Aimed at the younger and impression-conscious crowd, Mercedes-Benz has got its act together to bring a more stylised coupe. While other luxury brands are working its way to become leaders in the coupe segment, Merc is already leading the pack, with its plentiful sporty attitude and ride comfort.

So regardless of whether it's the C350 Coupe that we tested last month or the C250 Coupe you see here, the joy of driving a Mercedes-Benz coupe is primarily captured through the car itself. This made the C-Class's level of success an all-time high. And by completing the best-selling model series from Mercedes-Benz's line-up with a coupe, the brand may now appear more interesting and 'fashionable' to new and younger buyers.

Exterior

The C-Class story has almost entered the popular car legend - German carmaker creating sleek, stripped down sedans and now the coupe with stunning rooflines, short front overhang and steeply raked windscreen. So just how does a manufacturer follow up with that? Go back to the basics and start from scratch? Take out the engineer's guide to making a successful car? With the eyes of the automotive world on Mercedes-Benz now, the brand does only one thing it does best - up its ante.

On the C250 Coupe, the German marque subtly magnifies the car to differentiate it from its four-door brethren and fleshes it out without losing the elegant feel of the car. Unlike other coupes in the segment, the C-Class coupe has the rare gift of ensuring that the delicately curvy lines on its shell don't stray into an overdramatic territory, making it one car that won't go dated for many years to come. This gift combined with a sexy silhouette makes for a stunningly well-realised follow.

The muscular-styled front accompanied by its two-bar grille separates its category with the sedan while the roofline flows uninterruptedly to the rear, where the pair of 'diamond studded' tail lamps complete what most will reckon to be elegant, sporty, luxurious and graceful - giving the much needed presence on the roads.

Interior

Inside, drivers will be greeted with an overall atmosphere that rises with an emotional intensity. It probably begins with the multi-functional three-spoke steering wheel that appears to be tender beauty rather than downright sporty. The well-cushioned seats, on the other hand, emerge as the sportiest of the lot in the cabin with ample lateral support to withstand the driver's swerving positions when handling the car through the twisties.

The quality of the interior is definitely worth the mention. Materials used are of high quality and feel good to the touch while displays are clear with controls and buttons exuding a premium aura. Ergonomically, everything is intuitive laid out, too, proving the fact that this 2+2 coupe may have just nailed the bull's eye and can shame even the Audi A5.

Despite the lack of two doors and a centre seat, the Merc coupe doesn't compromise its head and legroom for its rear occupants. Instead, Mercedes' engineering mastery has crafted the cosseting cabin to cocoon passengers over long hauls without the need for them to make an appointment with the chiropractor. Moreover, for a car of its stature, we would much prefer a comfortable 2+2 rather than a squeezed up 2+3 interior.

However, we reckoned the most painful part of being in the coupe is the fact that there isn't any seatbelt-delivery system before take-off. It's not a big deal, but it's just something you'll have to put up with everyday.

The Drive

Powered by a 1.8-litre in-line four powerplant, the C250 Coupe boasts precise steering and handling that will enable drivers to enjoy themselves regardless of road conditions. The coupe of a Merc has 204bhp and 310Nm of torque on tap, with the engine feeling as flexible as it comes, enabling this red riding hood on wheels to clock 7.2 seconds for the 0 - 100km/h dash and a top speed of a potent 240km/h.

The car is predictably nimble too as it handles the roads with excellent grip at the front while power is sent to the rear to ensure that the car follows the driver's orders and inputs at all times. Despite being a sporty car, the C250 has a comfort-biased suspension. But when driven with gusto around twisty stretches, the car displays a level of firmness that will make you imagine the car to be a low-slung ride in disguise.

Regardless of whether you're around town or taking a leisurely drive on the highways, the C250 remains to be settled and composed, even over broken tarmac. However, we do reckon that the steering wheel could do with a little more weight. It's numb when travelling at lower speeds and gains a little more weight as the speed builds up. Still, it remains to be a little too light even when driven enthusiastically on deserted tarmacs.

Conclusion

All in all, the car harmonises style, practicality and driveability in a choir-like fashion on the roads. It's stability at high speeds with minimal body roll is simply exemplary. The C250 Coupe may lack that oomph under the bonnet but it's an excellent car from start to finish and Mercedes-Benz has managed it very well.

It's almost infectiously optimistic.

What do you think? Jot down your opinions at the comment box below.