The best coupes in 2023

BMW 4 Series

The BMW 4 Series is a two-door, four-seater coupe that is designed to be practical, upmarket and a joy to drive. The facelift model has divided opinions with its much more aggressive grille and less sleek exterior than its predecessor, but overall, the new 4 Series is a great looking car that will turn heads and look great on your driveway.

Whilst the car was originally based on the 3 Series, the latest version has quite a lot of differences both aesthetically and underneath. The car has been widened to make it more aggressive and practical, whilst the suspension and chassis have been stiffened to make the car handle better through corners and improve the driver engagement.

In terms of engines, BMW has made sure there is a 4 Series for everybody, with a range of petrol and diesel options available. The entry-level petrol engine is the 2.0-litre 420i, which produces 181bhp and can reach 0-62mph in 7.5 seconds, making it punchy enough for most without the excessive running costs of a more powerful engine. If you’re looking for slightly more power, you could opt for the 430i which also uses a 4-cylinder 2.0-litre petrol engine but produces 245bhp and can reach 0-62mph in 5.9 seconds. If you want a petrol 4 Series that will blow your mind when you accelerate, you will want to opt for the M440i xDrive, which has a 3.0-litre 6-cylinder engine that produces 374bhp and can reach 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds. Amazingly, the top-spec M440i can still be relatively economical to use daily, with combined consumption figures of 36.7-36.2mpg depending on the optional extras you spec.

If you are a company car or regular motorway driverregular motorway driver, you may want to opt for a more economical diesel engine instead of petrol. The entry-level diesel is the 420d which has a 4-cylinder 2.0-litre engine that produces 190bhp, 400Nm of torque and can do 0-62mph in 7.1 seconds. The reason this car could be a favourite for those who rack up the motorway miles is the combined mpg figure of 60.1mpg. If the 420d engine isn’t powerful enough, the next step up is the 430d, which is only available as an xDrive. The 430d has a 3.0-litre engine that produces 286bhp, 650Nm of torque, can reach 0-62mph in 5.1 seconds and still produce 52.3mpg. The range-topping diesel 4 Series Coupe is the M440d xDrive, which has a 6-cylinder 3.0-litre engine that produces 340bhp and 700Nm of torque. Off the line, the car is one of the best diesel options in its class, with a 0-62mph figure of 4.6 seconds and a top speed of 155mph. Amazingly, the car can still achieve up to 47.9mpg if you can manage to not put your foot down too often.

In terms of the interior, the 4 Series is one of the best in its class, with the great build quality, an infotainment system that is difficult to beat and leather upholstery as standard. On the exterior, you get 18” alloys as standard on the M Sport models and 19” on the M Sport Pro and M models, with privacy glass, heated folding mirrors, heated seats, ambient lighting, parking assistant and cruise control all included across the range.

If you are in the market for a petrol 4 Series Coupe, you will be able to pick up an entry-level 420i M Sport Coupe for £40,465, a 430i M Sport Coupe for £44,720 or the range-topping M440i xDrive Coupe for £54,670. If you are in the market for a diesel, the 420d M Sport Coupe starts from £43,095, while the range-topping M440d xDrive starts from £54,330.

You can find out more about the BMW 4 Series Coupe here.

Mercedes S-Class Coupe

The Mercedes S-Class Coupe is one of the biggest on the market, with the car oozing in luxury, comfort, style and performance. The car is based on the saloon version but comes with the signature sloped roof, two doors and slightly less room in the rear. Nevertheless, the car is more engaging to drive than the saloon whilst being extremely relaxing for cruising down the motorway.

There is nothing entry-level about the engines available on the S-Class, with the least powerful S560 being powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine that produces 469bhp. The powerful engine means you can accelerate from 0-62mph in 4.6 seconds, which is extremely impressive for a car of its size. If 469bhp isn’t enough, the S63 version tunes the 4.0-litre V8 engine to produce an eyewatering 612bhp and shortens the 0-62mph figure to 4.2 seconds. The engine also sounds a lot gruntier, with the exhaust letting off a growl with pops and bangs whenever you accelerate quickly. Mercedes also offer the S-Class Coupe with a 630bhp V12 engine, however, the price increase means that enthusiasts may want to opt for S63 instead.

