New Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class review

Inspirational in two-seater ‘roadster’ design and customers aspire to own a Mercedes-Benz roadster in their lifetime, the latest SLK-Class with its electronically operated folding metal roof hits the UK roads in April this year.

The latest generation is an evolution of the previous model so it is the same compact size but with sportier looks, improved handling with four petrol engine options offering more power output with lower fuel consumption and less CO2 emissions.

The latest SLK looks more muscular, no longer is it just a ‘cruising’ status open-topped two-seater car, it now looks like a purposeful sports car but with added refinement.

Exterior changes include a re-designed front skirt with styling cues taken from an F1 Grand Prix car’s front wing. The front skirt incorporates more pronounced cooling air vents.

The long deeply sculptured bonnet leads down to a larger three-pointed star mounted centrally in the grille. At the rear are a diffuser type rear skirt, trapezoidal tailpipes and AMG-style dark-tinted tail lights.

The interior has been upgraded with the use of higher quality materials and the new three-spoke steering wheel has multifunction buttons. There is now a new instrument cluster with chrome-ringed, three-dimensional, tube- effect dials.

There is hands-free telephony, advanced Europe wide satellite-navigation system as well as iPod and MP3 connectivity. Airscarf is a popular option working very effectively to warm the occupants’ necks and this costs an extra £350, but for the UK weather it is a must-have item.

All four engines are either new or significantly changed. The four-cylinder 200 Kompressor, the main selling engine by far in the UK, has an actual capacity of 1.8-litre with 184hp and 250Nm of torque. It gets its sports car power because of the supercharger which provides ‘grunt’ from 2,800rpm right up to 5,000rpm making it really responsive but yet it remains very flexible, even docile, driving along busy in-town streets.

Top speed is 146mph, 0-62mph takes 7.6 seconds customers should see their car return around 36mpg and the lower CO2 emissions of 182g/km puts it in Vehicle Excise Duty Band E which costs £165 a year. The SLK 200, 280 and 350 models do not fall into the forthcoming £25 per day London Congestion Charge but the SLK 55 AMG does.

The SLK 280 has a 3.0-litre normally aspirated petrol engine with 231hp and 300Nm of torque. Top speed is limited to 155mph, 0-62mph takes 6.3 seconds and expect around 30mpg.

The SLK 350 with its 3.5-litre, V6 engine, high revving, 305hp, 360Nm is new and described as a sports engine with a sporty soundtrack. Certainly it is all those things and the exhaust note is to die for.

This engine will make all the headlines for the new range but in reality it will loose out on the top sales spot to the 200 Kompressor unit because of higher running and purchase costs.

The extra power and grunt it gives is significant. Acceleration is instantaneous with 0-62mph taking 6.3 seconds and as usual the top speed is limited to 155mph. Expect around 30mpg.

Top of the tree is the 5.5-litre, V8, hand-built AMG 360Nm engine which has a massive 510Nm of torque. What can you say about this unit, it is fast, it sound great but realistically only a few of them will ever be seen in the UK. Top speed is again limited to 155mph, 0-62 takes 4.9 seconds and you will get around 23mpg.

All the SLKs I tried on the fantastic winding roads in mountains of the South of France this week, and around the fashionable streets of Monte Carlo, had the various types of automatic transmissions that 93 per cent of UK customers choose.

In either fully automatic mode, or using the tiptronic type manual gearchanges, these units are ideally suited to all the power units and the SLK concept of sports roadster-cum-grand tourer.

Each unit has a button than can be pushed for ‘sport’ or ‘comfort’ driving mode that either sharpens or relaxes throttle responses. Guess which setting I used most?

Another option worthy of mention is the new Direct-Steer system that costs an extra £220. Basically it sharpens up steering response and feedback on twisting roads but improves steering ease when reverse parking. In theory this is a good system for most of the time.

Occasionally I found myself ahead of the steering system’s response on fast, very tight, hairpin bends. The steering wheel was turning faster than the power assistance so the feedback was not consistent.

The new SLK is much improved in most areas, from the excellence of its 22 second shut-to- open folding metal roof to the much improved higher quality and relatively roomy interior, a boot big enough for two weekend bags and the sharper re-worked and desirable exterior styling.

The ride comfort can be firm, even bumpy, on some road surfaces but it remains a very easy car to drive and it now has enough ability and power not to be classed just a fashionable roadster, but as a genuine high quality sports car.

MILESTONES

Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class 200 Kompressor (Main selling model)

Price: £29,705 (£31,755 with auto transmission and options)

Engine: 1.8-litre, four-cylinder, petrol with supercharger. 184hp, 250Nm from 2,800rpm

Performance: 146mph, 0-62mph 7.6 seconds, 36.7mpg, CO2 182g/km, VED Band E £165

Insurance group: 16

For: Iconic design, improved muscular looks, better interior quality, more power, lower emissions, more performance, better sports car handling.

Against: Airscarf and Direct-Steer options should be standard for this price.

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