THERE'S something slightly decadent about a large car with just two doors, a huge boot and acres of cabin space to lounge in.

It conjures up images of indulgent travel from a bygone age to a villa in the South of France, or maybe a clandestine weekend in San Remo.

But there's a small band of coupes that still offer this type of stylish motoring...the sort of that could genuinely be called Grand Tourers.

One of the most popular examples is the Mercedes Benz E350 Coupe. It delivers an appealing blend of comfort and luxury together with lusty performance yet better-than-average economy.

From the outside, the clean flowing lines - improved substantially in a facelift two years ago - together with that iconic Mercedes nose create a strong road presence.

There's a huge variety of engine options, both diesel and petrol, ranging from the 181bhp E200 up to a mighty 329bhp E400. But the smart choice is probably the E350 Bluetec AMG diesel which knocks out a useful 252bhp and easily returns 40mpg-plus with an official combined average of 49.6mpg.

The creamy flow of power disposes of the 62mph rush in a swift 6.2 seconds and tops out at 155mph.

The V6 diesel engine is quiet and subdued. Only at idle are you able to pick up a slight diesel 'rattle'. A seven-speed automatic gearbox with steering wheel paddles makes the most of the abundant torque and responds impressively to a stab of accelerator.

While the big coupe is surprisingly athletic thanks to an excellent chassis and good damping. Impressive cornering ability and sharp handling is an everyday pleasure yet the emphasis remains on comfort and refinement.

It's rear wheel drive so there are no worries about torque steer when you exit bends on full throttle. Bumps and road imperfections are smoothed out effortlessly and cornering roll is well restricted.

The Coupe has a slightly more compact wheelbase than the saloon so rear legroom is rather less abundant.

Nevertheless, it remains a genuine four-seater and those in the back have acceptable headroom along with beautifully designed and supportive seats and a central glovebox as well as their own heating and air con ducts.

In keeping with its role as a long-distance mile-eater, the large but shallow boot can carry 450 litres of luggage.

On top of this, there's a generous glovebox and deep door pockets providing plenty of storage for bits and pieces.

In usual Mercedes fashion, the interior styling is a bit on the sombre side with plenty of greys and black - it's nowhere near as racy looking as the exterior. But there's an air of quality and longevity about the furnishings that elevates it above most of the opposition.

Standard equipment is plentiful, the AMG Sport being treated to leather upholstery, heated seats, bodykit and LED headlights.