Young at heart
We've assembled two Mercedes reviews that scrutinise the new Mercedes CLC Sport Coupe and the new-generation SLK-Class range.
Mercedes is introducing its newest member of the coupe family, as the CLC. The German carmaker is keen to distinguish this new car from the rest of the C-Class range, and it has been designed to go head to head with rivals such as the BMW 1 series, Audi A3 three-door and the new VW Scirocco. However, take a look at the new front end, and it is essentially a C-class. Move towards the rear and it is almost identical to the C-Class Sports Coupe which it replaces.
So what is different? The answer is, not a lot. Although it looks the part, underneath it is essentially the same car. Mercedes has made some minor alterations to suspension and steering set up, but the platform is still based on the previous generation C-Class, meaning that it lacks the panache of the rest of the current C-Class range. It's not awful to drive by any standards, and all the engines offer reasonable performance. It goes round corners well, the steering is fluid and it makes an ideal companion, but it just isn't all that exciting. On longer journeys there's no denying this car will eat up the kilometres with great ease, but unlike the BMW 1 Series coupe, the CLC feels out of place on a twisty B-road. The changes that have been made to the suspension have made the ride poor and it feels unstable as it crashes over bumps and potholes. It's reasonably big inside though; the keen golfer will be pleased with the boot space - plenty of room for clubs - and the rear seats will easily accommodate two adults on shorter journeys.
There are six engines to choose from, the 180K and 200K petrol engines, two diesels - the 200 and 220 CDI - and two V6 variants, the 230 and 350. The pick of the bunch is the 220 CDI which offers a good blend of fuel economy and performance. Despite this, Mercedes says the bestseller is likely to be the C180K entry-level petrol model. All the engines however, have had a significant reduction in fuel consumption - around an eight per cent improvement , while CO2 has been reduced by up to seven per cent. The interior has been smartened up with a dashboard similar to the current C-Class saloon and there is plenty of adjustment for the driver's seat so a good driving position is not a problem.
Overall the CLC isn't a bad car and is certainly reasonable value for money, but it lacks the driving quality of the BMW and isn't quite as pretty as the Scirocco.
The original SLK wowed the crowds with its neat folding metal hardtop. More than a decade on, it feels like every supermini is now available as a "c-plus-c" cabrio that does much the same thing, helping to throw the other qualities of the second-generation SLK into sharper relief.
If you can afford its pricetag, and live with its day-to-day practicality, it's still a brilliant little sportscar. The design is a clear evolution of the styling of the first generation, and although the "Formula One" effect front end is a bit gimmicky, there's no doubting the fundamental smartness of the compact shape. The cabin's great, too - high quality materials, well laid-out switchgear and a reasonably comfortable driving position. As always, the SLK only comes with two seats, and rear bootspace is pretty minimal, especially with the roof folded.
The roof works very well, with single button operation whirring it away in barely 20 seconds. With the roof up the SLK is snug and refined, and with the roof down the innovative (optional) "Airscarf" system helps to keep occupants warm, even in chilly weather.
This SLK drives far better than the slightly wooden original, too. The chassis is responsive and keen to deliver over more demanding roads and the accurate steering helps you to make the most of the high grip levels. It's not quite as dynamically sharp as the BMW Z4 or Porsche Boxster/ Cayman - but it is a more composed long-distance cruiser than either of its key rivals.
Even the basic "200K" supercharged engine gives brisk performance, and can now be specified with a decent manual gearbox, while the V6 280 and 350 variants are both rapid, and the full-on "55 AMG" is ludicrously fast - cracking 62 mph from rest in under five seconds.
Content provided by Verdict on Cars.
So what is different? The answer is, not a lot. Although it looks the part, underneath it is essentially the same car. Mercedes has made some minor alterations to suspension and steering set up, but the platform is still based on the previous generation C-Class, meaning that it lacks the panache of the rest of the current C-Class range. It's not awful to drive by any standards, and all the engines offer reasonable performance. It goes round corners well, the steering is fluid and it makes an ideal companion, but it just isn't all that exciting. On longer journeys there's no denying this car will eat up the kilometres with great ease, but unlike the BMW 1 Series coupe, the CLC feels out of place on a twisty B-road. The changes that have been made to the suspension have made the ride poor and it feels unstable as it crashes over bumps and potholes. It's reasonably big inside though; the keen golfer will be pleased with the boot space - plenty of room for clubs - and the rear seats will easily accommodate two adults on shorter journeys.
There are six engines to choose from, the 180K and 200K petrol engines, two diesels - the 200 and 220 CDI - and two V6 variants, the 230 and 350. The pick of the bunch is the 220 CDI which offers a good blend of fuel economy and performance. Despite this, Mercedes says the bestseller is likely to be the C180K entry-level petrol model. All the engines however, have had a significant reduction in fuel consumption - around an eight per cent improvement , while CO2 has been reduced by up to seven per cent. The interior has been smartened up with a dashboard similar to the current C-Class saloon and there is plenty of adjustment for the driver's seat so a good driving position is not a problem.
Overall the CLC isn't a bad car and is certainly reasonable value for money, but it lacks the driving quality of the BMW and isn't quite as pretty as the Scirocco.
The original SLK wowed the crowds with its neat folding metal hardtop. More than a decade on, it feels like every supermini is now available as a "c-plus-c" cabrio that does much the same thing, helping to throw the other qualities of the second-generation SLK into sharper relief.
If you can afford its pricetag, and live with its day-to-day practicality, it's still a brilliant little sportscar. The design is a clear evolution of the styling of the first generation, and although the "Formula One" effect front end is a bit gimmicky, there's no doubting the fundamental smartness of the compact shape. The cabin's great, too - high quality materials, well laid-out switchgear and a reasonably comfortable driving position. As always, the SLK only comes with two seats, and rear bootspace is pretty minimal, especially with the roof folded.
The roof works very well, with single button operation whirring it away in barely 20 seconds. With the roof up the SLK is snug and refined, and with the roof down the innovative (optional) "Airscarf" system helps to keep occupants warm, even in chilly weather.
This SLK drives far better than the slightly wooden original, too. The chassis is responsive and keen to deliver over more demanding roads and the accurate steering helps you to make the most of the high grip levels. It's not quite as dynamically sharp as the BMW Z4 or Porsche Boxster/ Cayman - but it is a more composed long-distance cruiser than either of its key rivals.
Even the basic "200K" supercharged engine gives brisk performance, and can now be specified with a decent manual gearbox, while the V6 280 and 350 variants are both rapid, and the full-on "55 AMG" is ludicrously fast - cracking 62 mph from rest in under five seconds.
Content provided by Verdict on Cars.