Despite looking for all the world like a truncated version of the latest Mercedes C-Class, the CLC rides on the chassis of the older C Class. This is perhaps no bad thing as Mercedes needed a budget coupe that looked agreeably modern. Don't go expecting cutting edge handling and the CLC shouldn't disappoint.

Replacing the successful C-Class Sports Coupe has proved rather a knotty issue for Mercedes. The reason why this car has traditionally been such a strong seller is, rather unusually for a Mercedes product, price. To put that into perspective, you could buy one of the old Sport Coupes for less than £2,000 more than you'd pay for a top Hyundai Coupe. Put in those terms, it's not hard to see why this was a key model. The quandary Mercedes found themselves in was replacing this car without throwing massive amounts of budget at it and hence having to hike the prices. The result is the CLC, recognisably a C-Class Sports Coupe but brought up to date in certain areas.

What it resolutely isn't, despite wearing a similar front end, is a current C-Class. It sits on the chassis of the last C-Class and merely wears the face of the current car. While it might not be the last word in chassis dynamics, it remains a tidy handler with a solid range of engines.

The CLC is available with a quartet of four-cylinder engines and a couple of six-cylinder units with power outputs ranging from the modest (122bhp) to the muscular (272bhp). The engines are a virtual carry-over from the C-Class Sport Coupe of old, and very good they have proved too. The headliner is the CLC 350 and despite its position as the most powerful version, it's a good deal more relaxed than the Kompressor-engined versions at the opposite end of the line-up. Indeed if you take the 'Sports' section of the car's name at all seriously, a Kompressor may be a better bet, the engine being a real terrier of a powerplant, always on, always encouraging you to acquaint the accelerator pedal with the carpet.

"The very raison d'etre of the Mercedes CLC is to bring younger customers to the Mercedes fold..."

The CLC 350 Sports Coupe is a more mature, relaxed car, albeit one that carries a big stick. It'll sprint to 60mph in 6.4 seconds and top out at an electronically limited 155mph, which will be quite quick enough for most. The CLC 200 Kompressor will be more attainable to most and it features an improved power output of 183bhp. All models are fitted with a six-speed manual transmission that's a whole lot better than old-school Merc manuals. If you're willing to spend a little more, there's a five-speed auto for the four-cylinder units and the 7G-TRONIC seven-speed self-shifter for the V6 cars.

Mercedes do much to dispel the impression that the CLC is just a C-Class Sports Coupe that's had a facelift. The Stuttgart company claims over 1,100 component changes but count every press stud, grommet and washer and you can account for 1,100 new parts rather rapidly. It certainly looks like the old car from the cabin, with much the same dashboard architecture, albeit garnished with uprated infotainment systems, seats and steering wheel. The exterior retains much the same silhouette but looks a lot more modern in its detailing. The front end apes that of the latest C-Class, adding projection beam headlights and that Mercedes coupe touchstone, the big chromed three-pointed star in the centre of the grille.

The back end has also been tidied up to good effect, with a set of slimline LED tail lights. Open the hatch and you'll find a variable luggage compartment with a capacity of up to 1,110 litres, proving that this coupe has a practical edge as well. The overall effect is of a more mature, dignified car that echoes the modern Mercedes design language very smartly. Build quality is notably tighter than the C-Class Sports Coupe, with better quality interior finishes and superior panel fit.

The very raison d'etre of the Mercedes CLC is to bring younger customers to the Mercedes fold and in order to do that, prices have to be kept reasonable. In fact there's almost an argument for this model to be run as a loss leader if it helps imbue its owners with the requisite Mercedes-Benz brand values and buyers then move onto buying more profitable Mercedes lines. In order to keep headline prices reasonable, many of the more desirable features reside on the options list and it's worth remembering this when comparing with less prestigious coupe models that may come better equipped.

It's a fair bet that few will have anything quite as sophisticated as the latest generation Mercedes infotainment systems. Three units are offered with features such as colour display, speed sensitive volume control, Bluetooth integration and iPod, USB stick or other external device input options. The Audio 50APS and COMAND APS systems come with a Europe-wide DVD or hard disc-based navigation system respectively. The other really tempting option is the Sports Package. This includes 18-inch alloys, direct steer (a variable ratio steering rack), black tinted headlamp surrounds, lowered sports suspension, dark-tinted aluminium trim and a leather-trimmed sports steering wheel.

Of course, if you're trying to calculate a depreciation figure, it pays to bear in mind the cost of expensive options. That said, the Mercedes CLC looks set to perform very well in terms of residual values, as there is never a shortage of customers looking to buy sensibly-priced Mercedes models, especially if it's still a relatively fresh face. Insurance ranges between Groups 13 and 18, so there's likely to be a model to suit most target pockets. Economy is an area where the CLC scores relatively strongly, the CLC 200 Kompressor managing an average of 35.5mpg, which isn't too shoddy for a 183bhp coupe. If you really want to reduce your frequency of visits to filling stations, try the CLC 200CDI diesel which will average over 48mpg. This means that you'll be able to get over 1,000 kilometres out of a tankful of derv.

The Mercedes CLC is nothing radically new. While this may be a damning indictment of some ostensibly 'new' rivals, with the CLC it's rather reassuring. The old C-Class Sports Coupe never really campaigned as an exemplar of sporting purity. Instead, it was a good looking car that offered Mercedes brand values at a modest price. The CLC continues that trend, updating the look and feel just enough to not look out of place in a gleaming Mercedes dealership next to more precious metal.

In offering a continuity model, Mercedes takes advantage of its sunk costs in this platform but buyers need to be complicit in the subterfuge that this looks like a new C-Class model but is in fact something a little more prosaic. Does it matter? Not really. Keen drivers will still buy a BMW 3 Series or a Nissan 350Z instead and those looking to turn heads will buy an Audi TT. The Mercedes CLC plays a slightly more subtle hand but plays it very well.

TOP 5 CLC CLASS DEALS

The results below show the top CLC CLASS deals on buyacar

	Mercedes-benz CLC Class 180K Sport 3dr Auto Coupe
	ETR	Mthly £345	Saving £1,621	Price £20,484
	Mercedes-benz CLC Class 180K SE 3dr Coupe
	ETR	Mthly £311	Saving £1,427	Price £18,488
	Mercedes-benz CLC Class 180K Sport Panorama 3dr Coupe
	ETR	Mthly £350	Saving £1,652	Price £20,763
	Mercedes-benz CLC Class 200K Sport 3dr Coupe
	ETR	Mthly £351	Saving £1,652	Price £20,763
	Mercedes-benz CLC Class 180K Sport 3dr Coupe
	ETR	Mthly £328	Saving £1,526	Price £19,489

typical 11.63% APR

PCP finance quote over 48 months,  10,000 miles pa,  deposit of £1000