The engine may only have a 1.9-litre capacity but its 148bhp output is not to be sniffed at, nor is the 232lb of torque on offer at 2000rpm. Indeed for a mid-range diesel (there’s a 177bhp 3-litre V6 oil burner in the range too), it endows this large saloon with really rather impressive performance. It’ll hit 62mph from rest in under nine seconds and not stop accelerating until it’s doing a fairly fleet 135mph. The engine is a little noisy and not exactly characterful but there’s no doubting its ability to get the job done, particularly when it’s mated to the standard six- speed automatic gearbox.
It’s also an impressively frugal machine, with a combined fuel consumption of 48.7mpg, though this falls to a notably less impressive 41.5mpg if you choose the six-speed auto box. Get the manual and thanks to its 61 litre tank, it’ll cover 600 light-footed miles between fills.