Mercedes-Benz Still Believes in the Weird World of Coupe SUVs

Weird Segment

Automotive history has produced many interesting creations; some became classic icons, while others became oddities retired to the history books. A weird segment emerged in the mid-00s that merged two unlikely forms of cars: SUVs and sporty coupes. We all remember when the BMW X6 first came out, and it divided opinions almost immediately; nobody thought that it was necessary.

Here we are today, and the SUV Coupe still exists for some reason; while it isn’t a big segment, some brands believe it’s worth keeping around. Mercedes-Benz is one of the biggest automakers in the world and usually doesn’t waste time or money, yet it thinks this segment is worth investing in.

Dedicated Fan base

Motor1 reports that Mercedes-Benz is doubling down on “coupe-fying” its lineup. Currently, the German automaker is the biggest fan of making coupe versions of its SUVs and even sedans in both ICE and EV forms. The publication spoke with Mercedes-Benz Vice President of Product Strategy and Product Steering Christoph Starzynski, who said he still sees strong demand for the coupe; he says this form has a dedicated fan base. He adds that the SUV Coupes give customers a very spacious vehicle with the looks and driving characteristics of a sporty car.

The report also says that in 2024, there was a rumor that Mercedes-Benz wanted to streamline its lineup and that the SUV Coupes were on the verge of being killed off. However, years later, the GLC and GLE Coupes are very much alive and kicking. While the GLC hasn’t been renewed to the current-generation model yet, the GLE was refreshed for the 2027 model year, reaffirming the brand’s support for this form factor moving forward.

Supported By Others

Looking at the current offerings on the market, Mercedes-Benz actually isn’t alone in offering these coupes. BMW, Genesis, Audi, and Porsche all have models that compete in that segment. Audi also offers more than one option: the Q5 and Q8 Sportbacks. Porsche, meanwhile, offers the Cayenne as a coupe, including the EV.