Mercedes-Benz E250 CGI Coupe 2010 Review

Mercedes-Benz E 250 CGI Coupe

Road Test

Price Guide (recommended price before dealer and statutory charges): $94,500
Options fitted to test car (not included in above price): AMG Sports Package $7800; Dynamic Handling Package $1700; Panoramic glass roof $4500
Crash rating: five star ANCAP
Fuel: 95 RON petrol
Claimed fuel economy (L/100km):
CO2 emissions (g/km):
Also consider: Audi A5 Coupe and Sportback

About our ratings

Once was a time when the four-cylinder variants of larger Euro sedans and coupes were considered the poor relations. They were cars which had their badges stripped the moment they left the dealership lest the new owners' neighbours find out they were sharing a postcode with pretenders who couldn't afford the 'proper' six and eight-cylinder versions.

Trends towards downsizing and the better performance and refinement of today's turbocharged petrol and diesel fours are changing that perception. Indeed, in some aspects thanks to fast-tracked development (driven by factors such as CO2 emission and fuel-consumption), they are outstripping the big engines and as such are more likely to be the smart choice.

While we're never going to knock back a Benz V8 (AMG or otherwise), the latest turbocharged 1.8-litre E 250 CGI is exactly a case in point. In fact even when we drove the car at its European launch last year we said as much -- though not the quietest engine under a three-pointed star, it combines willing performance and better than respectable character and economy.

And it suits the new slightly smaller and lighter (than the four-door) E-Class Coupe down to a tee.

We grabbed our AMG-kitted E 250 CGI two-door tester in the latter weeks of 2009. The first four-cylinder E-Class we've tested locally, it impressed with its blend of better than 10L/100km economy and enough urge to keep things interesting.

The new baby Benz four shares bore and stroke dimensions with the 'old' Kompressor four used in the E 200K and various C and CLK models, but that's about all. The engine is now direct-injected and is turbo, rather than supercharged.

Benz claims 150kW at 5500rpm and 310Nm from 2000-4300rpm for the new engine -- along with a Euro combined cycle fuel consumption of 7.0L/100km. Thanks to smart turbo technology acceleration is linear and the torque abundant, with little of the lag with which turbodiesel buyers are often familiar.

The 250 CGI's output and economy numbers easily outgun the 135kW/250Nm and 8.7L/100km of the old CLK 200K and compare favourably with the credentials of the superseded $10,000 more expensive V6-engined CLK 280 (170kW/300Nm and 10.6L/100km). Officially, the new entry-level petrol E Coupe's 0-100km/h time of 7.6sec is just 0.2sec behind the 280 but a noteworthy 1.5sec faster than the 200K.

The new E-Class Coupe is in reality still more closely linked with the C-Class family than E. Indeed, it is essentially CLK-based and therefore still a relatively tight squeeze in the rear as we detailed in our local launch review of the E-Class two-door. You'll pay a fair wad more for the E in its V6 and V8 variants than the outgoing CLK, but that's less of an issue with the four-cylinder petrol car. Prices are largely unchanged and spec has been boosted.

And there's been improvements in accommodation over the CLK -- especially in terms of rear legroom. Headroom also seems improved, but this could be due to the slightly more reclined rear seating position. In pure number terms the new E-Class Coupe's (C207 in Benz speak) wheelbase is 45mm longer than the outgoing A209 CLK family but still 144mm shorter than the E-Class sedan.

Like the CLK (and as is class average among the two-door Euros), the rear accommodates only two passengers in the E-Class Coupe. Between the rear seats is a simple console.

Our Fire Opal Red E 250 CGI drew plenty of admiring glances. The AMG Sport Package adds an edge to the E-Class Coupe's looks and larger dual-element fire-spoke alloys are airy enough to show off the upgraded brake package. This tester wouldn't buy an E Coupe without the AMG add-ons. Visually lowering and lengthening the vehicle was the blacked roof that comes along with the two-panel Panoramic sunroof.

The test car also sported an optional Dynamic Handling Package. More than just adjustable dampers, the DHP consists of a 'Sport' button which delivers sharper steering and accelerator actions and faster gearshifts as well as sharpened suspension response and a slight 'detuning' of the standard Benz stability control system.

The E-Class Coupe strikes a considered ride handling balance, even in Sport mode. We'd suggest it's not as sharp as BMW's 3 Series coupe, but sporty enough. Steering is meaty and less wooly than we recall the old CLK.

Our main criticism of the E 250 CGI Coupe relates to the five-speed autobox. Though markedly better in its manners than the box fitted to last generation CLK and C-Class models, this is an auto that still gets a little 'confused' from time to time. The result is usually a less than smooth shift with attendant thumps and bumps.

In most conditions, the box simply gets on with the job, allowing the small turbo four to deliver good acceleration. You're unlikely to be embarrassed away from the lights but open road performance is more the car's forte.

For much of the populace, the concept of a near-$110K two-door being considered good value is foreign. Nonetheless in the marketplace in which prestige brands operate, the four-cylinder E-Class Coupe presents as an attractive package.

With an E on the rump, instead of the CLK badge, it's seen by many as a step above BMW's 3 Series and Audi's A5 two-doors. It might be a cynical move on Benz's part but this E-xecutive cache undoubtedly adds to the value equation.

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