If there's one thing that moves faster than a supercar, it's technology. Buy a PC today and by the time you get home, it's virtually obsolete. The work that goes on in the background far surpasses consumer trends. It's much the same with cars. New technologies and advancements are being made every day and as we speak, somewhere a new technology is being tested, ready for roll out in the coming months.
Related: BMW 5 Series vs Audi A6 vs Mercedes-Benz E-Class: which one is the best value for money?
The W213 series Mercedes-Benz E-Class has only been around since mid-2017, but that hasn't stopped Mercedes-Benz from giving it an update, refreshing both the styling and the technology for the coming years. Our recent stint with the E200 Coupe AMG Line allowed us to get to grips with the changes made to this luxury mid-size coupe, the C238.
Styling
While the overall silhouette of the C238 Coupe remains largely unchanged, there have been significant updates to the front and rear of the svelte coupe. It's most noticeable up front where new, lower profile headlights rest in the corners, replete with LED technology. These frame the new A-Shape grille with diamond detail design. All Coupes and Cabriolets come standard with the AMG Line package locally, so there's a twin-spar grille element.
At the rear, new 2-piece taillights with LED elements help create a wider appearance when viewed from the rear, complemented by the satin accent in the lower section of the rear bumper.
New wheels do duty in the corners and I'm particularly fond of the bold design choice presented on our test model. The solid inner rim section is striking when viewed up close but fades away into the darkness of the wheel well when you take a few steps back.
Interior & Space
The interior remains largely the same as before, with only a few changes to the available trims. The highly popular open-port grey ash wood trim has been revised and there's the option for an aluminium and light carbon fibre finish for those wanting something a little racier.
Ingress and egress to the rear is somewhat limited, but that is to be expected from a coupe of this nature. The E200 Coupe is best utilized by those without children or as a weekend car but that's fine, you'll want to revel in the comfort and accoutrements on your own anyway.
Rear headroom is naturally a little compromised by the coupe lines of the model and legroom is merely adequate. If you had to transport two adults in the rear, it would best be for short durations only.
Luggage space is not too much of a concern though. You will get 405-litres of cargo space but loading and unloading prove a little tougher than need be due to the high sill and narrow boot opening.
Comfort & Convenience
Where the visible changes are limited in the interior, the technology takes a leap forward with the 2021 update. The C238 now gets the famed MBUX infotainment system that features natural speaking control to adjust various aspects of the interior ambience and comfort. This system is massively improved over the older system and will support Android Auto and Apple CarPlay for seamless smartphone tethering. The standard displays measure in at 10.25-inches, but buyers have the choice of upgrading to the two 12.3-inch screens where one serves as a gauge cluster, while the other handles infotainment, HVAC and vehicle settings. The simplified menu is also considerably easier to use.
The new model gets the latest HUD system as well, which I first saw and fell in love with on the A-Class sedan. This HUD allows for a variety of information to be displayed and can be customised to be as busy or as simple as you wish.
The one update that does not sit well with me is the new steering wheel. The new design does away with the BlackBerry-style touchpads and replaces them with touch-sensitive areas on the upper and lower spokes of the new wheel. While the old design was fiddly at best, the new design is infuriating and even after a week of use I was still struggling to get the controls to work as intended. I cannot see this design lasting long in Mercedes-Benz's lineup.
Performance
The E200 model may look like a sports coupe but the engine is the smallest on offer in the E-Class range. It's no race winner but you won't be disappointed by the performance either. This 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine benefits from a turbocharger that allows it to produce 145 kW and 320 Nm torque. Mercedes-Benz says that this makes it good for a 0 - 100 km/h sprint time of 7.5-seconds. The top speed is 237 km/h.
Power is sent to the rear wheels through a 9G-Tronic gearbox with paddle shifters placed behind the wheel for manual control. One will struggle to fault this gearbox and it remains one of the finest offerings on the market today. Shifts are unobtrusive and go unnoticed when cruising along but select a dynamic driving mode and the shifts are purposeful and well-timed.
Fuel Economy
One of the benefits of selecting a smaller displacement engine is the savings on the fuel front. The E200 is the most efficient of the range, sipping a claimed 7.2 l/100km on the combined cycle.
Safety
On the safety front, you will get no fewer than 7 airbags in the E200 Coupe with the option of upgrading to a complement of 9 should you wish. New for the 2021 model year is the addition of Emergency Brake assist with Active Brake Assist for lower speeds that can automatically brake if a pedestrian or cyclist is detected.
ISOFIX mountings, for those that don't heed the warning above, are available in the rear on the outer seats.
Price
While not the cheapest model in the W213 range (that accolade goes to the E200 Avangarde sedan), the E200 Coupe is still on the cheaper side of the E-Class spectrum with a base price of R1 044 040 including VAT. Included in the price is 2-year / Unlimited km warranty and a 5-year / 100 000 km Maintenance plan.
Competitors
Mid-size coupes are few and far between with the majority of the competition coming from bespoke sports cars like the Toyota Supra, Ford Mustang and Lexus RC350. You'll need to fork out a considerably larger sum of money for an equivalent BMW 8 Series but the Audi S5 is right in the sweet spot.
Verdict
The E200 coupe is an agreeable companion with only a few shortcomings. It's an easy car to drive but not the most practical. If you don't require easy access to the rear seats or cavernous loading capabilities, the E200 Coupe could be just the ticket. The updates keep the model range looking fresh and attractive and the revamped tech makes it a lot easier to live with on a daily basis.
