Mercedes C-Class Coupe review

While Mercedes has a strong heritage when it comes to two-door coupes, the current C-Class Coupe is only the second car of its type the brand has ever built. The first generation C-Class only came in saloon and estate guises, and while a coupe model was offered with the second-generation C-Class in 2001, the SportCoupe (later renamed CLC) was more of a stylish three-door hatchback than a proper coupe. 

Mercedes finally offered a rival to the all conquering BMW 3 Series Coupe in 2011 but the current C-Class Coupe is the most stylish of the lot sharing key design themes with the much larger S-Class Coupe. 

There’s a wide range of versions – from entry-level Sport right through to the Mercedes-AMG tuned C 43 and C 63 models – to suit all budgets and tastes with every version coming with a well made interior and space for four people. Its nearest rival is the similarly well appointed BMW 4 Series Coupe and although that car has a dynamic edge, the Mercedes is a stylish and well rounded product.

The Mercedes C-Class Coupe is the third body style for Mercedes' compact executive, following on from the four-door saloon and C-Class Estate. It arrived in 2015, and was followed in 2016 by the C-Class Cabriolet, which is essentially the same car, but with a canvas roof in place of the standard metal top.

This is the second-generation C-Class Coupe, and it has a more shapely look than the last model. From the nose to the back of the bonnet, the lines are similar to the C-Class saloon, but the low roof and pillarless doors give the C-Class Coupe an elegant profile. The sculpted doors and rounded rear end complete the look. Inside, the cabin is really designed for two, as there are only two small seats with limited space in the back. 

Mercedes offers the C-Class with a range of petrol and diesel engines. The different engines get their own badging, kicking off with the C 200 petrol. There's also a C 300, while the C 43 and C 63 are the top-performing AMG variants of the range, in terms of engine size, this comprises a 2.0-litre turbo four with 184bhp or 245bhp, a 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbo with 367bhp and a 4.0-litre V8 twin turbo with 476bhp or 510bhp in the C 63 S. For diesels, there's less choice, as there's a C 220 d and a C 250 d, both of which get Merc's 2.1-litre four-cylinder diesel, with either 170bhp or 204bhp. Unlike the saloon, there's currently no 'e' badged C-Class Coupe hybrid available.

The majority of cars come with an auto gearbox as standard - the only exceptions are the C 200 and C 220 d, and these can be upgraded with an auto anyway. All petrol cars feature Merc's seven-speed 7G-Tronic box, while the diesels get the 9G-Tronic auto with nine forward gears. With so many ratios to choose from, it's easiest to let the car's electronics deal with shifting, although there are paddleshifters behind the steering wheel for manual control. If you want 4MATIC four-wheel drive, it's available as an option on both diesels and the C 200 petrol, while the C 43 AMG model gets it as standard.

Another omission from the C-Class Coupe range is SE trim. You can only get the two-door in higher spec Sport or AMG Line specs, while the C 43 and C 63 AMG models in their own right. On top of all these trims, Mercedes offers Premium and Premium Plus upgrade packs across the range.

These add kit such as larger alloy wheels, upgraded navigation and premium stereos, depending on what pack you go for, although the Premium Plus pack carries a hefty price premium of about £3,000 over standard. And because of the kind of kit these packs add to the C-Class, you can't get them with manual gearbox cars, because there's not enough room by the gearlever to add Merc's Comand control wheel. 

There aren't many four-seater two-door rivals to the C-Class Coupe, but the ones on sale are very tough opponents. The Merc's two chief rivals are the Audi A5 Coupe and BMW 4 Series. All three have their own merits, with the A5 being more efficient, the C-Class more comfortable and the 4 Series being the sportiest model to drive.

The high-performance C 63 AMG is a convincing rival for the BMW M4 Coupe and upcoming Audi RS5 Coupe. If you want something non-German, then your options are limited to the Lexus RC coupe, which comes in petrol, hybrid and V8-powered RC F guises, and the Infiniti Q60, which only comes with petrol power.

Engines, performance and drive

From behind the wheel, the Mercedes isn’t quite as sharp as an Audi A5 Coupe, but the rear-drive chassis offers more balance. It’s just a shame that the rest of the driving experience doesn’t live up to the looks; in Sport or Sport+ driving modes, the C-Class’s steering feels heavy and lifeless. While there isn’t much feedback relayed through the Audi’s wheel, its lighter steering weight and immediacy makes it feel more transparent. 

