Mercedes C-Class coupe (2011-2015)

The Mercedes C-Class Coupe is a sleek and sporty-looking three-door Mercedes that rivals the BMW 4 Series and Audi A5 Coupe.

This car has real presence – it's wider and taller than both of its rivals, as well as being one of the most stylish and head-turning cars around, thanks to its swooping design and the big three-pointed star that sits boldly in the middle of the grille.

The coupe doesn't sell as well as the saloon and estate versions of the C-Class, so the range of engines available is smaller. The line-up kicks off with the petrol-engined C180, which despite its name uses a 1.6-litre engine. It feels a little underpowered, so we'd recommend spending about £1,000 more to get the excellent 2.1-litre diesel-powered C220 CDI. Performance is similar, but it provides a more relaxed drive at motorway speeds and is capable of more than 60mpg.

There's also a C250 CDI diesel, which is noticeably faster, but its running costs are higher and it's £2,000 more expensive to buy. Finally, you have the 6.2-litre V8 in the Mercedes C63 AMG, which provides the performance of a proper sports car.

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Apart from that version, all C-Class coupes offer a choice of either a six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic gearbox. The latter is a far better choice in this car, as the manual box makes hill starts tricky due to the foot-operated parking brake.

Whether you choose the Executive SE or more expensive AMG Sport Edition trim, this classy coupe comes with plenty of standard kit, such as climate control, USB and Bluetooth connectivity and parking sensors. We'd recommend spending around £1,500 extra on the AMG Sport Edition for its additional body styling and sports seats, which add some real driveway appeal.