MERCEDES-BENZ GLC (2015-)

LINFORD CHRISTIE USED to say that he left the starting blocks “on the B of the bang”. However, as far as the UK’s mid-size SUV market was concerned, Mercedes only decided to enter when the ‘G’ was but a fading echo and everyone else had gained a head start. The wait was worth it, because the GLC was a pretty good first effort.

Mercedes chose to launch the car with its long-served 2.1-litre turbodiesel engine up front, with either 168bhp or 201bhp. It wasn’t until the following year that a 3.0-litre V6 diesel became available, and then Mercedes also fitted