Daily Auto News First Drives: 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe
Daily Auto News
For the 2010 model year, Mercedes-Benz will introduce a two-door edition of its popular full-size E-class sedan. No other luxury automaker produces a coupe edition of a large luxury car, making the new vehicle a bit unusual. But Mercedes has produced the CLK for years, a midsize coupe based on the entry-level C -Class sedan, but with a price tag similar to larger, more luxurious cars. For 2010, the company will drop the oddly-positioned CLK and simply introduce an E-Class Coupe more clearly designed to compete with full-size luxury cars. As the automotive press gets behind the wheel, reviewers are split on the virtues of the new E-Class Coupe.
Automobile Magazine reports, “The E coupe is more of a high-speed grand tourer than it is a sports car.” While the available V6 and V8 engines are both smooth and powerful for their size, the transmission is less engaging. “The seven-speed automatic is smooth in normal driving, but can be slow to react and clumsy in manic driving.” The new car’s handling has a few problems as well. “The steering is devoid of feedback on-center, where there’s an appreciable amount of play in the system,” Automobile writes. “In crosswinds, the E requires more input than one would expect to keep it traveling in a straight line.”
Motor Trend agrees, writing “it’s clear the big Merc coupe remains a boulevardier and not a 3 Series-eater.” Outside, the verdict isn’t much clearer. “The E-Coupe looks nice from certain angles, not as nice from others,” MT writes. “Paint choice — go darker — helps. The unsporty styling is so blatant Mercedes says it hasn’t decided whether to build a coupe version of its E63 AMG sedan.”
Inside, however, virtually every reviewer finds the car impressive. Autoblog writes, “There’s an aesthetic edge we aren’t used to seeing in a Mercedes at this price point that isn’t labeled “AMG.” The seats are sculpted beautifully front and back.” They’re comfortable as well. “Four simple dials on the inboard sides of the front seats control inflatable bladders in the seat bolster, lower side bolsters, and two lumbar areas (this on top of standard, ten-way electronic adjustment). When the side bolsters were pumped up the seats embraced us in a perfect Posturepedic hug.”
The 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class reaches showrooms in early summer, with prices starting at $48,050.
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