Refreshing or Revolting: 2018 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe

Compared to its sedan sibling, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class coupe takes a less austere and more daring approach to its design. For the 2018 model year, Mercedes has completely revamped its midsize coupe, and most of the changes are easy to see. Before we ask you whether the new model is refreshing or revolting, let’s examine the some of the style updates.

Up front, the E-Class coupe receives a new diamond-block grille that gives its face a three-dimensional look. Mercedes says the new coupe “exhibits a puristic, surface-accentuated design with reduced lines.” It didn’t take long before we noticed those “reduced lines;” the creases running across the front end are much softer than before. On many new E-Class coupes, no longer is the lower vent area divided into three sections, providing for a more fluid look. Look closely, and you’ll also notice the headlights take on a rounder shape.

The E-Class coupe has grown 4.8 inches in length, but we think it still looks as sleek and taut as ever. It’s quite hard to tell the old model and the new model apart from looking at their side profiles, unless you take a second look at those door handles. Once again, the coupe features a dramatically raked roofline and expressive body lines.

In the rear, the E-Class dons narrower taillights. The roof drops off more smoothly into the rear deck, and rounded edges prevail. The new E-Class coupe also loses a lot of the silver trim that it once had.

Whether or not you think the exterior is an improvement, it’s going to be really hard to convince us that the interior isn’t a big upgrade from the previous generation. The 12.3-inch display screen that debuted on the E-Class sedan gives the interior a cohesive look. The interior is highly customizable, with the choice of different wood trims and interior colors. Drivers can set the ambient interior lighting to one of 64 different colors.

Do you think the 2018 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe is refreshing or revolting? Let us know in the comments below.

Last week, we pitted the Audi A5 Sportback against another stylish four-door: the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe. Audi won the match by a pretty large margin.

“The Audi wins on most fronts,” noted Patrick Kinnamon.  “The BMW isn’t helped by the fact that baser models have that grimacing Popeye look to the front fascia.”

“The BMW’s rear is nice and the aggresive highlights like the vents and exhaust are cool but other than that I think the Audi is a way better looking car,” wrote Brian Hakans.

The post Refreshing or Revolting: 2018 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe appeared first on Motor Trend.

from Motor Trend http://ift.tt/2htOu0g