2010 Mercedes-Benz E350 Coupe Review

My initial contact with the all-new Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe left me in a state of complete admiration. Of course, since the event took place in the enchanting Tuscan landscape, it might have had something to do with the atmosphere, the flavours and the pristine pavement of this renowned part of Italy. I was almost dreading the opportunity to resume our relationship (yeah, let’s call it that) on the rougher, less bucolic roads of Canada.

One quick glance is enough to appreciate all the attention to detail.

Lo and behold, the transition was smooth. True, the multiple electronic aids make your daily routine ever so pleasant, but the E-Class keeps impressing and surprising as a full-fledged premium sedan.

Style and substance
I won’t elaborate on the new E-Class styling. One quick glance is enough to appreciate all the attention to detail. The long, swooping roofline caps a graceful architecture with no B-pillars, while the prominent grille up front serves as the brand’s powerful signature. Both elements combine with dozens more to create a unique and elegant package.

It’s also one that fails to turn heads despite a strong presence… which is a good thing, mind you, especially for typical E-Class buyers who want to fly under the radar like a buttoned-down aristocrat at the king’s ball.

The interior carries over the understated approach to design. Incredibly opulent and filled to the gills, it works wonders except when it comes to offering a different layout than what we’re used to from Mercedes. One or two complaints here: the cruise control stalk is still positioned in a not-so ergonomic spot, and rear-passenger room is limited like in most of today’s coupes.

On the other hand, the front buckets had no problem handling my generous behind and providing me with all the support I needed, even for long trips.

Power and performance
On the road, the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe treats the driver’s inputs as God-given orders. The 268-horsepower, six-cylinder engine which I found a bit hesitant during my first time out with the car finally proved to be quite docile and pleasant, both in and out of the city.

The interior carries over the understated approach to design.