Mercedes-Benz E500 Coupe 2010 Review

Mercedes-Benz E500 Coupe

Road Test

Price Guide (recommended price before dealer and statutory charges): $174,500
Options fitted to test car (not included in above price) Anti-Theft Package $1,200
Crash rating: Not tested (E-Class sedan received five star rating by Australian NCAP)
Fuel: 95 RON petrol
Claimed fuel economy (L/100km): 11.0
CO2 emissions (g/km): 256
Also consider: BMW 650i, Audi S5
 

About our ratings

Whenever Mercedes-Benz launches an E-Class, one of its most recognisable models, several things happen.

A chorus of die-hard Benz fans bury their faces in their hands, decrying the latest creations from Stuttgart to be nothing short of blasphemy. Then the rest of us regard the new designs with equal parts intrigue and fascination, taking a look at the details to see what's changed and how the design has been massaged.

Most obviously, the new W212 design represents one of the biggest stylistic shifts for the German company's E-Class, which has been around for more than 60 years. It also sees the re-introduction of the E-Class Coupe, which in itself reflects a desire for change within the company.

The C209 CLK Coupe is out, the new C207 E-Class Coupe is in.

Mercedes has also announced the introduction of the E-Class Cabriolet, a cloth-roofed version of the E Coupe to replace the drop top CLK.

Beyond the new design, which tones down the curves and adds a few angles -- and to good effect in my humble opinion -- the new E-Class Coupe is everything you expect it to be: comfortable, quiet, well built, luxurious and somewhat conservative in the way behaves when gliding over hot mix.

It's also targeted at a different audience than the E-Class sedan, and that's why the column shift is replaced by a traditional gear shift lever, the interior is slightly sportier and the design is arguably more desirable.

This is the car that's gunning for BMW's 6 Series coupe and, looking at the sales charts of its predecessor, the CLK Coupe, it would appear that Mercedes has the upper hand.

Driving the big Benz coupe is effortless, yet you rarely feel disconnected from the car -- despite the myriad driving aids and safety nannies. But more on that later...

The moment you step into the car it's clear that even the little things that concern everyday motoring have been well thought-through. It is true that this is the most powerful E-Class coupe available (AMG has not committed to a go-fast version of this coupe) but it still takes care of the little things as well.

Entering the svelte German two-door coupe, I noted the steering wheel's slightly retracted position, which improves ingress and, once seated, extends to within reach. It is then joined by a mechanical arm (or belt feeder in Merc parlance) that delivers the seat belt for effortless getaways. Convenient too.

All settled in, adjusting the seating and steering wheel position can be accomplished with just one finger, thanks to button operated electrics, and the proximity key fob ensures you need never take the keys out of your pocket or briefcase. Just step in, hit the starter button, and away you go.

The interior is sumptuously kitted out; leather upholstery and contoured seats unique to the coupe are the first objects to attract the eye. The front seats deserve a special mention, for not only do they offer directional adjustment, they conceal air-bladders in three places (backrest, squab and side bolsters) that can be inflated or deflated to tailor the cushioning. With a soft leather finish, you'd be hard pressed to find a more comfortable pew.

The centre console isn't overly busy; you're not assailed by hundreds of buttons and controls, and focus is on the main inputs -- steering wheel and gearstick. The layout of the centre console is sensible: heating/cooling controls lowermost, followed by car controls in the middle (sport button, sunroof, parking sensors etc) and stereo and phone controls topmost.

Many of the car's functions can be accessed via the COMAND system, which, better than some of its rivals offerings, takes less time to master. The COMAND system is the equivalent of BMW's iDrive or Audi's MMI and works in a similar fashion, allowing drivers to navigate the car's multimedia menus and in-car systems via a large control dial.

The interior of the E500 Coupe is a very pleasant place to be, but not completely intuitive from the get-go. Though the author didn't have to consult the owner's manual, it did take some getting used to the cruise control and some of the advanced features of the satellite navigation. The indicator and cruise control stalks are also too close for my liking, but for the most part the car's ergonomics are flawless.

Take a closer look at the details and the levels of fit and finish, such as the high quality trim and the even the tactile feel of the controls -- the dials and buttons -- and you'll find first-rate quality throughout.

Inside and out, panel alignment is very good, with tight shut lines and flush fitting dash and door sections, all of which contributes to the car's aura of superiority.

Priced at $174,500 (not including government or delivery charges), the new E 500 Coupe is $18,695 more expensive than the CLK it replaces, but Benz reckons it adds around $28,000 worth of extra features.

All E500 Coupes are fitted as standard with an AMG sports package, comprising alloy pedals, AMG floor mats and a racy three-spoke steering wheel with gearshift paddles. The range-topping E-Class Coupe also comes as standard with the Entertainment package, which creates an airy feel in the cabin with a panoramic glass sunroof while also adding a high-end Harman/Kardon audio system.

The glass roof does have a sunblind but its effectiveness under the hot Australian sun is less than ideal. Customers can request the removal of the glass roof as a no-cost option.

Rounding out the standard features list on the E500 Coupe are satnav, a digital TV tuner, dual-zone climate control, COMAND APS system, Bluetooth telephony, electrochromatic rearview and side mirrors, plus parking proximity sensors and a reversing camera.

