Chrysler 300C Touring

Basically a previous-generation Merc E-Class underneath, the Chrysler 300C is nevertheless a genuinely interesting car. It looks great and is superbly well priced. One to try before you buy a nondescript German.

• Comfort

  The ride can be a little bit grabby for some, but the 300C makes great sense on a motorway and for general schlepping about. It's big too, so there's loads of space, but the high waistline and short windows can make kids sick.

  

• Performance

  Three engines to choose from; two V6s (a 183kW 3.5-litre petrol or a 160kW 3.0CRD diesel)or the big daddy - a 317kW 6.1-litre V8 in the SRT-8. The diesel V6 is the one to go for as it's quicker than the V6 petrol; 0-100km/h in 7.6 seconds versus 9.2 and 230km/h versus 219km/h. It's the torque. If you can stretch to the SRT-8, you can burn to 100km/h in 5.0seconds and hit 274km/h.

  

• Cool

  Very. Works on many levels and interest hasn't waned yet. Touring is just that fraction chillier than the saloon, don't you think?

  

• Quality

  The interior may be a bit Chrysler budget, with lower-rent plastics than we're used to, but nothing falls off. We just wish they'd lay off the silver spray paint - it looks crap.

  

• Handling

  OK, so it's not the most sorted handling car; it floats over crests and can be really fidgety in town. Chrysler has reverse-engineered the Merc set-up to be considerably worse. Hefty SRT-8 is mega tail-happy fun, but it's more a drag racer than a sports car.

  

• Practicality

  Touring has buckets of space inside. JCB digger buckets. Those sort of buckets. The pay-off for the interior floor plan is that this is a huge car to park - a multi-storey nightmare.

  

• Running costs

  The SRT-8 is a beast to run; Insurance at the price of a small country and 14L/100km is as high as Snoop Dogg's dog, also $78k price tag to match. The diesel is cleaner and uses less fuel than either petrol car - it'll hit nearly 8.3L/100km when the 3.5 V6 gets just 11.2L/100km.