2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe
Based on analysis of 6 E-Class Coupe reviews and test drives.
Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe - What the Auto Press Says
The 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe ranks 7 out of 13 Luxury Large Cars. This ranking is based on our analysis of 6 published reviews and test drives of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe is a luxurious tourer with a dash of style and a staggering list of high-tech safety features. It isn’t a high-performance coupe, but the V8-powered E550 version can almost pass for one.
The 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe occupies a strange niche in the luxury car world -- one that leaves it without true competitors. Despite its name, it’s not a two-door version of the 2010 E-Class sedan. It offers the same two engine options as the E-Class sedan, but it’s built on the smaller chassis of the C-Class sedan. Mercedes says the car is the spiritual successor to the 2009 CLK Coupe -- but, sharing much of its safety equipment with the E-Class sedan, it seems a step more upscale than the CLK.
That leaves it in a unique position. It’s a softly-tuned, comfort-oriented two-door with a stylish, sporty look. However, it’s not a true sport coupe. In the V8-powered E550 trim, it has the acceleration to back up its sporty appearance, but in the V6-powered E350 trim it doesn’t. Reviewers say neither edition has the crisp handling balance and firm suspension most buyers expect in a two-door luxury car. Those looking for the classic upscale sport coupe experience might be better suited driving a BMW 3-Series Coupe , an Infiniti G37 or an Audi A5. The E-Class Coupe seems more appropriate for those in love with the sporty coupe look, but who want a more relaxed ride. A Cadillac CTS Coupe, due out in 2010, might also be worth a look.
But, to a certain segment of the American public, a Mercedes-Benz coupe simply makes a stylish statement no other car can match. The gorgeous, pillarless look of the E-Class Coupe may be all the excuse those shoppers need to justify the car. This one is clearly for Mercedes fans, and may not really be competing with any other car.
Safety-conscious shoppers might also be drawn toward this car. It is available with some extraordinary safety features, many drawn from the top-of-the-line S-Class sedan, including a unique new Attention assist system that attempts to wake a sleepy driver.
The E-Class Coupe is available as a V6-powered E350, which reviewers say is suitable for those who want a gentle ride and care little about performance, or a V8-powered E550 Coupe, which offers much more power but carries a higher price tag. A high-performance E63 AMG is reviewed separately.
- “We'd be surprised if anyone acquired this car with track days in mind. Like us, people are more likely to be seduced by its blend of power, comfort, and beauty that will never grow old.” -- Car and Driver
- “Restyled, higher in quality and more enjoyable to drive, the redesigned 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class is a luxury-car triumph. Shoppers in this segment will want to give it serious consideration…a new E-Class coupe that's cheaper than the CLK-Class it replaces. Truly, there's good news all around.” -- Edmunds
- "Loaded with new standard features -- pelvic and knee air bags, driver drowsiness sensor, panoramic roof -- and kitted with ample Mercedes luxury, the E Coupe is fast, athletic, beguiling. For anybody weighing the choice between four doors and two, it puts a gorgeous thumb on the scales in the coupe's favor." -- Los Angeles Times
- “Impeccable sources in Stuttgart have revealed this car was indeed originally intended to be the new CLK. An E-Class coupe should be smooth and silky, relaxed and comfortable, yet deeply competent, equally at home mooching down to the country club for a mid-week luncheon as it is on a fast late-night run up to the mountains for a weekend's skiing. But the 2010 E550C often feels like a collection of components traveling in close formation rather than a truly coherent automobile. It's almost as if Mercedes-Benz engineers started to build one sort of car, and then tried to turn it into something else. Which may be exactly what happened.” -- Motor Trend
- "With starting prices marked down and new features added such as the standard ATTENTION ASSIST that monitors and warns of impending driver fatigue, Mercedes-Benz has made a bedrock entry in the premium midsize field that is a more-solid value than its predecessor." -- Consumer Guide
E-Class Coupe Performance - 7.8 (Good)
Reviewers have different impressions of the 2010 E-Class Coupe’s performance -- some say it’s athletic, while others find it too sedate. The deciding factor seems to be expectations. Those looking forward to a two-door Mercedes with a smooth, buttoned-down ride that insulates passengers from the road are often pleased with the car. Those looking for a true sport coupe are often disappointed. Motor Trend says, “The lower your heart rate, adrenaline levels, and expectations are when you take the wheel, the more you're going to enjoy this slinky, social-climbing coupe.” Read More
E-Class Coupe Exterior - NA
The reason one would buy an E-Class Coupe instead of an E-Class sedan is aesthetic. Mercedes-Benz designers understand that, and worked hard to develop a beautiful two-door version of their full-size car. Reviewers say it worked; we haven’t found a negative review of the car's looks. Read More
E-Class Coupe Interior - 8.5 (Very Good)
The passenger cabin of the 2010 E-Class Coupe combines the classic, conservative ambience expected of a full-size Mercedes with the advanced electronics expected of today’s luxury cars. Reviewers say its COMAND user interface can needlessly complicate operating some of the car’s systems, but some owners quickly get used to such systems -- and they’ve grown so ubiquitous that it’s hard to find a luxury coupe without one. The E-Class Coupe is spacious for a two-door car, but those who routinely seat four will still want to give close consideration to the E-Class Sedan or one of its four-door competitors. Read More
E-Class Coupe Safety - NA
The 2010 E-Class Coupe has not been crash tested by the federal government or the Insurance Industry. The list of safety systems found on the coupe (most but not all, standard equipment) is something no rival can match. Read More
E-Class Coupe Reliability - 7.0 (Good)
The 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe reliability score shown is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates. This score is based on trending the past three years of historical initial quality and dependability data from J.D. Power's automotive studies, specifically the Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and the Initial Quality Study (IQS). Mercedes-Benz protects E-Class Coupe buyers with a New Vehicle Limited Warranty lasting 48 months or 50,000 miles. Read More