Since the facelift in 2018, the S Class Coupe has had bigger a bigger centre console screen that seamlessly blends into the digital dashboard, which makes it easier to interact with the cars infotainment system and range-topping navigation system. The seats in the S Class are one of the comfiest available in their class and feel like first-class aeroplane seats rather than conventional car seats, with heavy padding, heating, cooling and massage functions. In the rear of the car, tall passengers may not be as comfortable as they would be in the S Class Saloon due to the massive front seats and lack of headroom with the sloping roofline. Nevertheless, the boot is big enough to fit the luggage of four passengers comfortably and is bigger than its rivals, which includes the Bentley Continental GT. As standard, the Mercedes also comes with an abundance of equipment and extras including a panoramic roof, Burmester speakers, wireless phone charging, air suspension and keyless entry. However, if you want to add any of the packs available the cost of the car can quickly start rocketing.

As an executive, spacious coupe, the Mercedes S Class starts at £113,215 for the S560 Grand Edition, which is cheaper than some rivals such as the Bentley Continental GT. For the more powerful AMG S63, the OTR price starts from £132,274, whilst the AMG S63 Premium starts from £141,273, meaning the S Class Coupe won’t be for everybody, but if you’re looking for a Coupe in this class, it would be difficult to look elsewhere.

Learn more about the Mercedes-Benz S Class here.

Mercedes E-Class Coupe

The E-Class Coupe is a spacious car based on the E-Class Saloon but has a much sleeker look from the exterior with its sloping roofline, smaller rear windows and signature Mercedes features. If you’re looking for a car that’s exciting to drive and provides a thrill, the E-Class probably isn’t the car for you unless you go for the E53 AMG model, with the car being a great cruiser that you can feel extremely comfortable on all roads.

Every E-Class Coupe comes with a 9-speed automatic gearbox which is one of the best on the market, with mild-hybrid options introduced with the latest facelift. All options come as an AMG Line as standard in the UK, with the option to add Premium and Premium Plus packs for an extra cost. The base-spec petrol option is the E300 which has a 4-cylinder 2.0-litre engine that produces 258bhp and can reach 0-62mph in 6.6 seconds. The other petrol option is the E450 which has a 6-cylinder 3.0-litre engine that produces 360bhp, 500Nm of torque and can reach 0-62mph in 5.2 seconds. This version is only available with a 4MATIC drive, Night Edition and Premium Plus pack. If you opt for a diesel engine, there are three options available, starting with the base-spec E220d which will appeal to motorway drivers and those who want to drive the ultimate cruiser coupe without requiring too much power. The car is powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine that produces 194bhp and gets a combined 45.6mpg. In addition, the car can reach 0-62mph in 7.8 seconds, although it doesn’t feel slow in the mid-rev ranges. The next step up is the E300d 4MATIC, which produces 265bhp, can reach 0-62mph in 6.6 seconds and achieve a combined 43.5mpg. The range-topping E400d 4MATIC has a 3.0-litre 6-cylinder engine that produces 330bhp, reaches 0-62mph in 5.4 seconds and achieves 38.2mpg. Again, this is only available with the Night Edition and Premium Plus pack.

For those looking for a thrill, Mercedes have released the E-Class Coupe as an E53 and have no plans of developing an E63 in the future. The E53 is powered by a 3.0-litre 6-cylinder V6 petrol engine that produces a whopping 435bhp that can reach 0-62mph in 4.6 seconds, which is extremely quick for a car of its size and weight. If you opt for this spec, you will be at the petrol station more often with the car achieving a combined consumption figure of 29.8mpg, which will be much lower if you have a heavy right foot.

As with all coupes, they aren’t the most practical when compared with a saloon or SUV, however, the E-Class coupe does have a 425-litre boot which should be big enough for two people, although you may struggle to fit everything in if you’re going away for the weekend as a family of four. In addition, the rear passenger space is limited, but the car is extremely comfortable if you’re driving or a front passenger. As the driver, you will be impressed with the pair of 12.3-inch digital displays on the dashboard, one of which is used as an instrument display and the other which controls the car’s infotainment.

