What: An updated version of Mercedes' junior roadster.
How Much: Base price, $45,825; As tested, $54,745
What's Hot: Aggressive styling, glorious exhaust note, quick-action hardtop
What's Not: Dead steering wheel, wonky iPod integration, high price relative to competition

On the Road: The original SLK was cute but compromised. It had a trick retractable hardtop, but was cramped inside and never had sports-car-appropriate powertrains. The new-for-2005 SLK350 was beefier looking, faster, bigger inside, and just better all around. A year later, the SLK280 version was introduced, providing a lower-priced, smaller-engined alternative for those who couldn't hack the 350's price tag. For 2009, the entry-level SLK gets a mild update, although the basic story stays much the same.


2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK300 - Quick Test - Motor Trend

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