2010 Camaro Color and Model Sales Breakdown So far
Green
Trucks
Luxury
Family
Brand
Muscle
See more sites from  HighGear  M E D I A  >>
Compare this car to others like it Try our car compare tool now

2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK Class Quality Review

October 30, 2008

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 8 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

A performance car for those who refuse to sacrifice luxury
Popular Mechanics

Cabin is definitely cozy if you're around 6 feet tall
Cars.com

Soft, high-quality plastics complement supportive yet nicely cushioned seats
Edmunds

The Mercedes–Benz 2009 SLK-Class is simply a top-notch vehicle when it comes to comfort and luxury, as one would expect from Mercedes. However, the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class loses some points in daily practicality.

Edmunds reports that the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class is a two-seat "luxury roadster" that offers a "power-retractable hardtop" and extraordinarily comfortable seats, provided you aren't too tall. Kelley Blue Book reviewers love the "supportive bucket seats" on the Mercedes-Benz 2009 SLK-Class, while Edmunds mentions the "power heated sport seats." However, Cars.com notes that the "cabin is definitely cozy if you're around 6 feet tall," and that "even though [they] were able to get relatively comfortable, [they were] never able to put the seat exactly" where they wanted to.

Cargo space is one of the few areas where the 2009 Mercedes-Benz isn't a class standout. Unlike most of its competitors, the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class has a retractable hardtop, which sure looks good but also significantly detracts from the cargo room. Edmunds says that, "when lowered, the folded top naturally eats up trunk space" and leaves just "6.5 cubic feet...available." Kelley Blue Book adds that the Mercedes-Benz 2009 SLK-Class's "retractable hardtop still eats up trunk space, but the design responsibly leaves some usable room for storing small luggage and valuables."

Despite complaints about the lack of cargo space, the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK lineup still impresses in reviews read by TheCarConnection.com for its impeccable build quality. On the exterior, "the perfectly aligned side bodylines appear as though carved from a single block of steel," claims Kelley Blue Book. The praise for the manufacturing of the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class extends to the inside, where Edmunds says that the interior "materials are generally beyond reproach," with "soft, high-quality plastics" throughout.

In addition to the commendable build quality, the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class offers good isolation from road noise, at least with the top up. Popular Mechanics says that "top-up motoring is appropriately insulated thanks to the folding hardtop." Cars.com reviewers find "a little bit of wind noise can penetrate the cabin on the highway with the top up," but when the top comes down, the experts at TheCarConnection.com are disappointed to register a bit more wind turbulence than one would expect from a Mercedes-Benz.

A pitchy, harsh ride is considered par for the course in a small roadster, but reviewers' comments suggest the SLK has exceptional ride quality compared to its peers. Kelley Blue Book contends that the "ride has definitely been improved," and Edmunds reports the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class is "comfortable and compliant enough to appeal to the average driver."

Conclusion

The 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class will pamper you, but convertibles, by their nature, are not the right choice if you need to carry a lot of people or gear.

