Chrysler 300C

	What’s missing is the V8 rumble that gives the flagship its character, and the diesel engine sounds clattery when idling

American cars and economy haven’t historically gone hand-in-hand. Without a fuel-gulping V8 under the bonnet, a motor can’t have a stateside feel... or can it?

Chrysler’s 300C ticks all the boxes for fans of US saloons, but its flagship HEMI V8 doesn’t fit many household budgets. Luckily, there’s a highly capable diesel alternative. Both the model’s underpinnings and the CRD engine are borrowed from Mercedes. But while many of the mechanical parts were used in the previous-generation E-Class, the powerplant is Merc’s latest V6 oil-burner.

On the road, the 300C proves to be smooth and, with 218bhp and bags of torque, it has surprising speed. The 0-62mph time of 7.6 seconds is only slightly slower than that of the petrol range-topper.

What’s missing is the V8 rumble that gives the flagship its character, and the diesel engine sounds clattery when idling. A lacklustre chassis means the suspension struggles to cope on bumpy surfaces, while the steering lacks sufficient feedback.

Priced at £25,775, the CRD costs a mere £20 less than its slower V6 petrol sibling, but is £7,265 cheaper than the HEMI. We reckon the oil-burner is the pick of the range.