Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe 220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY SE 2dr Car Review - February 2012

The diesel engine in the 220 CDI develops 168bhp and 295lb/ft of torque. 0-62mph is taken care of in 8.5 seconds and flat out you'll be doing 146mph. These figures are impressive for a diesel engine this size and, although the 220 CDI is hardly a fast car, it's by no means a slouch.

The E-Class Coupe offers a smooth, if slightly firm, ride thanks to adaptive damping, enhanced steering and an adaptive braking system. There is a bit of body roll through corners and the E-Class Coupe can't match its BMW rivals for driving pleasure but it is by no means a bad car, just one that is geared for comfort rather than handling.

The E-Class Coupe is a fantastic looking car and looks stylish in an understated, classy way. It is very well proportioned and cuts an elegant profile.

The interior feels very mature, classy, substantial and stylish. The finish is impeccable - Mercedes really do know a thing or two about quality. On top of that, the transmission-mounted infotainment controller makes controlling the audio and other gadgets, a breeze.

Standard equipment on the SE trim includes 17-inch alloy wheels, full leather trim, climate control, heated seats and advanced parking guidance. There are plenty of optional extras to add on if you have the money, but generous standard equipment complements a keenly-priced car.

Getting into and out of the rear seats is not a problem thanks to front seats that are easily tilted. The sloping coupe roofline means that some rear headroom is lost but two adults can sit in the rear seats and be fairly comfortable. There is a good amount of cabin storage and the boot holds 450 litres which is good for a car of this type.

Mercedes has a good reputation for building quality cars, with robust build and reliability being their core values. This being a new model, there are very few stats to go on, so it’s difficult to guarantee the reliability of this car, but we don't anticipate any major problems.

Seven airbags come as standard alongside Attention Assist (designed to detect and alert the drowsy driver), anti-lock brakes, brake assist and electronic stability program. Further safety features are available as options. It has yet to be given a EuroNCAP rating.

BlueEFFICIENCY is Mercedes’ name for a range of fuel economy and emissions-reducing measures which include making the Mercedes E-Class Coupe the world’s most aerodynamically-efficient production car. You should get 57.6mpg on the combined cycle and CO2 emissions of 128g/km put the car in impressively low tax band D.