It’s easy to get comfortable in the CLC thanks to the good driving position while the chunky sports steering wheel and electric front seats offer plenty of adjustment. The seats themselves are supportive on long journeys and offer good support when cornering – overall there’s a quality feel to the cabin – as you’d expect from a Mercedes. The foot-operated parking brake takes some getting used to, but it keeps the centre console clutter-free and although the intelligent satellite-navigation system quickly reacts to re-route a diverted journey, it can be a little fiddly to use when driving.

Parking can also be tricky due to restricted rear visibility caused by the CLC’s sleek roof and slender rear window.

The cabin is very comfortable for front passengers, with excellent legroom. Most adults will find the back cramped as the swooping roofline restricts headroom but this isn’t a problem for children. The brushed aluminium centre-console and chrome-trimmed instrument cluster, switches and ventilation controls all enhance the CLC’s high-quality appearance.

The optional sunroof lightens the cabin plus all models are equipped with automatic climate control as standard. Noise from the diesel engine is rather intrusive, however, particularly when cold or under hard acceleration.