The Mercedes E400 4Matic coupe is beautiful, with a new platform that elevates its length, interior space, and presence over the old version.
So let’s open the door and let the journey begin.
Step inside, and you’re greeted by air vents inspired by turbine blades. It’s a rich touch for an interior that lives up to our tested vehicle’s $84,785 MSRP.
Before you start adding options, know that for now, every E-Class coupe is powered by a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6 producing 329 hp and 354 pound-feet of torque. That engine is mated to a responsive nine-speed automatic that behaves well, except in the car’s sport mode, where its very aggressive tuning can cause the car to lunge forward a little more than you would like.
My car was equipped with a $1,900 air suspension that provided a smooth, if a little floaty, ride in comfort mode. The 329 hp engine is well matched to a car such as the E-Class coupe, and for the 2018 model year, it is now available on the sedan.
When I took some friends out to dinner, they were able to access the back seat by pulling a lever on the edge of the front seat that folds the backrest forward, at which point the seat automatically powered forward and up a little bit. In the rear seat, there’s actually a decent amount of legroom, plus some extra space for feet under the front seats.
The E400 4Matic coupe has the same 20/26 mpg city/highway rating as the rear-drive E400 coupe. Standard equipment includes multimode drive settings that can adjust throttle sensitivity, the transmission, and the weight of the steering. A collision braking mitigation system, LED headlights and taillights, and the large 12.3-inch infotainment display with navigation as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility are also included.
An awesome ambient lighting system is wonderfully integrated into the car’s interior and offers five intensity levels and 64 colors. The all-wheel-drive E400 throws in a feature called Magic Vision Control that might be worth getting on the rear-drive model (for $350) just for its eye-roll-worthy name alone.
Other features on my $85,000 E400 4Matic coupe included a $2,500 AMG styling package that adds sportier design accents on the outside, different 18-inch wheels (19-inch are available), a black headliner, and a flat-bottom steering wheel that feels great. The adaptive air suspension is $1,900, which appreciably changes the car’s dynamic performance from one mode to another.
Inflating my car’s price was a $5,400, 1,450-watt Burmester 3-D sound system with 23 speakers (including ceiling-mounted speakers) and a few listening modes. The system sounds great and those ceiling speakers even get some ambient lighting, but we’re guessing most will be satisfied with the available 590-watt Burmester option that has 13 speakers and attractive aluminum speaker grilles.
In the end, the combination of looks, performance, and just plain feel make the coupe well worth the money to any Mercedes buyer looking to specialize and indulge without cresting the $100K mark.
Grant Miller is the publisher of Miami’s Community Newspapers. He may be contacted by calling 305-662-2277 or via email at Grant@CommunityNewspapers.com.
