MERCEDES-BENZ has made great strides in the design stakes in recent years - and the C-Class Coupe is a perfect example.

Taking cues from its similarly handsome S-Class counterpart, this more compact car boasts a typical long, low, road-hugging profile, with a raking roofline dropping towards a powerful looking rear.

A striking, muscular front end features the diamond grille and long bonnet of the S-Class while a high, taut beltline reduces the height of the side windows, the profile of which is highlighted by polished aluminium trim.

Frameless doors and sharp character lines along the flanks complete a clean and modern look which, for my money, makes this the most attractive compact coupe around at the moment.

Fearsomely powerful Mercedes-AMG versions are available for adrenaline junkies with deep pockets but most will be going for the standard 2.0 litre petrol or 2.1 litre diesel models, with manual and automatic and rear or four-wheel drive options available.

The AMG Line car, as the name suggests, offers some of the aggressive styling touches of the flagship flyers, if not the edge-of-your-seat thrills.

That said, in rear-wheel drive trim with the 204ps version of the twin-turbocharged diesel power pack under the bonnet, mated to a super smooth and versatile nine-speed transmission, it's certainly no slouch.

The 0-62mph sprint comes up in a very brisk 6.7 seconds on the way to a top speed of 153mph - which should be more than enough pace for anyone.

Five driving modes can be selected at the push of a button to optimise the car's set-up for sportiness, comfort or economy as well as an ‘individual' option which allows the driver to customise the settings to their own personal preferences.

Whichever setting you choose, though, handling is sharp and nimble, with direct, well-weighted steering and impressive levels of grip inspiring confidence and making the C-Class Coupe an enjoyable and engaging car to drive.

It's also refined and composed, ironing out all but the worst vagaries of UK roads, especially with the optional £895 Airmatic dynamic handling package my car featured.

This clever system incorporates a self-levelling suspension that can be raised by 25mm to increase ground clearance and automatically lowers by up to 15mm at high speeds to help reduce drag and improve stability.

Interior highlights of the AMG Line include sporty exclusive touches such as upholstery in Artico man-made leather, a multifunction sports steering wheel with flat bottom and AMG sports pedals.

Open-pore black ash wood trim combined with aluminium in the dashboard and the doors emphasise the premium feel of what is a genuinely classy four-seater cabin, which has plenty of room for those in the front to get comfortable.

It's a slightly different story in the back, though, where, despite the luxurious surroundings, head and legroom has been compromised in favour of that sleek design, meaning adults will feel cramped on all but the shortest trips.

Practicality is not the prime consideration when buying a sports coupe though and at least the boot, at 400 litres, offers good usable space, with the 40/20/40 split rear seats adding load-carrying versatility.

A comprehensive package of high-end, high-tech equipment includes a satnav and infotainment system with seven-inch display screen, dual-zone climate control, electronically adjustable front sports seats, reversing camera, collision prevention assist, park assist and ambient lighting.

As ever with the prestige German brands though, there's a long list of options that can drastically bump up the price. My car, for instance, featured almost £10,000 worth of upgrades and add-ons including a £350 air balance package - which, as far as I can gather, is a glorified air freshener.