GUARANTEED to bring out the green eyed monster in the most placid of onlookers, the sleek Mercedes C220 is a beautiful blend of power, elegance and efficiency.

It's not often that the terms power and efficiency are used in the same sentence, but this Mercedes is the BlueEFFICIENCY model which means that despite being able to sprint from 0-62mph in 8.1 seconds it also boasts combined fuel economy of 53.3mpg.

Admittedly, the car is not cheap - £44,280 with all the optional extras, but once you explore the build quality, level of on-board technical wizardry and the power at your disposal the price-tag becomes all the more reasonable.

The C220 looks amazing from every angle with its LED daytime running lights, green tinted windows and 18-inch AMG alloys.

The interior is stunning in design. The seats can be fully adjusted electrically and there are memory settings along with three-stage heaters.

Elsewhere the creature comforts are plentiful and include a superb communications and entertainment system with seven-inch colour display, satellite navigation with 3D maps, automatic two-zone climate control, a 12-speaker surround sound system, reversing camera, Bluetooth connectivity and plenty more besides.

The front seat passengers are treated to ample legroom and there is room for two adults in the back although it's not ideal for extra long distances.

Storage options are plentiful and the deceptively large boot (opened at the press of a button on the key) can be extended further thanks to split-folding rear seats.

There are reminders of the AMG styling both inside and out such as the floor mats, AMG three-spoke sports steering wheel, side skirts and front and rear apron, not forgetting those black alloys.

So this C220 looks amazing and is packed to bursting with sophisticated features and gadgets galore, but what about the performance?

Once again, it's a winner. The acceleration is sharp and responsive as the car powers through the seven-speed automatic transmission. There are paddle shifts on the steering wheel if selected.

The 2.2-litre diesel-driven engine produces ample power and the car handles superbly in busy city centre traffic and out on faster roads.

Road-holding is excellent even in the wet and cabin noise virtually non-existent.

The car is fitted with a very responsive ECO start/stop system which can be a tad annoying when edging gradually out of a turning as the car literally stops and starts every time your foot is taken off the accelerator. This can be switched off very easily but is handy when in traffic jams.

There is also an ECO driving mode which helps maximise economy. Comparing the car's performance with the ECO switch on and then off there was very little difference. Many models perform sluggishly in ECO modes but that certainly wasn't the case with the Merc.

As one would expect, the car is kitted out with the very best in safety features including anti-lock brakes, brake assist, attention assist which monitors driver fatigue, dual-stage airbags, electronic stability programme, a lane departure warning system and much more.

All in all, the C220 is quite a car. It handles superbly, looks fantastic and thanks to fuel-saving technology you won't spend half your life queuing at the filling station.