Coupe cars

The term coupe describes a sleek, sporty-looking car that’s more practical than a pure sports car yet has a lower, more sloping roofline than an equivalent hatchback. Coupes often (but not always) have only two side doors and four seats.

The traditional definition of a coupe only encompasses cars with either a two-door or three-door body, but many brands now describe some of their four- or five-door models as coupes. Examples include the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe and Mercedes-Benz CLS, as well as SUVs such as the BMW X2 and Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe.

Whether you buy a coupe or a saloon depends on your priorities. Generally, a coupe will look more stylish and exciting than a saloon equivalent, but a saloon will often provide more interior space for both passengers and luggage.

Gran Coupe is a term used by BMW to describe its range of cars that offer the swooping roofline of a coupe but with the practicality of four or five doors and the interior space of its more conventional range of saloons.