaxing, fuss-free experience.
Conclusion
As of now, the E250 coupe is the top-of-range and most potent coupe from the E-Class lineup on our local shores. Of course, you can opt for more grunt with competitors like the S5 coupe and the BMW 335i coupe (soon-to-be 4 Series).
But that will defeat the purpose of the coupe altogether.
What it does, instead, is to provide simple driving pleasures - suited for those who doesn't want to get too involved with the nitty-gritty details, but just pure, unadulterated driving.
And if you ask us, it is like a weekend beach getaway - a relief from all the buzz and fuss from the city.
Photos by Low Fai Ming
Car Information
Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe E250 (A)
CAT B|Petrol|15.4km/L
Horsepower
157kW (211 bhp)
Torque
350 Nm
Acceleration
7.1sec (0-100km /hr)
This model is no longer being sold by local distributor
All Used Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe
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