Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG

Our verdict

The Mercedes C63 AMG is an extreme prejudice answer to BMW’s M3 that leaves all-comers in its substantial wake. You get out of this 456bhp, RWD monster with sweaty palms and a stupid grin on your face, but it’s a bit hardcore for everyday use.

Comfort

The seats are huge batwing-style racy things that are horrible to get into, but once you're there, hug you like a desperate housewife. After that, things get a little less comfy; the engine is super loud (but that's a good thing most of the time), the suspension will blur your vision and there's precious little ‘sneeze factor' in the steering.

Performance

There's nothing like it in this sector. That's one mother of an engine shoehorned into the engine bay of a C-class; 6208cc of V8 with 457bhp and enough torque to pull down cities. You better be in something substantial to beat it in the speed stakes too, because 0-62mph takes just 5.2 seconds and it'll hit the 155mph limiter hard and quickly. And then there's the noise...

Cool

Self-flagellation is extremely trendy in some circles. Gets respect just by the strength of your commitment.

Quality

Built like a brick outhouse, though fairly focused when all's said and done. Nice materials and proper build quality help this feel like it'll do nasty things to road surfaces all day long.

Handling

The C63 AMG feels like an old-school DTM car. That equates to millimetric steering, super-hard and very sticky; on a smooth road. Get off the beaten track and you're looking at being bounced into the nearest solid object - ‘uncompromising' doesn't really cover it.

Practicality

It's a C-class, so you get a generous 475-litre boot and the associated C-class practicality, but your kids won't thank you for it when you use the available performance. And you will.

Running costs

We don't even know how much C02 this thing produces because we're too stunned by the running costs; group 20 insurance, max tax, max everything. And on a recent test, Top Gear recorded 5mpg. Yes, that's right 5mpg - it is quoted as getting 21. Hmmmm.