Category: Affordable Sports 
Price Range: £24,995 to £27,390
Striking and original styling, tuneful and responsive V6 engine, well equipped, reasonably entertaining and fair value
Poor fuel consumption, slightly cramped cabin, uncomfortable passenger seat, tacky centre console finish, could be a more engaging drive, old-tech fabric roof on convertible
A fine mix of style and substance, backed by Mercedes' engineering but spoilt by some cheap details . Not as much fun as the alternative Nissan 350Z and Mazda RX-8, either, but a distinctive and desirable car.
There's a fairly standard airbag tally: two front, and one in each door - plus an electronic stability system, including traction control, to help prevent accidents in the first place. Tyre pressures are automatically monitored, and the anti-lock brakes include emergency brake assist as is usual in most new cars. An alarm is standard, and there's a delay feature for the headlights to light the way to your front door after you've locked up. The convertible's thin canvas roof - without even a lining - won't be as secure or resistant to vandalism as the folding metal roofs sported by the likes of the SLK, however.
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wrote on 21 06 2006