If you’re looking for style and road presence, then the E-Class Coupe could fit the requirements. Prices start at £51,010 for the E300 AMG Line, with the E220d starting from £51,130. If the base-spec models aren’t enough for your requirements, the E300d 4MATIC starts from £55,060, E450 4MATIC Night Edition Premium Plus starts from £63,790, E400d 4MATIC Night Edition Premium Plus starts from £65,420 and the range-topping E53 4MATIC+ starts from £71,640.

Read more about the E-Class Coupe on the Mercedes website.

Jaguar F-Type Coupe

The Jaguar F-Type Coupe is surprisingly the first two-seater car on our list and is one of the most fun cars to drive on our list, despite not being the most practical. What the car lacks in boot space and rear passenger seats it makes up for in excitement, especially when you choose the larger engine option.

Jaguar has targeted a couple of market segments with the F-Type, with the entry-level model competing with the Toyota Supra and Porsche 718 Cayman, whilst the top-spec competes with supercars such as the Audi R8 and Porsche 911.

The entry-level F-Type is the P300, which is almost the most popular due to its price and appeal to a wider market. This spec comes with a four-cylinder 2.0-litre engine and is only available as a rear-wheel drive. This engine produces 300bhp which means it should be quicker than most hot hatches, with a 0-62mph figure of 5.4 seconds and has a top speed of 155mph. Moving up a spec represents quite a considerable price hike, but with the P450 producing 444bhp from its 5.0-litre V8 Supercharged engine, it is like getting into a completely different car. Both the rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions will reach 0-62mph in 4.4 seconds and their speed is limited to 177mph rather than 155mph, although that’s not much use unless you’re on a track. The range-topping P575 takes things a step further, with the same 5.0-litre V8 engine being tuned to produce 567bhp, which means it can accelerate to 0-62mph in an extraordinary 3.5 seconds.

Whilst the Jaguar F-Type is sure to turn heads, it is the F-Type R that is likely to have the most people looking at your car in awe with its quadruple exhaust tips and its ability to produce one of the best exhaust notes on the market. Kindly, Jaguar has added a feature called ‘switchable active exhaust’ which allows you to make your exhaust quieter so you don’t wake up your neighbours every time you turn the car on early in the morning. Whilst the performance of the car is one of the main selling points, the infotainment lets the car down compared to its competitors, although you do get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard so you won’t need to use the car’s navigation.

In terms of pricing, the P300 RWD starts from £54,965 and will provide you with the best balance of performance and economy. Opting for the P450 will cost from £70,500 for the RWD and £75,360 for the AWD and is the best option for those wanting to strike a balance of an extremely quick coupe with a roaring exhaust note without the price hike to the range-topping P575 which starts from £98,110.

You can explore the Jaguar F-Type Coupe range here.

Ford Mustang Fastback

The Ford Mustang is probably the world’s most iconic muscle car, yet it only arrived in the UK in 2015. Whilst the Mustang has become much more refined over the years, the latest version still offers the aggressive muscle car look, whilst benefiting from modern technology and competitive pricing compared to the competition. For the same amount of money, you would probably struggle to find anything in its class that offers the same performance and road presence, with German alternatives being a lower-spec Audi A5 or BMW 4 Series.

When the Ford Mustang received a facelift in 2018, it was available with a 2.3-litre Ecoboost and a 5.0-litre V8 engine. However, the Mustang is now only available with the 5.0-litre V8 engine, although there hasn’t been confirmation that the more economic 2.3-litre engine won’t make a return soon. Unlike many competitors, Ford offers the Mustang with either a responsive 6-speed manual gearbox for those who want an authentic driving experience or a sophisticated 10-speed automatic transmission, which smoothly changes gears and offers a smooth drive. In terms of performance, the 5.0-litre turbocharged V8 engine generates 444bhp, 553Nm of torque and can reach 0-62mph in 4.9 seconds, despite its 1818kg kerb weight. More recently, Ford introduced the ‘track ready’ Mach 1 Mustang, which uses the same 5.0-litre V8 engine, but is tuned to produce an additional 10bhp and has an adaptive suspension system that has been developed specifically for that car, which improves the handling and how the car corners, which has never been a strong point for the Mustang historically.