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 8 out of 10Expert Quotes:A performance car for those who refuse to sacrifice luxuryPopular MechanicsCabin is definitely cozy if you're around 6 feet tallCars.comSoft, high-quality plastics complement supportive yet nicely cushioned seatsEdmunds The Mercedes–Benz 2009 SLK-Class is simply a top-notch vehicle when it comes to comfort and luxury, as one would expect from Mercedes. However, the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class loses some points in daily practicality. Edmunds reports that the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class is a two-seat "luxury roadster" that offers a "power-retractable hardtop" and extraordinarily comfortable seats, provided you aren't too tall. Kelley Blue Book reviewers love the "supportive bucket seats" on the Mercedes-Benz 2009 SLK-Class, while Edmunds mentions the "power heated sport seats." However, Cars.com notes that the "cabin is definitely cozy if you're around 6 feet tall," and that "even though [they] were able to get relatively comfortable, [they were] never able to put the seat exactly" where they wanted to. Cargo space is one of the few areas where the 2009 Mercedes-Benz isn't a class standout. Unlike most of its competitors, the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class has a retractable hardtop, which sure looks good but also significantly detracts from the cargo room. Edmunds says that, "when lowered, the folded top naturally eats up trunk space" and leaves just "6.5 cubic feet...available." Kelley Blue Book adds that the Mercedes-Benz 2009 SLK-Class's "retractable hardtop still eats up trunk space, but the design responsibly leaves some usable room for storing small luggage and valuables." Despite complaints about the lack of cargo space, the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK lineup still impresses in reviews read by TheCarConnection.com for its impeccable build quality. On the exterior, "the perfectly aligned side bodylines appear as though carved from a single block of steel," claims Kelley Blue Book. The praise for the manufacturing of the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class extends to the inside, where Edmunds says that the interior "materials are generally beyond reproach," with "soft, high-quality plastics" throughout. In addition to the commendable build quality, the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class offers good isolation from road noise, at least with the top up. Popular Mechanics says that "top-up motoring is appropriately insulated thanks to the folding hardtop." Cars.com reviewers find "a little bit of wind noise can penetrate the cabin on the highway with the top up," but when the top comes down, the experts at TheCarConnection.com are disappointed to register a bit more wind turbulence than one would expect from a Mercedes-Benz. A pitchy, harsh ride is considered par for the course in a small roadster, but reviewers' comments suggest the SLK has exceptional ride quality compared to its peers. Kelley Blue Book contends that the "ride has definitely been improved," and Edmunds reports the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class is "comfortable and compliant enough to appeal to the average driver." ConclusionThe 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class will pamper you, but convertibles, by their nature, are not the right choice if you need to carry a lot of people or gear. 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK STYLING | [8 out of 10] Car and Driver: "Very, very similar to models that cost three times as much" Cars.com: "An appropriately luxurious look that takes key elements from other, more expensive Mercedes-Benz models" Motor Trend: "For 2009, all models get new ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class remains closely comparable to rival small roadsters from BMW and Porsche, the Z4 and Boxster, which all offer strong acceleration and premium features, though forgoing some of the simplicity and lightness in the process. If a simpler, more traditional roadster for weekend top-down driving is what you seek, you may be happier with the back-to-basics Miata. However, if you plan to drive the roadster every day, the SLK is perhaps the top choice due to its excellent retractable hardtop, which seals out the weather and even road and wind noise. The soft tops available for the Z4 and Boxster are no match, though they don't compromise trunk space as the SLK's setup does. The Z4 offers a distinctly different style, with swoopier sheetmetal, while the Boxster remains the top choice for those craving a purer sportscar experience, though its interior isn't quite up to the standards of the others. The TT is nimbler and more maneuverable for city driving, but its interior isn't as spacious and comfortable as the SLK's. The SLK remains among the most refined and smoothest-riding of the roadsters, and this year's changes promise to make it even more enjoyable to drive.

Next Steps:

Get a free price quote

for the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK Class from a dealer near you

Check Insurance Rates

for the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK Class

Check Financing Rates

for the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK Class

Check Local Classifieds

for a 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK Class near you

See the Mercedes-Benz SLK Class in Other Years:

2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998

Comments (1 total)

  1. By Hank Greenberg #1, Posted: 10/4/2009

    I have a brand new slk350 that is four weeks old. I placed a cup of coffee in the cup holder which sits directly above the GPS system. I was on a bumpy road and a small amount of coffee dripped out of the hole in the coffee lid and somehow went into the GPS system and "fried" the system boards. MB wants $6,000 to replace because the GPS was not defective. I agree that there is no defect with the system. The defect is in the design. You cannot place liquids over sensative electrical systems unless you build a shield that will prevent such an event to occur. I have discussed this with senior mechanical engineers at BU and they said the design is "an accident ready to happen"
    How do I get MB to own up to there bad design so I don't get stuck with these humungus charge on a car that has less than 1,000 miles on it?

Post a comment

Post anonymously, or
(Required)
(Required - will not be published, sold or shared)
(Optional - your 'posted by' name will link to the URL)

Remember Me?

I have read TheCarConnection.com's privacy policy