Mercedes E 220 CDI AMG Sport coupé first drive review

The revised Mercedes E-class coupé – which may be the most distinctive model that Mercedes-Benz makes. A controversial statement given the amount of money and effort expended by Germany’s big three of late to expand into untapped niches. But perhaps more importantly, it’s a lesson to those German brands that sometimes, if you just stick to what you’re good at rather than jumping on every new bandwagon going, the waves may just part in front of you and opportunities open up where’d you never have believed it possible.

Merc’s been making big graceful coupés forever, after all. And yet somehow, in 2013, this quietly grand, genuine four-seater finds itself with little proper competition within its own particular niche. Both the Audi A5 and the new BMW 4-series lack the size and status to represent a serious challenge, meanwhile the 6-series has become much too expensive.

A bit of a discerning choice, really – and more so after Mercedes’ 2013 update for the E-class, which has refined its exterior styling, cabin fittings and the contents of the engine bay. New headlights, a new radiator grille and fresh bumper panels are the most obvious changes, all of which add visual appeal and modernity, without detracting from the elegance that a big Benz like this absolutely relies on.

On the inside, the main change is the movement of the gear selector, which has migrated from the centre console to the steering column. That makes extra space for cabin decoration, increasing the richness of the ambience, as well as for useful storage. Our test car had pale leathers and an attractive, tactile fascia with aluminium accents. It didn’t represent high, avant-garde design in any sense, but certainly had remarkably plush comfort and excellent perceived quality.

The engine offering includes two four-cylinder diesels, a V6 diesel, and two petrols. The petrols actually represent the real departures, the lesser being a new 181bhp 2.0-litre four-pot with stratified direct injection, and the greater a new force-fed V6 replacing the old V8. Our test car, however, was a 2.1-litre 168bhp E 220 CDI turbodiesel – likely to account for a bigger chunk of UK sales mix than either petrol.