28 Sep 01
Mercedes stylists have shaped the coupe to resemble the larger CLK and CL coupes rather than the C-Class donor car. The rakish nose is an undoubted success, but the stunted tail, with its awkwardly integrated spoiler, divides opinion. Open one of the solid-feeling doors, though, and the C-Class influence is more obvious. The SC offers a curvaceous instrument binnacle, but the bulk of the facia architecture has been lifted straight from the saloon. It's attractive enough, but some of the plastics feel cheap and the mock aluminium facia inserts are of questionable taste. This is a strict four-seater, but the quartet sit in relative comfort and there's a good-sized boot.
Our test car came fitted with the Evolution Panorama package, which adds £1750 to the price of the standard 220CDI. Panorama explains an expansive glass roof, which gives the cabin a nice, airy feel. The front half can also be retracted, turning the SC into a kind of junior targa-top. The Evolution half of the partnership introduces stiffer, lower suspension in combination with larger 17 in wheels and tyres. So equipped, the SC feels more responsive than the standard car without compromising the supple ride quality. However, keen drivers anticipating delicacy and poise to rival the excellent BMW Compact will be disappointed. The steering and brakes, in particular, are muted in their feedback, which undermines the car's sporting pretensions.
