 |
The diesel engine is appealing for its performance, however, as well - this engine is great in the Mercedes range, and in the PTC, despite looking slower on paper from 0-60 than the 2.0-litre petrol, its low-end torque makes it feel stronger and more responsive for overtaking than that petrol engine, which runs out of steam all too quickly. The PTC is no performance car - its height and unaerodynamic shape make it a little unwieldy at speed - but it's generally a much more rewarding drive in diesel form. This engine is a welcome addition to the range.
The same cannot, however, be said about the transmission; Mercedes' manual gearbox is not the best around, and here in the PTC, its notchiness and imprecision is magnified by the long, thin gearstick and awkward circular plastic gearknob. It's all too easy to engage the wrong gear - thankfully, there's a bleeper that tells you if you've got reverse instead of first.
Chrysler accepts that the PTC has always been "a car that divides opinion". You either love it - or you don't. If you do, this diesel version will endear the car to you even more, but if you don't, then in diesel form it exhibits all the same slightly annoying characteristics: patchy soundproofing, a firm ride yet with a tendency to wallow into corners, a cluttered interior and less-than-competitive fuel economy and carbon dioxide emissions. PTC fans are, of course, more than prepared to overlook these shortcomings. When a vehicle has as distinctive a character as this car has, you can forgive it a lot.
|