Since the facelift, the Mustang has added further technology to the cabin and it is a relatively nice place to be when driving the car. The car comes with Ford’s SYNC 3 infotainment system which is easy to use and has proven its capabilities across the manufacturer’s other vehicles. Unfortunately, the Mustang falls short on the quality of the interior finish, with some cheaper plastics, buttons and switches clearly visible, especially compared to some of its more premium competitors. You also have to pay extra for the B&O premium sound system, however, this is a reasonably priced extra and arguably one of the best systems available for the price range.

In terms of practicality, the Mustang is comfortable for two passengers, with a lot of space in the front of the car and ample headroom. In the rear of the vehicle, the sloping roof design of the coupe means you will struggle to fit two tall adults comfortably, but the seats should be fine for shorter adults and children. Furthermore, there are two Isofix mounts present in the rear seats, which means you could fit two small children in child seats in the back with no problem, although it may be difficult with only two doors.

When it comes to pricing, the Mustang represents extremely good value compared to the other best coupes listed, with the 5.0-litre V8 GT starting from £44,225 for the 6-speed manual and £46,255 for the 10-speed automatic. The Mach 1 spec starts from £55,255 for the manual version and £57,255 for the automatic. These prices place it in a similar bracket to the BMW 430i and M440i respectively and certainly offers much more under the bonnet, but does lack slightly in premium finish and practicality. Furthermore, the running costs are likely to be much higher, with the V8 engine being extremely thirsty and insurance being high due to the car emitting 268g/km under official tests.

You can learn more about the Ford Mustang Fastback on the manufacturer’s website.

Audi TT

The Audi TT is an icon when it comes to coupes since being unveiled two decades ago and the latest version is probably the best TT yet. Audi has continued to develop the TT range, with the current car being good looking with sharp edges and a bigger grille, it’s as enjoyable as ever to drive and the fuel figures are extremely good for a sports car. This makes it a great all-rounder for somebody looking for a compact coupe that is as good on the inside as it is on the exterior, although if you’re wanting to carry any rear passengers, you may want to consider something larger than the TT.

Since the facelift in 2019, Audi offered the TT with a simplified engine range and added more standard equipment. As such, you now have a choice of two 2.0-litre turbocharged engines, the first being the 40 TFSI that produces 194bhp and the 45 TFSI that produces 242bhp. The 40 TFSI is engaging to drive, with all of the power going through the rear wheels, with the car able to accelerate from 0-62mph in 6.6 seconds, producing 320Nm of torque and able to reach a top speed of 153mph. The 45TFSI is available as both a rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive (Quattro), both of which produce 370Nm of torque, but the Quattro can reach 0-62mph in 5.1 seconds, compared to the RWD which takes 5.8 seconds due to less grip. Unlike previous models, Audi only sells the TT with a 7-speed semi-automatic gearbox, which is well-refined and changes gears at the right times depending on what mode you select.

If you’re looking for more speed from your TT, then there are two sportier models available in the form of the TTS and the TT RS. The TTS still utilises a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged engine, but it’s tuned to produce 302bhp and utilises Quattro all-wheel-drive which allows it to directly rival cars such as the Porsche 911 with its 0-62mph figure of 4.5 seconds. If you want a car that is capable of rivalling some of the world’s best supercars, you can do so with the Audi TT RS, which has the same 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine found in the RS3. The engine produces an impressive 395bhp, but due to the low weight, an excellent centre of gravity and minimal body lean in the corners, you’ll struggle to find a car that’s more fun to drive for the price. The Quattro all-wheel-drive system allows you to reach 0-62mph in less than 4 seconds and you can pay an additional fee to have the speed limiter removed, which increases the top speed from 155mph to 174mph, although this won’t be much use unless you’re planning on taking it onto the track.

When it comes to the interior, you’ll struggle to find anything better for the price, with lots of soft-touch materials used, circular air vents in the centre console and Audi’s digital cockpit replaces the traditional dials with a 12.3” screen that can display all information such as your speed, satnav, what’s playing through the radio and more. The ride on the TT is firm, especially if you opt for the S Line trim, however, you can select the regular suspension at no extra cost to avoid a very firm ride. The seats are comfortable and the drive height is adjustable, with room for even tall drivers to enjoy a comfortable ride.

