The 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class is a beautiful car inside and out, but after driving the sleek-looking coupe, my admiration for it quickly stopped.

Inside the E350 coupe, I couldn't get comfortable. No amount of seat adjusting and lumbar support helped me find a good driving position. My visibility was impeded by the coupe's squatty greenhouse with its low ceiling and large A-pillars. To make matters worse, the E350 didn't make up for these inconveniences with stellar performance, impressive gas mileage or dazzling features.

With a 268-horsepower V-6, the E350 coupe easily reaches highway cruising speeds in good time. There were no jolts of acceleration and no rushing past fellow drivers screaming, "Ha! Eat my dust!" The E350 is far too refined and mature for such idle amusements. But the brake pedal's slow response and loosey-goosey feel was unnerving.

The 2011 E350 coupe has a starting MSRP of $48,850. My test car had an as-tested price of $59,225.

• EXTERIOR
• INTERIOR
• SAFETY