Despite the excellence of Mercedes' latest generation of four-cylinder 'Twinpulse' engines, there's still a significant corps of customers who won't consider anything less than six-cylinders beneath the bonnet of their Benz. When that six-cylinder engine is as good as the 3.5-litre engine that the company uses in the C-class saloon and estate Range, you have to concede that they may have a point. It's good to see, therefore, that Mercedes have done the decent thing and plumbed the 272bhp engine into the Sports Coupe.

This is, after all, a decent chassis that's capable of handling the extra power, but it does leave us industry watchers waiting for more. Can Mercedes resist the temptation to unleash a full-blown AMG version? The prospect of 350bhp under the bonnet of a Sports Coupe is mouth-watering and, one suspects, inevitable. In the meantime, the C350 Sports Coupe represents the top of the tree and despite its position as the most powerful version, it's a good deal more relaxed than the Kompressor-engined versions at the opposite end of the line-up.

Indeed if you take the 'Sports' section of the car's name at all seriously, a Kompressor may be a better bet, the engine being a real terrier of a powerplant, always on, always encouraging you to acquaint the accelerator pedal with the carpet. The C350 Sports Coupe is a more mature, relaxed car, albeit one with an iron fist in that velvet glove. It'll sprint to 60mph in 6.4 seconds and top out at an electronically limited 155mph, which will be quite quick enough for most, and the fuel consumption figure of 29.1mpg isn't too catastrophic when you frame it against the performance on offer.

The V6 powerplant is as smooth as silk, the engine note barely audible at tickover. Accelerate hard and you'll get a snarl from the engine that's a good deal more melodious than the somewhat blaring Twinpulse 'four'. The C02 emission figure of 232g/km may well be enough to deter some corporate users, but it's the private buyer, those willing to pay for the more intangible qualities of the V6 powerplant, that will doubtless form the bulk of this car's ownership profile. But are those intangibles worth an additional £3,000 over the C230, the model immediately below it in the Range? It's worth looking at the bigger picture.

Priced from £25,575, the C350 Sports Coupe looks good value, offering a substantial saving when compared to the more staid C-class saloon version, making this is one instance where opting for the coupe isn't going to hit you in the wallet.

"The V6 engine is as smooth as silk, the engine note barely audible at tickover"

The 3.5-litre engine lifts the Sports Coupe clear of the topmost BMW 1 Series, the car most would finger as its chief rival. This is a trend that Mercedes has replicated across the Range, with cars like the CLK Cabriolet being offered in variants above and beyond what BMW are prepared to manufacture. Fitted with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, the C350 Sports Coupe is more of a driver's car than you'd at first give it credit for. The suspension pick up points have been tweaked for better driver feedback, the width of the track has grown by 18mm and the steering is also a good deal more direct. Whereas the first Sports Coupes were a little uninvolving, the latest generation promise a good deal more fun. The gearchange lacks the tactility of some rivals but it's nevertheless a good deal better than most Mercedes manual shifts. An automatic version is also available and if you're more of a cruiser than a bruiser this transmission choice may well prove a more satisfying option. As with all Mercedes automatic boxes, it slurs between ratios with a creamy nonchalance and takes a great deal of effort out of city driving.

Unfortunately for those who like open air motoring there are no plans for a Sports Coupe convertible bodystyle - the CLK really will get to keep that market niche to itself. BMW and Saab - whose products can substantially undercut the CLK Cabriolet but would struggle against a Sports Coupe cabrio - will be delighted to hear it. Not that Mercedes wants to totally ignore the affordable realms of the open-air coupe market. Buyers can also specify Panorama twin glass sunroofs that extend from the windscreen to the top of the tailgate and slide electrically backwards and forwards. The designers hope that this will create a feeling of light and space - though not too much. To avoid creation of a greenhouse, the panels are smoked and two electrically operated roller blinds can slide across the glass to keep the cabin cool. When you do open up to let in the sunshine, you'll find that the aperture is a third larger than you'd get with a standard sunroof.

The styling on the car has come in for some subtle revisions that most will find it hard to spot. Front bumper and grille have been redesigned for what Mercedes hope is a 'more powerful feel', while clear-lensed headlamps are now fitted as standard. The interior has been given a slight revision too, with a redesigned three spoke sports steering wheel that features silver control buttons, sports seats and silver appliqués in the centre console. The look is still rather generic Mercedes-Benz but at least there's a little more flair evident.

There's a lot to be said for the Mercedes C350 Sorts Coupe. The addition of the charismatic V6 engine seems almost to legitimise the Range, in effect bringing it fully into the Mercedes fold whereas before it seemed something of an appendage. There's a no-nonsense maturity to the car that will appeal to those who don't feel the need to flog it to death at every set of lights yet who appreciate a healthy reserve of overtaking wallop. With sensible pricing, an impressive engine and a shape that looks better every time you see it, the C350 Sports Coupe is a strong component of the Range.

TOP 1 C CLASS DEALS

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	Mercedes-benz C Class C350 Sport 5dr Auto Estate
	ETR	Mthly £610	Saving £3,507	Price £33,798

typical 9.61% APR

PCP finance quote over 48 months,  10,000 miles pa,  deposit of £1000