This request for advice certainly piqued my interest; there is so much choice that I was unable to give him an answer there and then of what really is the best new car on the market given his parameters. Eventually, after a profusion of research, I managed to whittle it down to just 3 candidates...and here they are...
The Candidates:
Firstly, we have the BMW 335d xdrive;
This car is truly brilliant. It showcases itself as an example of German engineering at its absolute greatest, boasting a limited top speed of 155mph and a 0-60 time of merely 4.8 seconds... that's the same as a V8 Vantage and faster than a 911 Targa 4!Secondly, we have the Porsche Macan S;
Here we have the lovechild of a 911 and a Cayenne. It is the perfect combination of performance, practicality and looks. With the increasing popularity of crossovers, having the option of one with a Porsche badge and an astonishing 5.4 second 0-60 time is certainly worth considering
Finally, we have the Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG Coupe;
As I am sure you are all aware, the AMG badge means something along the lines of 'Angry Mean German'; failure to tame the beast could result in your untimely demise. However, this AMG is slightly different.
The Reviews:
To start off with, let's get the boring stuff out of the way, economy and practicality. All of these cars have a 3.0 litre, six-cylinder engine but the worst out of the 3 for economy is the Macan with an average of 32.5mpg, followed by the AMG with 35.3. Surprisingly though, if you were doing urban driving alone, the Macan is in fact more economical than the AMG with 32.5 as opposed to 26.2 mpg. These stats however, are both made to look futile when you see that the Beemer does an average of 51.4! For this size of engine this is outstanding, especially considering BMW claim that on a motorway run it will return 57.6 mpg which is more than adequate, given how much fun you'd have obtaining those returns. So for the economy test, we have a clear winner; 1-0-0 to the 3 Series.
On to practicality. All of these cars have 5 seats. Whilst boot space was not a significant concern to my friend, like all good car reviews and comparisons, I'm going to talk about it anyway. The smallest was always going to be the C Class which has 400 litres. Out of the other two however, it's very close; the 335d has 480 litres but the Porsche comes out on top with 500 litres. (Both the Mercedes and the BMW have touring models but I am not including them). It's beginning to look like the Merc' is going to have to do something special to be a genuine contender here.
Now onto what you are probably wanting to hear; what they are like to drive. As I have never personally had the chance to drive these 3 cars, I am rating them purely on other reviews, specs and what it has been like to experience similar cars (for example the 520d, Macan diesel and C63 AMG all of which I have enjoyed as a passenger).
Let's start with the Mercedes. As I said earlier, this is different to all of the other cars in the AMG fleet in the way it handles; cars like the SLS Black, the C63 and the AMG GT all lay down their power in such a way that there is negligible traction or stability, resulting in the back end of the car spinning round and aiming you for the nearest tree or even a pedestrian. The C43 however, is more restrained and as long as you are not the kind of imbecile who throws a car into every corner without consideration, you can drive it round a track; this is largely due to the fact that it is only available in four wheel drive. This however, doesn't mean its not fun. The consequence of mashing the right pedal is where this car dominates because contrary to the other two cars being considered in this review, this particular C-Class is still in it's brand's performance lineup, meaning that it is fitted with a raucous sports exhaust that sound similar to an angry lioness or grizzly bear. It is also the fastest of the three candidates with a 0-60 time of 4.7 seconds and a 155mph restricted top speed. This means that with the more firm ride of sport+ mode, it certainly has that fun-factor that may well be less prominent in the other two.
The 335d has almost identical performance stats and is absolutely great fun to drive but this car is less for the sort of person that is constantly hitting the red line and letting people know of their presence and more for the person that likes to be incredibly comfortable but would still like the power to overtake the annoying, middle-lane hogging, Nissan Kumquat with ease. This is made possible by an incredible four wheel drive system and gearbox that work coherently to try and keep you on the road, going exactly where you want to go. Let's put it like this; the BMW is like a butler that politely asks where you want to go and how fast you want to get there as opposed to the AMG that only has one setting... fast and loud. Because the 335d is not made as a performance car (that would be the M3), it floats along any road surface using the optional air suspension, quietly and discreetly putting comfort at the forefront of it's design followed by performance and not the other way around. Consequently, it can cope with poor weather easily, so will not let you down.
Finally the Macan S. This being a crossover makes you feel "high and mighty" compared to the other cars in this test but certainly does not lose that sporty feel. It is very fast compared to other cars in it's class and comfortable too. However, when it comes to a fun driving experience, compared to the other two, it isn't as firm and does feel like you are under-steering into the corner whether you are or not and therefore doesn't give that sensation of driving a fast and exciting car. Don't get me wrong, it is good fun to drive and be driven in; it has a 4x4 system similar to the xdrive where mostly it sends 90% or so of the power to the back wheels and then evens it out where needed so it can be taken off road without worrying. If you were focusing on what it is like in the cabin however, it is by far the most comfortable with the suede backed bucket seats, high consoles and prodigious amounts of tech to fill your every need; its like sitting in an armchair... made by Porsche. It must be said though, that without the badges it would actually prove hard to tell that it is a Porsche and not something else like a Jaguar because it is just that relaxed and would be perfect (if you can afford the fuel) for long, gruelling commutes!
Another important consideration is what the interior looks like and how the infotainment system works. For the BMW, it has the IDrive system which I cannot fault; my father owns a 5 Series and it is honestly the most intuitive in-car entertainment and navigation system I have ever used! It has one rotary dial that couldn't be easier to use! All of the buttons in the BMW are clearly labelled and very straight forward and its a pleasure to use with a crisp and accurate navigation system and perfectly adequate speakers. The Mercedes has an okay infotainment system with clear graphics but can feel quite outdated. It doesn't have the option of Apple CarPlay and it is not quite as intuitive to use as the IDrive but does have simple and easy to follow menus and a clean interface. What the Merc' does have better than both the Porsche and the BMW, is the interior aesthetic; it is beautiful with high quality finishes and curvy edges that will make your mouth water. The speakers are crafted by Burmeister and everything just looks like it's more up-market compared to the plastics used by the BMW and the Porsche. It's the small things like the little analogue clock in the middle of the dashboard, that really make the car feel like a sporty limousine (not surprising, given that it shares a lot of features with the S Class). It also has sportier dials than the BMW which would make it much more appealing to drive. The Porsche has a simple and easy to use system that works well and has a lot of features. However, Porsche being a high end company, isn't afraid to charge an arm and a leg for these add-ons! The interior is sporty; it has a central rev counter (a feature that I have always liked) and a little screen in front of the driver for giving information. The Macan is aesthetically pleasing on the inside but again, like the 3 Series, is not a patch on the Merc.
The Verdict.
The Specs
335d xdrive (Saloon)
Price: £43,460
0-60: 4.8 seconds
MPG: 51.4
Top Speed: 155
Luggage Capacity: 480 litres
Drivetrain: All wheel drive (xdrive)
Engine: 6cyl, 3.0 litre, 2 turbos
Power output: 313bhp, 465lbft
C43 AMG Coupe
Price: £46,875
0-60: 4.7 seconds
MPG: 35.3
Top Speed: 155
Luggage Capacity: 400 litres
Drivetrain: All wheel drive (4Matic)
Engine: V6, 3.0 litre, 2 turbos
Power output: 362bhp, 384lbft
Macan S (Petrol)
Price: £48,287
0-60: 5.4 seconds
MPG: 32.5
Top Speed: 157
Luggage Capacity: 500 litres
Drivetrain: All wheel drive
Engine: V6, 3.0 litre, 1 turbo
Power output: 340bhp, 340lbft
