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our test drives or view them all

Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupé 250 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY Sport

WHAT Mercedes-Benz engineers have done with a modest 1796cc four-cylinder petrol engine is nothing short of amazing.

Bolted into the rear drive chassis of the new E-Class Coupé in Sport guise, this modest capacity unit delivers as much power and torque as a 2.8-litre V6 Mercedes SL sports car of just 10 years ago – and is just as smooth, even more responsive, and does all this with greater economy.

I’ve been an admirer and owner of Mercedes-Benz products for more than 15 years – but in more recent times I have not always been a fan.

Global quality issues generated by, among other points, a disastrous marriage with an American manufacturer and a decision to put volume before the marque’s legendary build precision socked M-B right between the eyes.

It suffered some embarrassing and well-publicised paint, corrosion and electronic problems and sales suffered.

But that was then. This is now. And the good news is that quality, design and assembly is back where it should be with a premium badge – and there’s no better example than the E-Class Coupé and its high tech small capacity petrol heart.

Mercedes has traditionally turned out large capacity engines for its cars – meticulously engineered motors with massive torque delivery and a potential for effortless motoring and a lengthy service lifespan.

The 1796cc unit that powers the awkwardly-named E-Class Coupé 250 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY Sport sticks to those principles with the exception of large capacity.

It’s a remarkable engine – one of the most advanced modern petrol engines available, that derives its performance from careful electronic management and a turbocharger integrated into the exhaust manifold.

Delivering 201bhp at 5500rpm with 228lb.ft of pulling power flooding out from just 2000rpm and continuing to flow effortlessly until 4300rpm, it employs the engineering genius of Britain’s long-dead Lanchester cars by burying what is effectively a balancing counter shaft in the block to remove unwanted vibrations, no matter what rev band or power demand you are in.

In the old days it was known as a “Lanchester Analyser” and effectively cancelled out unwanted crankshaft vibrations by driving a second weighted shaft in the opposite direction.

It worked then and Mercedes’s engineers (along with Mitsubishi) have refined the technology to make it work perfectly today.

In practice it makes this modest-sized petrol unit rev like a Japanese sewing machine, while delivering the power you’d expect from a much larger V6.

Just 10 years ago Mercedes was supercharging engines of this size and using the name Kompressor. They were powerful top end units, but could be unrefined under load.

The new 1.8 turbocharged replacement is an entirely different, and better, petrol engine. It has the mark of Mercedes-Benz refinement that the Kompressors could never achieve, and I can see little point in any buyer of a new E-Class Coupé even considering a larger capacity petrol unit – or, dare I say it, a diesel.

This outstanding engine is excellent in every respect. It is responsive and delivers its power and torque with minimal turbo-lag, is smooth, uncannily quiet in the cruise with just a hint of gruff growl under load, and does all this while averaging 36mpg.

I covered many miles in my well-appointed Sport model and took it over some of my favourite west coast routes in addition to the dreaded A96 and A98 that serve the north-east.

Handling is sharp and responsive with incredible grip, given that the E-Coupé is rear-wheel-drive.

The ride quality was always comfortable, despite verging on the firm side – a fact that’s down to the car’s excellent seating.

At the end of my time with the 250 CGI my average consumption was 37.6mpg – satisfyingly ahead of its “official” figure and suggesting that more gentle grand touring, to which this car is perfectly suited, should return at least 40mpg.

Remember that this is a big car. It measures 4.7 metres and has a kerb weight of almost 1.6 tonnes – hardly twinkle-toes territory.

There’s another clue to its perceived quality in its panelling – a knuckle test on the doors, wings, flanks and bonnet proves it has a solid feel.

The large doors weigh a lot, and it’s only the wide-opening boot that gives away any of the 250 CGI’s BlueEFFICIENCY credentials by sounding in any way lightweight.

But efficient it is. The car’s low stance, closely matched panel gaps and sleek body help its highly-developed engine to deliver a sparkling performance with strong mid-range grunt for fast and safe overtaking, while using a minimal amount of fuel and producing a respectable 183g.km of emissions that drops it into road tax band I at £200 a year.

Space is the Coupé’s biggest surprise. The boot is big by sporting coupé standards at 450 litres – but the real surprise is that when the rear seats fold, and they fold flat, the maximum volumes receives a hefty boost with an ability to carry long objects.

But it’s a pity the boot isn’t accessed by a hatch though, because the rear window severely hinders cargo height.

Occupant space is excellent. The two rear seats are extremely comfortable with saloon-like leg and headroom.

The front sports seats are superbly supportive, firm and bordering on hard, but great over a lengthy trip.

Visibility is good with the rather angular dash design managing to make up for its hard look with top quality materials and a layout that’s clear, logical and sporting.

The Sport CGI is well equipped as standard, including a slick five-speed sequential automatic transmission.

But my test car came with some interesting options that pushed the price to just over £41,000.

Most significant option was the electrically powered tilt and slide panoramic glass roof – a £1,315 extra that works beautifully in conjunction with the Coupé’s elegant pillarless side windows, and combine to give a passable impression with everything open that you are driving a drophead.

The £1,295 red leather option would not be my colour choice, though it worked well with the brilliant Diamond White metallic paint that delivers a dazzling pearlescent effect for £1,070.

If it was my car I’d opt for silver or dark blue metallic with black leather, and a more traditional “brown” wood in place of my test vehicle’s £155 Black Ash dashboard finish.

Something well worth considering is the COMAND option. It’s not cheap at £2,175 but combines multimedia with a hard-drive sat-nav, radio, linguistic voice control, a 6GB music register, and integrated CD changer and DVD.

It worked intuitively and only let itself down when I asked it to navigate me from Oban to Forres and insisted, until it gave up at Carrbridge and allowed my choice of most direct route, that I drive up the A9 to Inverness and across to Forres on the A96 – a “tour” that would have added 40 miles to my 142-mile journey.

The final option was the top value dynamic handling package. It gives you a “sport” button, continuously variable damping, faster gearshifts using the lightning-fast paddles, and snappier throttle response – and all for £490.

At the end of my time with this magnificent new Coupé I suspected I’d found my perfect four-seat GT. It’s refined, ultra-comfortable, superbly built, spacious, practical and unexpectedly frugal.

I’ve had a lot of time to think about it since and see no reason to change my mind.

Rating: 9/10

FINAL THOUGHT: Mercedes-Benz is back on top. The proof? The new E-Class range is a spectacularly better car than many commentators give it credit for – and there’s no better model to illustrate that fact than the E-Class Coupé with its stunningly efficient and silky smooth 1.8-litre turbocharged petrol engine. It’s a real star.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupé 250 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY Sport

• Price: £34,685
• Capacity: 1796cc
• Power: 201bhp
• 0-62mph: 7.4 seconds
• Maximum speed: 155mph
• Economy: Combined 36.2mpg; Urban 25.9mpg
• CO2 emissions: 183g/km
• ESP: Standard
• Insurance: Group 40 (New 1-50 Rating)