First drive: the new Mercedes SLC 250d

What’s this?

This is a diesel Mercedes-Benz SLC. Apparently, 70 per cent of people who opt for a Benz roadster pick the 2.1-litre turbodiesel. 

After all, numbers like a claimed 64.2mpg and 114g/km are cleverer than a similarly-engined A-class.

What it’s like?

With the roof up (now operable at speeds of up to 20mph), this is an extremely well insulated, refined roadster. Again, not sexy, not exciting, but if you’re optimistic enough to buy one of these things in the UK and have to put up with a summer that lasts twenty-five minutes, you’ll like the fact it’s well-mannered and untiring for the other 364 days.

Is it fast and pointy?

Not as swift as the SLC43 which we tested here. It’s fairly swift – small hot hatch quick, just about – but it feels quite nose-heavy. 201bhp, 369lb ft and 0-62mph in 6.6 seconds are your official numbers, if you’re keeping score.

And three or four fast bends of varying tightness are enough to confirm this isn’t a driver’s car. So rear-wheel drive it may be, but if you wanted a diesel roadster that was moderately chuckable, an Audi TT Roadster is worth a look.

Anything else?

Mercedes has been quite clever in not trying to fake the diesel’s vocals to sound sporty, but rather making it sound like nothing at all. It’s very wooshy and hushed for a four-cylinder, perfect for mooching around in the sunshine, which is where the car’s at its happiest.