Known for its stand on safety, Mercedes sporty E500 Coupe doesn't drop the ball, with nine airbags, electronic stability and traction control, several driver assistance features (brake assist, ABS, EBD) plus the Pre-Safe system that can detect potentially dangerous situations and in milliseconds prepare the cars advanced safety systems to take action. It even has a driver-monitoring system called Attention Assist that detects and warms the driver if attention is not on the road ahead, and all of these are standard features.

While the E500 Coupe's standard features list is impressive, Mercedes still offers a number of extras, such as a power-operated sun blind for the glass roof, ventilated front seats and radar-based cruise control.

Clearly not built for family practicalities -- clambering in and out of the form-fitting rear seats can be time consuming -- the E-Class Coupe nevertheless has ample boot space, 450 litres to be precise. Together with 60/40 split-fold rear seats it can be a used to carry larger loads.

On weightier issues, the E500 Coupe tips the scales at 1695kg but its sonorous V8 engine and seven-speed automatic gearbox is more than capable of motivating this mass rapidly.

The 5.5-litre V8 outputs 285kW at 6000rpm and 530Nm of torque from a low 2800rpm, and there's a torque curve flatter than a pancake, sustaining that 530Nm until 4800rpm. What this means on the road is effortless acceleration in almost any gear at any engine speeds.

It also results in a very rapid 0-100km/h sprint time of 5.4sec and a top speed of 250km/h -- though the latter figure is electronically governed.

The engine is a very approachable chunk of German engineering and even if you're not paying complete attention (don't worry, the car will warn you if you get too lax) and you've left the 7G-tronic auto gearbox in a high gear via the manual mode, the engine is tractable enough to press on from under 2000rpm. This makes commuting in the E500 Coupe remarkably stress-free, though it does get rather thirsty.

Mercedes claims a combined city/highway fuel consumption figure of 11L/100km, but city motoring in isolation consumes fuel significantly faster. After three days of daily commuting our overall figure was above 15L/100km. But take it away from stop-start traffic and the gearbox and engine combine to deliver excellent results.

For instance, we recorded an average of just over 7L/100km on the instant economy gauge travelling at 100km/h on the highway over a half hour period, which helped lower overall consumption considerably. The sleek two-door Mercedes-Benz doesn't mind sipping on 95 RON (premium) petrol either, though you will get slightly better mileage with 98 high octane fuel.
 
Though it's not a dual-clutch gearbox like that of the SLS AMG Gullwing, the 7G-tronic auto gearbox is a nice piece of kit, with auto, sport, and manual shift modes. It delivers smooth shifts that won't jostle the car, even under full throttle.

Indeed, smooth and silky is the order of the day, in regard to almost all aspects of the car. The gearshifts, the power delivery and especially the ride quality are all creamy smooth, and together with ultra low NVH levels creating one of the quietest cabins this side of a cruising sloop, the return of the E-Class Coupe is very welcome.

However there is a harder-edged side to the rear-wheel drive E500 Coupe, which is accessed via the 'sports' button on the centre console. Hit this button and the shock absorber rates and throttle response tighten up, and a more aggressive gear shift pattern is activated, all of which provide the two-door sports car with a more sporting character. Should the road become tight and twisty, the big Benz happily adapts.

Pushing the car faster through corners reveals an impressive chassis, underpinned by springs and dampers as opposed to the E500 sedan which rides on Airmatic suspension. It turns in sharply despite the large 5.5-litre V8 engine slung between the front wheels, and holds an impressive line through a corner with only mild levels of body roll.

The 18-inch alloy wheels deserve to be larger to suit the car's athletic design but the 235/40 R18 tyres perform well enough and provide ample levels of tyre grip, even when pushed to the limit.

Despite looking like a heavy vehicle the E500 Coupe actually feels light on the road -- you could almost describe it as fleet of foot. This is due in large part to the well sorted suspension, but could also be affected by a drag coefficient of 0.24Cd, which would make the German V8 coupe the most aerodynamic production car on the planet.

Whether or not its slippery design contributes to its handling prowess is besides the point really -- the fact of the matter is the harder you push, the better the E-Class Coupe seems to respond. And the refined but bassy V8 engine note that begins registering as the revs rise past 3500rpm only makes the driving experience more memorable.

The only time the E-Class Coupe ever felt less than confident was through tight esses, the rapid changes of direction making its weight felt more acutely than usual.

The brakes measure 344mm up front and 300mm at the rear and are more than up to the job of slowing the German coupe's almost 1.7-tonne mass. Combined with stability control, which works so seamlessly in the background you'd be forgiven for thinking it wasn't there, the vehicle imparts confidence in the driver.

Yet when the fun must come to an end and the winding coastal roads give way to monotonous highway cruising, the Mercedes-Benz is still as confident. And slightly more comfortable without the high G-forces pushing you into your air-tailored seat.

It's true that the CLK Coupe has been parked, but in its place is an even more capable vehicle, and one that is arguably more attractive. I must admit that at first I thought the design was a little too confronting and perhaps not conservative enough for the target market, but after spending the week with the vehicle the styling has definitely grown on me.

Compared to its rivals, which include the BMW 6 Series, the new Mercedes-Benz E500 Coupe is on firm footing and can be expected to continue its leadership of the large luxury coupe segment. It nary puts a foot wrong and has one of the most sumptuous cabins you'll find in Mercedes range.

One-eyed Benz aficionados may decry the design for now, but there's no arguing with the vehicle's performance, refinement and luxury.

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