The C-Class doesn’t have the ultimate grip of the A5, but there’s more than enough. It’s also better mixed with the Mercedes’ more forgiving ride, especially with air-suspension, which makes it easier to live with.

Even after only a few miles in the driver’s seat, it’s clear the C-Class Coupé isn’t as sporty or precise as an A5. Instead, the focus is definitely on comfort, as the Mercedes rides nicely. Engineers have scaled down what makes the S-Class flagship so comfortable, but while it’s cosseting most of the time, the C-Class isn’t perfect. Even with the £895 Airmatic dynamic handling package, featuring air-suspension, the set-up still transmits some harsher knocks through to the cabin.

This is only under more extreme conditions on broken roads, as the Mercedes still floats over most surfaces with a more settled gait than the Audi. If you’re after the perfect ride, choosing the Airmatic package with the smaller 17-inch wheels offered as standard on the Sport model is the best option.

Standard non-AMG cars come with rear-wheel drive to give the best balance of handling, however Mercedes does offer 4MATIC all-wheel drive for just an extra £1,500 on the C 200 petrol and both diesels. It’s a clever system that can split the engine’s power 50:50 to the front and rear axles in really difficult conditions, or send 100 per cent of the power to the rear wheels. The system constantly monitors road conditions, meaning 4MATIC is a good choice for those who like the reassurance of year-round grip.

Mercedes have long carved out a reputation for producing good automatics and the nine-speed version (in the diesels) is good, slipping through years easily while the seven-speed version in the Mercedes-AMG C 63 and C 63 S is similarly impressive. However, the six-speed manual is a little notchy and not as accomplished as the gearbox used in the BMW 4 Series Coupe – even though the manual box in the BMW has a slightly rubbery feel. In fact, the BMW is the more fun and involving coupe compared to the C-Class and could be considered to be more of the ‘driver’s car’. That’s not to say the C-Class Coupe is lacking – it’s noticeably more fun to drive than the Lexus RC, for instance.  

Engines

The C-Class Coupe has quite a simple line-up of engines. For petrol customers there’s a 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit with two power outputs – 181bhp in the C 200 or 242bhp in the C 300. While for diesel there’s a 2.1-litre engine also with two power outputs – 168bhp in the C 220d and 201bhp in the C 250d. 

The 2.0-litre petrol is a little flat for a sports coupe. We’ve tried the C 300 and on paper, it looks good: 0-62mph takes a very respectable six seconds, with top speed limited to 155mph. However, it doesn’t make a particularly pleasant noise, emitting a drone rather than a tuneful roar. Push the throttle harder and the noise turns harsh – made all the worse by sports exhaust. Progress is not as smooth as you’d expect, either, with power delivery suffering from a little turbo lag at lower revs.

Happily the 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 is much better. It’s a brand new engine and just like most V6s, it’s smooth whilst delivering great performance coupled with a great soundtrack. It packs considerably more punch than the equivalent BMW 440i Coupe, but unfortunately the engine is only limited to the Mercedes-AMG C 43 – a half way house between the C 300 and the full-fat Mercedes-AMG C 63. 

Diesel versions of the C-Class will appeal to those considering running one as a company car. The diesel is a 2.1-litre unit but with two power outputs – 168bhp in the C 220d and 201bhp in the C 250d. While the 2.0-litre petrol is just a little unexciting, the old 2.1-litre diesel is noisy. The new Mercedes E-Class gets an all-new 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel which is far better than this ageing unit which isn’t particularly smooth or quiet. We’ve only driven the higher-powered C 250d and felt it’s a little strained at high revs and coarse on tickover, but it does offer decent punch – 201bhp and 500Nm of torque translates into a 0-62mph time of 6.7 seconds. 

In-gear performance is also impressive, thanks to the shorter ratios of the nine-speed gearbox and the extra punch from its engine when compared to the Audi A5 Coupe’s 2.0 TDI; the C-Class delivers its maximum torque low down from just 1,600rpm, so there’s not much lag to contend with.

Right at the top of the pile are the C 63 and C 63 S. Powered by Mercedes-AMG’s new 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8, it’s a fabulous engine – punchy, torquey with a great spread of abilities. It also makes a fabulous noise and is well paired with Mercedes’ seven-speed automatic gearbox. It comes in two power outputs – 469bhp in the C 63 and 503bhp in the C 63 S. 

