Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe driven – Under-bonnet options « New and Used Car Listings

Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe driven – Under-bonnet options

Most buyers will find themselves picking from a quartet of four-cylinder direct-injection turbocharged engines. Buyers of petrol versions are catered for by 1.8-litre units developing 154bhp (C180) and 202bhp (C250), while those who like the lower fuel consumption and longer range of a diesel have 2.2-litre 168bhp (C220 CDI) and 202bhp (C250 CDI) choices.

In the coupe there’s also a V6 not available UK-bound saloons. At the head of the line-up sits the C350 powered by Merc’s 302bhp 3.5-litre direct-injection six-cylinder engine, although because it’s fuelled by petrol, uptake is likely to be small. It’s welcome, all the same, not least for its V6 note, but it’s not worth the £3500 premium over a C250, the other version we’ve driven. The four-cylinder engine delivers stronger torque at low-to-medium revs and greater driveability.

The decision to restrict the line-up to AMG models introduces a couple of issues. First, there are fuel consumption and emissions. The most-efficient version, the C220 CDI, is a 55mpg car with a CO2 output of 133g/km – pretty impressive, but not alongside the 64mpg and 117g/km quoted for the saloon with the same engine and SE trim. It’s all down to the AMG 18-inch alloys – or to be more specific, their fat tyres, which increase rolling resistance. It means the coupe sits seven bands higher than the saloon in the company car tax scale.