Skip advert
Advertisement

Mercedes SLK 350

The original folding hard-top is back - but does the all new Mercedes SLK have the dynamics to match the aggressive looks?

Overall Auto Express Rating

4.0 out of 5

Find your Mercedes SLK
Offers from our trusted partners on this car and its predecessors...
Hassle-free way to a brand new car
Or are you looking to sell your car?
9/10 sellers got the price they expected
Advertisement

It’s easy to be seduced by the 350’s muscular power and that dramatic noise. There’s no question that the SLK is now a serious contender in this class – and a highly polished all-rounder. Yet currently the majority of UK cars sold are 200s, and the new 350 is unlikely to change that. The 250 looks almost exactly the same, costs significantly less to buy and run, and, thanks to its lighter weight, is better to drive too.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Meet Mercedes' mini SLS! The all-new SLK looks more aggressive thanks to AMG supercar-inspired styling – but does it drive like one too? Auto Express got behind the wheel to find out.

We’ve already tested the mid-range four-cylinder petrol, but with a revised 3.5-litre V6 offering more power and better fuel efficiency than the previous car, can the flagship SLK 350 finally deliver the thrilling drive promised by the sharp new looks?

Video: watch CarBuyer's video review of the Mercedes SLK

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"content_narrow","fid":"68677","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image"}}]]

The new engine is significantly cleaner than the one it replaces, using clean burn technology and direct injection to increase fuel economy to nearly 40mpg - not bad for a car that goes from 0-62mph in just 5.6 seconds. Power delivery is linear and smooth, and the tuned exhausts provide an exhilarating soundtrack, particularly with the folding roof stowed.

However the SLK is still far from a raw sports car. Roof up or down, it’s more comfortable and spacious then before, with road and wind noise well suppressed, and even with the suspension in the firmer ‘sport’ setting, it rarely loses composure, which means there’s plenty of grip through corners.

Yet the most powerful car in the line-up (until a V8-powered AMG version arrives next year) can’t quite match the handling poise of the lesser models in the range. The electrically assisted steering is a little lighter, and there’s noticeably more body roll due to the weight of the extra two cylinders. The 7G-Tronic automatic gearbox also lacks the immediacy of the latest dual-clutch systems, and it struggles to make crisp changes when you really up the pace.

The new interior is a revelation though, the jet turbine air vents and aluminium switches are lifted straight from the SLS, and build quality is superb. But at £44,115, the 350 is more expensive than both the Boxster S and BMW Z4, and less sharp to drive than either.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay
Road tax documentation
News

Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay

Drivers with newer cars can expect to be paying roughly £10 more per year, a although the biggest gas guzzlers will fare the worst
26 Mar 2024
Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power
Dacia Sandero - front
News

Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power

Both the Sandero and Sandero Stepway ranges have been tweaked, gaining more safety features to meet the latest regulations
26 Mar 2024
Huge Audi new car blitz to bring us 9 models in 2 years
Upcoming Audi models - four-way image
News

Huge Audi new car blitz to bring us 9 models in 2 years

After a quiet few years, the German giant is gearing up for its biggest product onslaught to date
25 Mar 2024