Category: Affordable Sports 
Price Range: £19,672 to £51,570
The concept, bold looks, enjoyable handling, practicality, spray-reducing wheel-arch liners
Automatic transmission, awkward rear end styling, parking brake, rubbery steering, unexciting C200 K engine, lack of rear wiper, illogical electric window switches (they move in and out, not up and down)
The Sports Coupe hasn't taken off to quite the degree expected, as it's neither an out-and-out sports coupe nor a luxury cruiser - but it's an interesting concept, and a nicely adult proposition for those who have outgrown their hot hatches but who aren't ready for a stodgy saloon.
The split rear tailgate, with its extra glass panel, is meant to give extra rearward visibility, but it's still rather limited. The driving position is good, however, and Mercedes has cabin ergonomics down to a fine art. The manual gearboxes are competent, though not the most precise (a common Mercedes trait), and the auto, with semi-manual mode, is prone to sudden surges and isn't the smoothest around. The Sequentronic 'boxes are better, but more expensive. Biggest annoyance, however, is the foot-operated parking brake. This can be a pain in a large saloon, but is even more awkward in a smaller car with restricted space in the footwell. Stop-start progress uphill is difficult without riding the clutch. At first the steering feels a touch soft and rubbery, especially when matched to the standard suspension and wheels. Placing the Coupe accurately at low speeds isn't always easy. But it comes alive on a twisty road, helping you control an agile, pointable car with lots of grip and the slingshot, tail-squatting bend-exits that you just don't get in a front-wheel-drive car. The brakes are powerful and progressive, if springy in their action, and the manual gearchange works well. It's a lot more amusing than you'd predict, and feels more like the CLK than the C-Class saloon/estate.
The higher-powered engines are undoubtedly quick, but the lesser units are strangely lacklustre, particularly the 200K. The C220 CDi pulls strongly, and in some ways, is the most appealing option - none are outrageously sporty anyway, so you might as well take the high-torque, high-economy choice. The C320 is smooth and refined, giving the feel of a baby CLK. However, all the versions are actually faster than they feel.
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wrote on 14 11 2006