QUALITY | 8 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
While drivers up to 6' 4" or more may find the SLK accommodating, even some long-legged passengers south of the six-foot mark may find the right-side seat a bit confining.
Motor Authority
There's never been an excess of room inside the SLK, and the new model is no different. A 6'2" passenger with a 34-inch inseam just fit with his back against the wall, trading seatback rake for precious legroom.
Automobile
Driver and passenger both benefit from more shoulder room, thanks to an extra 1.3 inches of width.
Car and Driver
In terms of space, however, the SLK's cabin is quite snug, even among two-seaters. The Z4 is notably more spacious for the driver. At least the Mercedes provides a relatively large trunk whether the roof is up or down.
Edmunds
The trunk easily swallowed two large backpacks and a camera case with the roof stowed. Nifty.
Autoblog
The Mercedes-Benz SLK has styling that tends to make it look longer than it is; the SLK rides on a wheelbase of 95.7 inches, and measures just 162.8 inches in all, which makes it a very short car. And what this means is that cabin space is quite tight, and it's hard to disguise some of the inherent ride qualities of such a short vehicle.
Most passengers will fit fine, but our taller editors—basically, all of them—think the SLK could use an inch or two more leg room, and more seat travel. The sport seats themselves fit perfectly snugly, but you'll sit close to the dash. We've also noticed the passenger footwell doesn't have as much space, which can make very long drives a little tiring. Very tall passengers will have some geometry to figure out.
However, relative to some other small roadsters (like the Miata), interior space is excellent. There's not much space to spare, nor is there much room in the trunk with the folding top down—and you can't put it down without first aligning the trunk dividing partition properly—but there's enough space for a weekend retreat for two. A backpack-sized space lies under the flat floor; lift out a formed plastic bin and hide valuables, or flip it on its other side for a shallow well that adds a cubic foot or a little more to the equation. In all, there are 10.1 cubic feet of stowage with the roof up, but only a scant 6.4 cubes when it's out of sight.
A flexible cargo lid inside the trunk has to be latched in place over some of the cargo hold before the top can be moved; it's a good safeguard, but it's possible that potholes and bumps will dislodge it. Otherwise, raising or lowering the top is just a button press away--though you do have to be at a full stop for it to operate, or at least we did. Once the top is up, the SLK is much more coupe-like; that is to say, quieter, more closed-in feeling.
The SLK's cabin is tight and never drafty with the windows up and the climate control set; but with the top down, it can get a little turbulent—made a bit better with the mesh divider between the seats.
Conclusion
There's enough soft-side luggage space, and swell fit and finish, but the SLK's seating space is still a little snug.
