Mercedes-Benz C 230 Avantgarde (Old)

This Merc’s engine has four valves per cylinder; the 2.5-litre V6 puts out 203bhp and that gives it substantially more pace than the supercharged C200K. This is manifest from the time you use half-throttle and access the effortless torque sitting comfortably in the bottom end and mid-range.

The character of the motor is perfectly in sync with the nature of the car, and power even in the top-end is strong, but never frenzied. And there’s a nice, almost mini-V8 growl when the motor is revved towards the top of its powerband. In isolation, the Merc is plenty quick, its seven-speed automatic effective in putting you in the right part of the power band, with more than enough performance to keep you entertained.