ELECTRIC cars may be all the rage now, but while those are still improving fast, Mercedes’ GLC 300 4Matic Coupe is a fine example of how the combustion car has probably reached the point where it’s as good as it’s ever going to be.

It has a powerful 2.0-litre turbo engine, augmented by a small electric motor, and wraps its mechanical bits inside a stylish take on the sport utility vehicle (SUV) format. It adopts the usefulness of the breed but eschews the typical boxiness, with a rakishly low, gently swooping roofline.

The idea isn’t a new one, given that this is the second generation of the GLC Coupe. Nor is there a shortage of slinky SUVs to buy, with direct rivals on offer from Audi and BMW in the form of the Q5 Sportback and X4, respectively. I’d argue that the Alfa Romeo Stelvio and Porsche Macan are foes, as well.

But being a Mercedes, the GLC Coupe drips with elegance. Its front grille has a constellation of tiny stars, and a shiny chrome strip adorns its chin, as a sort of posh reimagining of the metal bash plates that rugged off-roaders have there to guard their fragile bits from rocks.

Similarly, it has running boards on the sides that might be useful for stepping up into a lofty rock-climbing 4×4, but are only decorative here. They even get in the way a bit when you exit the GLC, but darned if they don’t look nice.

Over at the back, there’s more chrome, which makes you wonder if someone from Harley-Davidson sneaked into the Mercedes design department; but the standout feature is the light bar that stretches across the slender tail. It doesn’t illuminate all the way, but it’s very much en vogue, and gives your neighbours an easy way to tell that you just came home in a new GLC Coupe.

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Inside, the GLC is less distinctive, in that it has the same dashboard as a C-Class. Not that I’m complaining, because the quality is decent and the controls are easy to reach.

As much as I dislike large touchscreens, the 11.9-inch item in the Mercedes is both easy to use and lovely to look at. It’s responsive, too, and the native navigation system is connected to Google, so you can just key in, say, a restaurant name instead of looking up its address.

The driver displays, which live on a bright 12.3-inch screen, are clear and come in different themes, including an off-roading one if you really think a GLC Coupe belongs in the wild green yonder. It does have all-wheel drive, but really, you’d be mad to want to sully its pretty flanks with mud or risk scratching its 20-inch wheels on rocks.

Besides, if you stick to tarmac, the GLC 300 Coupe is engaging to drive. It has tauter responses than a regular GLC, and when you sling it around corners it feels very tidy, repaying your enthusiasm with a grippy, sure-footed performance.

The engine is a diamond, too. Piped-in sounds lend it an appealing rasp, and the 48-volt mild hybrid system really gives it some extra punch. That’s courtesy of a starter/generator that feeds 200 Newton-metres of torque to the crankshaft, which results in an energetic surge that you can feel behind the wheel.

The system starts the engine up seamlessly, too, which makes the fuel-saving start/stop feature less intrusive.

The engine may be spirited, but it’s also perfectly refined when the going is gentle. Sometimes it’s hard to tell when it’s even running, and when you’re rolling along at a gentle clip, the GLC 300 can be as quiet inside as an electric car. That gels well with how relaxing the car is overall. You sit high up in it (it’s still an SUV, after all) so you’re occasionally rocked from side to side, but the suspension stays on just the right side of firmness to still feel comfortable.

The high window sills and small glass area create a sense of being cocooned, but they also make it hard to see out of the car, especially through the tailgate’s tiny windscreen. That can make the back feel claustrophobic, though there’s just about enough headroom for adults.

Nevertheless, I’d say the GLC Coupe is decently practical, with a well-shaped boot. On paper, it looks large, at 525 litres, but much of the available space is under the boot’s high floor, so bulky items might not fit. Yet, you can stow the luggage cover under the floor, so folding the rear seats does create plenty of usable room.

Still, even if this is the GLC for people who value style more than they do practicality, it is a versatile car. It has a punchy engine and handles well, it’s refined enough to be soothing, and unless your children are whiny and freakishly tall, it’s roomy enough to handle family duties.

Above all, among the SUVs on the market, the GLC Coupe is one of the easiest on the eye. If you’re going to have a final fling with fuel, you may as well have it with something beautiful.

Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4Matic Coupe AMG Line

Engine 1,999 cc, 16-valve, turbocharged in-line four Power 258 hp from 5,800 to 6,100 rpm Torque 400 Nm from 1,800 to 4,000 rpm Gearbox Nine-speed automatic  0-100kmh 6.3 seconds  Top speed 246 kmh Fuel efficiency 7.8 L/100 km Agent Cycle & Carriage Singapore Price S$392,888 with COE Available Now