Mercedes-Benz SLK280

When the Porsche Boxster and BMW Z3 small luxury roadsters were greeted enthusiastically in the mid-1990s, Mercedes-Benz was quick to follow with its own take on the category: the SLK230 and SLK320. In the years since, the SLK-Class Mercedes roadsters, which are a bit more luxurious and civilized than other German entries, have carved out an enviable niche of their own.

One feature that set the first SLK vehicles apart was their retractable hardtop roofs. While the necessary hardware and the top itself added weight, that roof and its excellent sealing and aerodynamics were nice to have when traveling at highway speed. Some critics felt the original SLKs' handling and performance lagged behind the competition, but the SLK made up for any of those short-comings with improved comfort and refinement.

The current generation SLK-Class roadster has answered many of those performance questions. Built on an extremely rigid platform and fitted with a suspension system that manages even difficult off-camber maneuvers with aplomb, the cars introduced in 2005 have won the hearts of both comfort-seeking cruisers and hard-driving enthusiasts. In addition to great road-management gear, the latest versions of the roadster are available with a range of engine options, ranging from a 228-horsepower 3-liter V-6 in the SLK280 to a 355-horsepower 5.4-liter V-8 in the SLK55 AMG.

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