MPG, CO2 and Running Costs

If the idea of having a diesel engine powering your sleek two-door Mercedes coupe revolts you then you’ll be drawn to the petrol alternatives. If you’re after the cheapest to run petrol then the C 200 will impress – its 181bhp 2.0-litre petrol will return 53.3mpg and emissions of 123g/km of CO2. 

Meanwhile the more powerful 2.0-litre petrol – in the C 300 with 241bhp – returns 44.8mpg and emits 146g/km with 17-inch wheels. With 18- and 19-inch wheels, its emissions jump giving a higher company car tax penalty.

Naturally, the AMG models are more costly to run. The C 43 will return a reasonable 36.2mpg and emits 178g/km of CO2. Mercedes claims 32.8mpg for the C63 models but you’re unlikely to achieve much more than 25mpg. CO2 emissions are 200g/km.

If you’re going to be running a C-Class Coupe as a company car or would just rather get more miles for your money, then the two diesel versions will appeal. The C 220d powered by a 167bhp 2.1-litre diesel is the most frugal and tax friendly with a claimed combined MPG of 68.9, but the C 250d (which comes with 201bhp 2.1-litre diesel) isn’t noticeably worse at 67.3mpg. 

CO2 emissions vary according to wheel size for most C-Class Coupe models but this is particularly so with the diesel versions. Sport models with 17-inch wheels result in CO2 emissions of 106g/km for the C 220d and 109g/km for the C 250d. Larger 18- and 19-inch alloy wheels push up the price up, but it’ll be small extra outlay for the extra style, most buyers will conclude. 

Insurance groups 

The words ‘Mercedes’ and ‘Coupe’ normally set insurance firms on edge, more so than the saloon versions. Insurance groups kick off from the low 30s for the diesel and 2.0-litre petrols. The C 43 comes in at 45 while the C 63 versions are rated between 47 and 50.

Depreciation 

The C-Class has good residuals for the mid-size coupe market – private buyers should expect around 44 per cent when it comes to part-exchange, making the Mercedes one of the best in the class for retained value. AS an example, the C 250 d AMG Line costs £365 more than an Audi A5 2.0 TDI S line S tronic to buy, but won’t hold its value as well. It’ll lose £21,396 (55.6 per cent) compared with a more manageable but still fairly steep £19,279 (50.6 per cent) over three years for the A5.

As with the C-Class Saloon, it’s recommended to go for some of the options packs to boost residual values such as the Premium and Premium Plus packs. Also the diesel models enjoy stronger residuals than the petrol-powered versions. 

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Interior, design and technology

Mercedes has worked hard on scaling down the near £100,000 S-Class Coupe into a smaller form for the C-Class and it has worked – the C-Class Coupe is a very stylish car and one of the smartest – if not the smartest – in the sector.

In Europe the C-Class Coupe comes in a very basic entry trim level with plastic wheel trims. But, due to UK buyers’ elevated expectations of how a Mercedes should look and feel, here the standard Coupe comes in two well specified trim levels – Sport and AMG Line.

Sport comes with 17-inch alloys, LED headlights, artificial leather-trimmed heated sports seats, a seven-inch infotainment screen, a Garmin sat-nav system and seat belts that electrically slide forwards for easy reach. The AMG Line adds more aggressive exterior styling including a more glitzy grille, 18-inch alloys, lowered suspension, speed sensitive steering, AMG branded mats and stainless steel pedals. There’s also black roof lining and silver paddle shifters on automatic versions. 

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The three range-topping models are developed by Mercedes-AMG – Mercedes’ in-house tuning division. The C 43 gets slightly racier exterior styling than the AMG Line cars with extra equipment such as an AMG performance exhaust, a lip spoiler on the boot-lid and red seat belts. Meanwhile the C 63 and C 63 S are the hardcore performance models and get distinctive flared body styling and body-hugging bucket seats. At launch there’s also an Edition 1 version of the C 63 S inspired by the Mercedes C 63 S Coupe racing in the German Touring Car Championship. As such it comes with racing stripes. 

The interior of the C-Class Coupe is just as stylish as the outside. Naturally it has been lifted straight out of the saloon and features the same high-quality construction and attractive design details. Virtually everything you touch is made from good quality plastic or metal and you have to look hard for any cheap feeling materials. As standard the Coupe gets gloss black inlays for the centre console but while it looks great, it can scratch very easily. 

Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment 

Like most other Mercedes models, the C-Class Coupe gets a tablet-like screen attached to the dash. Opinions are mixed on whether it looks cheap or smart but at least it’s different from rivals’ set-ups. Its operating system isn’t as intuitive or pleasant to use as BMW’s excellent iDrive or Audi’s MMI. There are some confusing menu tabs that can make it tricky to use on the move despite there being the option of a scroll wheel and touch pad. 

As standard the C-Class gets a Garmin sat-nav. While it may not sound very becoming for a Mercedes to use a Garmin system, it works well enough. C-Class Coupes also get Bluetooth and DAB as standard.

As part of the Premium and Premium Plus Packs there’s the option of a Burmester surround stereo system. With 13 speakers and a nine-channel amp, it’s worth the upgrade if you enjoy listening to music while on the move.

Practicality, comfort and boot space

Interior space is reasonable on the C-Class Coupe. Like most cars of this type, space is a little tight in the rear 

for adults but for shorter journeys it’s adequate. There’s a well-shaped boot and plenty of cubbies and interior storage too.

The front seats fold and move forward quite a way for simple rear access. Long coupe doors and a taller roofline than an Audi A5 mean the back seats are easier to get into, but there’s less room once you're there. Neat touches like the electric seatbelt feeders ensure you needn’t reach too far, so the long doors don’t hit practicality too much. The view out of a coupe can be restricted, but Mercedes offers decent forward and rearward visibility.

Dimensions and size 

At 4,750mm in length and 1,877mm in width, the C-Class Coupe is slightly larger than its biggest rival, the BMW 4 Series Coupe. It’s the same story when you compare it to the Audi A5 Coupe and the Lexus RC – but we are only talking a few millimetres. 

Leg room, head room & passenger space 

Upfront space is excellent, however, as you’d expect, room in the back is rather more restricted. That’s thanks to the sloping roof line meaning anyone over six-foot will really struggle for headroom however kneeroom is just about acceptable and you can slide your feet under the front seats to give a little extra comfort. There are only two seats as well, with a pair of cupholders in the centre – the middle seat has been removed so the two outer seats can be moved inboard allowing passengers a better view our of the front. Overall, space is on par with rivals. 

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Boot space

Apart from the C 63 and C 63 S models, all C-Class Coupes have a 400-litre boot. This is 50-litres smaller than both the BMW 4 Series and the Audi A5. The C63 has even less room for luggage – just 355 litres.

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Reliability and Safety

Whether its petrol or diesel powered, the mechanicals are all tried and tested in the C-Class Coupe so there shouldn’t be any nasty surprises. Meanwhile the interior feels built to last thanks to its high quality plastics.

That’s what you’d think anyway. Although the C-Class Coupe hasn’t made an appearance in Driver Power survey yet the Saloon has – it finished a credible 43rd out of 150 cars with owners praising performance and comfort. However, owners weren’t impressed with the reliability and some of those high quality plastics aren’t as resilient as they initially seem. Generally though the C-Class Saloon is a reliable car and scores better than the BMW 3 Series Saloon so you can expect a similar story with the Coupe. 

Just like the Saloon, the Coupe is a very safe car – seven airbags, a driver tiredness monitor and tyre-pressure warning all come as standard. It’s been given a five-star Euro NCAP crash test rating.

Buyers can add hi-tech options like the £2,300 Driver Assistance Pack, which brings blind-spot warning, lane departure assist and adaptive cruise control. Other options include an £825 head-up display and £545 Active LED lights with cornering function and high-beam assist. 

Warranty 

Mercedes gives a three-year, unlimited mileage warranty with the C-Class range and is identical to the package supplied with BMW models, but goes one better than the Audi warranty, which limits cover to three years and 60,000 miles.

Servicing 

Since the late 1990s, Mercedes has worked on a condition-based servicing system and the C-Class Coupe is no different. As such, how often your car will be in the dealership will be down to driving style, and the raft of on-board sensors will let you know when an inspection or service is due.

Like the Saloon, for either a one-off fee or a series of monthly payments from as little as £1 (up to £40 for the AMG C 63), Mercedes-Benz Service Care guarantees owners the price of parts and labour for up to four years to protect against inflation. Service Care covers the cost of all recommended service items, including fluids, filters and spark plugs.