Pricing on the TT varies depending on the trim, drive and engine you choose. The rear-wheel-drive entry-level 40 TFSI starts from £32,460 and the 45 TFSI starts from £35,655. If want the Quattro all-wheel-drive system, you will need to choose the 45 TFSI option, with prices starting from £37,075, although prices quickly start to increase once you venture from the standard Sport trim, to the S Line, Black Edition or Vorsprung. For the sportier models, the TTS coupe is available from £45,885 and the TT RS starts from £55,055.

You can learn more about the Audi TT coupe here.

Porsche 718 Cayman

The 718 Cayman initially launched in 2005 and has gone from strength to strength since, despite a difficult decision from Porsche to move to a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine for most of its range from the naturally aspirated 3.0-litre six-cylinder they’d utilised historically due to emissions standards. The most recent Cayman is arguably the best looking yet, with a notable Porsche shape that looks modernised with squared-off details and a redesigned rear taillight.

The Porsche Cayman comes with a variety of engines based on the spec you choose. You can opt for the Cayman or Cayman T, which comes with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine that develops 296bhp and are extremely torquey between 1950 to 4500 rpm, making them pull extremely well once you get moving. Both versions will reach 0-62mph in 5.3 seconds and have a top speed of 170mph. If you opt for the automatic gearbox, this figure reduces by four-tenths. The next step up is the 718 Cayman S, which uses a four-cylinder 2.5-litre engine that produces 345bhp, with the manual version reaching 0-62mph in 4.6 seconds and the automatic version cutting that figure by 0.2 seconds. If you want supercar level figures, you will need to go for the GTS which has a 4.0-litre six-cylinder engine that produces 395bhp and can reach 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds with the manual gearbox and 4 seconds if you choose the automatic. On a track, you could reach speeds of up to 182mph, with Porsche claiming the automatic version can go from 49-74mph in just 2.6 seconds in fifth gear.

Despite Porsche playing around with the engine offering for the Cayman, the chassis has remained the same meaning the handling is still as good as ever. The engineers have done an excellent job with the drive, which feeds through to the seating position, weight of the steering and the pedals. This makes it highly engaging at high speeds, but as with any sports car, the ride does suffer at lower speeds, especially on uneven road surfaces. Despite being a small two-seater coupe, there is enough space in the Porsche for two people to be comfortable and store everything you’d need for a weekend away. As you’d expect, the build quality on the Porsche is excellent, with high-quality materials used throughout, however, the infotainment does let the car down slightly when compared to the competition. Another downside is the endless amount of optional extras available, which can quickly increase the price and could put off those looking at a base-spec model.

In terms of pricing, the base-spec 718 Cayman is available from £45,230, the Cayman T starts at £52,500, the Cayman S increases to £54,990 and the range-topping GTS will cost you £65,390 before you add any optional extras. You can expect to add at least a few extras whatever trim you choose with even in the range-topping GTS model not coming with cruise control, a reversing camera or a premium sound system.

You can explore the Porsche 718 Cayman range on their website.

Bentley Continental GT

For those with deep pockets who are looking for a luxurious coupe to cruise along the motorway and experience an effortless driving experience, you needn’t look further than the Bentley Continental GT. When Bentley introduced the car in the ’90s, it was a dazzling success for the manufacturer and increased their sales figures massively, which meant that it didn’t get too much of an update for a while, with Bentley instead just tweaking the car slightly. However, recent arrivals from Aston Martin and Mercedes have meant that Bentley has been pushed to create the best Continental GT yet and they have delivered. The car is lighter, more nimble, has better weight distribution and has an abundance of tech that hasn’t been seen on previous models.

