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For The folding hard-roofed Mercedes SLK is a sharp-looking, all-seasons roadster. It comes stuffed with luxury and safety kit.

Against The four-cylinder engines are coarse and noisy, and sloppy handling means the SLK isn’t much fun to drive. The dashboard is cluttered, too.

Mercedes-Benz SLK Open
22 5stars

The Mercedes SLK is a nice enough car in its own right, but many manufacturers – such as Audi, BMW and Porsche – offer much better, more exciting roadsters for a similar price.

What Car? readers say

3.8

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The full Mercedes-Benz SLK review


There are 8 Mercedes-Benz SLK versions available

Open SLK200 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY 2dr £30,010
What Car? says:2 stars out of 5
Open SLK250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY 2dr £32,280
What Car? says:2 stars out of 5
Open SLK200 CGI BlueEFF. AMG Sport 2dr £34,010
What Car? says:2 stars out of 5
Open SLK250 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY 2dr £34,335
What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Open SLK250 CDI BlueEFF. AMG Sport 2dr £36,280
What Car? says:2 stars out of 5
Open SLK250 CGI BlueEFF. AMG Sport 2dr £38,335
What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Open SLK350 CGI BlueEFF. AMG Sport 2dr £44,260
What Car? says:2 stars out of 5
Open SLK55 AMG 2dr £54,990
What Car? says:3 stars out of 5

Buyer's notes

Target Price team says:

The Mercedes SLK range is reasonably simple. Petrol engines comprise two turbocharged 1.8s (badged 200 and 250) a 3.5-litre V6 (350) and a 5.5 V8 (55 AMG). There’s also a 2.1-litre diesel (250 CDI). The two 1.8 petrols are available with a six-speed manual gearbox or an optional seven-speed auto; the others get the auto ’box as standard.

Trim levels are standard or AMG Sport (the V8 is a stand-alone AMG model with its own look and equipment). The entry-level grade comes with alloys, Bluetooth, DAB radio and engine stop-start. AMG Sport versions add leather upholstery, a sporty bodykit, larger wheels and lower suspension, but they’re significantly more expensive than the standard models.

Despite the generous amount of comfort and safety equipment you get for the money, the options list is long and tempting. Pre-paid servicing plans are also available, as is a factory collection option where you fly to Germany to pick up your new car, then drive it home.

Reader test team says:

Mercedes-Benz SLK Open 250 CGI (Euro) 2dr

As usual you have to question the What Car test team's reviews. In my opinion, they have got their reviews about the SLK totally wrong. Since 2005,…

Steve Griffin

5 out of 5 stars

Mercedes-Benz SLK Open SLK250 CGI BlueEFF. AMG Sport 2dr

This is a much better car than the review suggests and attracts admiring glances and comments everywhere I go. I have owned my bright red SLK 250CDi…

andrew donaldson

4 out of 5 stars

Mercedes-Benz SLK Open SLK250 CDI BlueEFF. AMG Sport 2dr

Contrary to what the main review says, I've actually been pleasantly surprised by the SLK as a package. The auto-box is very smooth and delivers the…

Chris Wilton

4 out of 5 stars

Mercedes-Benz SLK Open 250 CGI (Euro) 2dr

Hmm... The difficult "third album". I was intrigued by the promise of the SLK250; a turbo-charged 1.8 with 200ish bhp, 0-62 in 6.6sec and fuel economy…

Neil Oxley

2 out of 5 stars
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Mercedes-Benz SLK Open

Read the definitive Mercedes Benz SLK Open review from the expert What Car? team. Check specs, prices and compare with similar cars.

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