It’s a sharp car that always feels alert and responsive – important when you’ve got so much power at your fingertips. The steering is light, which makes it useful around town, but it can twitch at speed.
But let’s look at the numbers. The 4.0-litre petrol engine is intoxicating, and can do 0-62 in 4.0 seconds in standard guise. Upgrade to the AMG GT S model, and you can trim that time to 3.8 seconds before maxing out at 193mph. The engine delivers all its power in such a way that performance is accessible no matter how fast you’re going.
However, all that feral performance comes at a bit of a cost, and you can’t expect better fuel economy returns than 30.4mpg. And the truth is that they’ll be tough to achieve.
Inside, the car is absolutely gorgeous. But how much pleasure you get out of it will come down to how much you’re willing to spend on the optional extras. In standard form, the AMG GT Coupe is good. But it’s only when you add some expensive treats that it begins to feel special.
However, all cars get a stylish dash, matt silver finishes, LED lights and cruise control.
In terms of practicality, you might struggle for space, and the small windows will make you feel a bit hemmed in. You’ve only got two seats, too, and there isn’t too much room behind the seats for extra storage. Hardly surprising when you consider this car is shorter than the BMW 3 Series.
Thick windscreen pillars restrict visibility somewhat, and your legs might begin to ache on a longer journey. The door pockets aren’t big enough but the boot measures 350-litres, which makes it bigger than the one in the Ford Focus.
Price:
Mercedes – £98,000 – £111,500