![]() The 185-horsepower SLK-Class's 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine provides 200 pound-feet of torque, available between 2,500 and 4,800 rpm, making it a choice convertible for carving through traffic or up a spiraling mountain road. While not appreciably quicker, the manual at least offers buyers the option of selecting their own gears, which is fun when combined with the SLK-Class's precise steering, willing supercharged powerplant, and wonderfully damped suspension. Last year, Mercedes equipped the car with a manual transmission as standard equipment, making the slushbox optional. The original was available only with an automatic transmission, which sent sports car purists packing. Mercedes got the recipe almost right the first time. In less than 30 seconds, you can convert the SLK-Class from a closed coupe to a cool convertible without leaving the driver seat. The SLK-Class's big selling point is its exclusive retractable steel roof that, when raised, makes the car seem as tight and insulated as a Benz sedan. The result of that decision is the SLK-Class roadster, introduced in 1997 to instant critical acclaim. These fees and commissions do not influence the amount a customer pays.A few years ago, the gang at the three-pointed star decided that it was time to ditch their dowdy image and begin attracting younger buyers. Auto Trader receives a fee from retailers advertising finance and may receive a commission from commercial partners for introducing customers to finance products. Representative finance examples are for illustrative purposes only. Auto Trader Limited is a credit broker and not a lender. Play Store logo hp-download-android-app hp-download-android-app hp-download-android-appĬopyright © Auto Trader Limited 2023.Auto Trader Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in relation to consumer credit and insurance mediation activities.Help us improve our website Send feedback This SLK may be quick, but this is not a car you hustle along for fun. The manual gearbox feels notchy and a bit vague, while the auto ‘box is luxuriously smooth but a little bit slow-witted compared to the double-clutch system used in the Audi TT Roadster. Both gearboxes confirm the SLK as a nippy cruiser rather than an out-and-out sports car. Only the SLK 200 gets a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, but it can also be specified with the same 7G-Tronic seven-speed auto that features as standard on the rest of the range. In Mercedes tradition, the SLK55 AMG is the current range topper, and uses a new 421bhp normally aspirated version of AMG’s new 5.5-litre V8. While it’s likely to appeal to those looking to keep costs down, we can’t help thinking that a diesel soundtrack is a tad out of place in an elegant, sporty roadster. The diesel model develops a not insignificant 204bhp from a twin-turbocharged 2.1-litre engine. The 0-60mph sprint time shrinks to 5.6secs and it feels considerably punchier. The SLK 350 uses Merc’s new normally aspirated 3.5-litre V6 with 306bhp. The higher tuned SLK 250 packs 204bhp from the same four-cylinder unit and accelerates from 0-60mph in 6.6secs, but it's also thrashy and not especially eager, either. It feels a bit wheezy and breathless at higher speeds. The best-selling SLK 200 develops 184bhp from a turbocharged, 1.8-litre petrol engine. A Porsche Boxster and Audi TT Roadster both feel considerably more premium inside, with smaller panel gaps and more space.įive versions of the new Mercedes-Benz SLK are currently available. The overall finish of the Mercedes-Benz SLK feels decent but it falls just short of the BMW Z4 by a couple of instances – the minuscule clock that sits on the dash feels tacked on, while the elasticated door pockets also look cheap. Sounds like an expensive, optional extra (it is) but in hot weather it does keep you cool with the roof up. This allows passengers to alter the amount of light that enters the cabin by changing the transparency of the glass roof. In the day, customers can play with the Magic Sky Control roof. Further party pieces include Campari red lighting strips along both the door cards and centre console to lift the cabin’s ambience at night. At the centre of the dash is a large 5.8-inch screen that also has the option of offering internet access through a data enabled mobile phone. It feels reminiscent of the Mercedes-Benz SLS supercar, and there are brushed aluminium accents on the door handles, jet-like air vents and gear selectors. The interior of the Mercedes-Benz SLK is smart and functional, without setting the world alight when it comes to design or quality.
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