Mercedes’ new C-Class Coupé has style and substance

Justyn's Car Stuff

The car market is rapidly developing a bit of a bulge around its middle. The lower end was always well served and the upper end has been sharpened to a fine point - but the middle used to be slim.

Back then you had Mercedes with the C-Class, BMW with the 3 and 5 series and the Audi A4. All were comfortable, corporate and not overly exciting. The BMW M series served the speed enthusiasts and Audi could crank things up from time to time, but the market was not saturated.

Then Volvo went upmarket, Jaguar came back and even VW started to flirt with the executive market. BMW now has the 3, 4, 5 and even the 6 series settled in, Audi has the A4 and A5, and Jaguar has plenty to offer the well-heeled executive.

Now into this vibrant kaleidoscope comes the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupé. From the look of things, Mercedes really did think long and hard about how to stand out.

Looking good

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The 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupé.

What they went with was style. Buckets and buckets of style.

The sleek bonnet and sculptured front end flows back along the body in long lines, leaving the car crouched and ready even when sitting still. It really is a thing of beauty.

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The Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupé’s cockpit.

Internally, Mercedes have not skimped either. The interior is probably above what we have normally come to expect from the brand.

The same sense of purpose and poise is found in here with flowing lines and delicate lighting setting it off. It looks like a great place to sit.

How much and what else?

Current pricing from Mercedes (valid until 9 June) is:
- C 180 Coupé – S$183,888
- C 200 Coupé – S$209,888
- C 300 Coupé – S$247,888
(Full details of the models here)

There is plenty of competition at this price and they are all very similar in terms of performance. This just leaves us looking for the edge in the style department.

Here are the three cars that you might also want to look at if you are in the market for an executive saloon:

Audi A5 Sportback 1.8 TFSI Multitronic (A) - S$214,200*

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The Audi A5 Sportback

Slightly more expensive than the mid-range C-Class the A5 Sportback offers good looks without too much in the way of ridges and bumps along the sides.

Jaguar XF 2.0 Prestige (A) - S$217,999*

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The Jaguar XF

Again slightly more expensive but definitely in the running. The Jaguar’s front end is beautifully carved with wind-swept lines and elegant lights, but it lacks the grace of the C-Class on the sides.

BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe 428i M-Sport (A) - S$236,000*

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This one is significantly more expensive. Much closer to the C 300 than the C 200 in price. You can get the same looks for less (S$188,000*) if you opt for the 2-litre model, which is closer to the C 180 so this one competes at the top and the bottom of the C-Class range.

BMW have sculpted the sides but the bonnet and front end are not as elegant as the C-Class.

The final word?

There is plenty of choice for the executive with S$200,000 plus to spend, but Mercedes-Benz are definitely trying to stand out from the crowd with the new C-Class.

We will just have to see how the other brands react.

*Prices from SGCarMart