The Continiental GT base-spec engine is anything but, with the 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine producing 542bhp, 770Nm of torque and reaching 0-60mph in 3.9 seconds. Despite the V8 version of the car weighing 2,165, the car can still reach speeds of 198mph on a track and feels nimble due to the front of the car being lighter than that of the larger engine. The more powerful Continental GT engine is a 6.0-litre W12 engine that develops a staggering 626bhp. Despite the increase in power, the engine is much heavier meaning it feels less engaging in the corners, but it is 0.3 seconds faster to 60mph. All Continental GT’s come with a clever air suspension system that provides a cushion-like ride on the comfort setting and hardens up in the sport setting.

Moving onto the interior, the Bentley feels extremely luxurious, with well-padded leather seats, chrome buttons and knobs and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen to control many of the car’s functions in the centre console. For a coupe, it also feels extremely spacious compared to most of the other cars on our list, with enough room for two adults to sit in the rear of the car comfortably for short-medium journeys and the boot being large enough to fit the shopping or two large suitcases. Behind the wheel, the car feels extremely powerful, allowing you to fly through traffic and cruise along the motorway with ease. The four-wheel drive system and the excellent brakes mean that you never feel in danger despite the power of the engine, with the car being extremely comfortable due to the soft suspension when in either ‘Comfort’ or ‘Bentley’ mode.

As expected, the Bentley is the most expensive car on our list, with the build and drive quality also exceeding other cars that are available at a lower cost. The base-spec 4.0-litre V8 Auto is available from £160,200, whereas the 6.0-litre W12 version starts at £165,400, with the top-spec costing upwards of £215,000, although you will need to enquire to get Bentley’s latest pricing.

You can explore the Bentley Continental GT specs on their website.

Lexus LC

The Lexus LC is the brands flagship model and they’ve done an excellent job competing in a difficult market. You often see concept cars with jaw-dropping designs that look almost incomparable by the time they reach the dealership forecourt, but the LC500 surprisingly managed to keep all of its creative flair when compared to the concept car that was unveiled back in 2012.

The Lexus LC500 is available as both a petrol and hybrid, with the second being named the LC500h. The pick of the engines has to be the 5.0-litre V8 petrol which sounds like you’re about to tear up the road when you switch on the ignition, with a deep bassy rumble that your neighbours won’t appreciate if you live in a built-up area. The roaring V8 produces 457bhp, with all of the power sent to the rear-wheels on the base-spec model, making it an extremely fun car to drive. You can upgrade to the Sports+ spec if you want all-wheel drive, a choice of rear-differentials and a torque vectoring system. The car is only available with a 10-speed automatic transmission, which changes at the right times and allows the car to reach 0-62mph in 4.7 seconds, with a top speed of 168mph. Expectedly, the 5.0-litre engine isn’t the most economic, with the car achieving a combined 24.3mpg when driven cautiously. The hybrid option uses a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine with a small electric motor which runs parallel to the petrol engine, which gets from 0-62mph in an impressive 5 seconds. The primary benefit of the hybrid is that it’ll be much more economic than the V8 petrol, with Lexus claiming the car will achieve a combined 34.8mpg.

In the driver’s seat, the drive is extremely engaging, with the Lexus having superb balance from the chassis and the power can be felt instantly once you put your foot down in both versions. The adaptive dampers that are now standard on the LC500 do a great job controlling the weight of the car on country roads and planting the car to the tarmac. In comfort mode, the ride can still feel a bit bumpy, although this is to be expected from what is a two seater sports car. What’s more, the interior of the Lexus feels like it has been well thought out, with the centre console and dashboard being well thought out and crisp. As expected for a car in its class, there are no cheap materials, with smooth leather, soft touch materials and alcantara used for most of the interior. Also expected is the lack of boot space, which will struggle to fit two suitcases, but should be adequate for one suitcase and the weekly shopping.

Despite all of the technology on the car and the engineering that has gone into making it one of the best the company has ever produced, the LC500 is available from £81,750, with the price rising to £92,600 if you opt for the Sport+ pack, which gets you variable gear ratio steering, an improved Limited Slip Differential, a retractable rear spoiler, carbon fibre roof and more. If you feel the hybrid LC500h would be more suited to your needs, the prices are identical to the petrol version, with Lexus going for the least complex pricing model possible!

You can find out more about the Lexus LC here.

*All information is accurate as of the 29th September 2021