2016 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class

header-image
$47,000 - $72,600
Starting Price 
Nathan Dyer's image
Nathan Dyer 

Senior Editor,

Updated on September 26, 2023

ProsConsWhat's New

Offers bigger cargo space than some challengers

Limited legroom for tall individuals

Manual transmission dropped

Detailing inside the cabin is impressive

Less customizable than the Porsche counterpart

SLK350 is the new base trim with a new 2.0L Turbo Inline-4 engine and a new 9-speed automatic transmission

Sharp driving dynamics

New standalone available features now include blind spot warning

Magno Shadow Grey and Selenite Grey Metallic are new exterior paints

Specs & Features

$47,000

price

241 hp @ 5550 rpm

horsepower

273 lb.-ft. @ 1300 rpm

torque

9-Speed Shiftable Automatic

transmission

2.0L 4cyl RWD 9A

engine

-

basic warranty

Overview

The 2016 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class convertible is a compact convertible offered in 2 trims, starting off at a base MSRP of $47,000. For that price, it mainly competes with the BMW Z4 sDrive28i convertible, the Audi TT convertible, and the Porsche Boxster Convertible which has the lowest torque output from the base engine among the bunch. Between 2 trims, the SLK-Class offers 2 powertrains. The base engine is a 2.0L Turbo Inline-4 capable of making 241 horsepower and 278 lb-ft of torque. If more power is required, there is also a 302 horsepower-making 3.5L V6 engine. The former engine is mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission whereas the latter is connected to a 7-speed automatic transmission. The SLK-Class reaches 60 mph from zero in 5.8 seconds on its base engine, which gets pumped up to 5.4 seconds with the 3.5L V6. Depending on the powertrain, the SLK-Class can manage a combined fuel economy between 24 and 28 mpg. While we're on the topic of choices, the 12 striking colors the SLK-Class comes in really pull you towards itself.

Buying Advice

The best combo you can bring home is the base SLK300 trim with the Premium 1 Package worth $3,390. However, if the budget isn’t a constraint, we would suggest the Premium 2 Package worth $7,880 which has all the contents of the previous package plus a digital dual-zone climate control system, Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, 7-inch LCD color screen, and more.

Trims

    300
    $47,000 onwards
    • Engine: 2.0L 4cyl RWD 9A
    • Horsepower: 241 hp @ 5550 rpm hp
    • Torque: 273 lb.-ft. @ 1300 rpm
    • 0-60 mph: 6.3 sec
    • Top Speed: 152 mph
    • Fuel Economy Combined: 28 mpg
    350
    $59,200 onwards
    • Engine: 3.5L 6cyl RWD 7A
    • Horsepower: 302 hp @ 6500 rpm hp
    • Torque: 273 lb.-ft. @ 3500 rpm
    • 0-60 mph: 5.5 sec
    • Top Speed: 142 mph
    • Fuel Economy Combined: 24 mpg
    AMG SLK 55
    $72,600 onwards
    • Engine: 5.5L 8cyl RWD 7A
    • Horsepower: 416 hp @ 6800 rpm hp
    • Torque: 398 lb.-ft. @ 4500 rpm
    • 0-60 mph: TBD sec
    • Top Speed: TBD mph
    • Fuel Economy Combined: 22 mpg

Compare to similar cars

Price

$47,000- $72,600

Engine

Gasoline

Rating

8.01

Horsepower

416 hp @ 6800 rpm

Torque

398 lb.-ft. @ 4500 rpm

Capacity

4

Read Review

$49,700- $66,350

Gasoline

7.71

240 hp @ 5000 rpm

260 lb.-ft. @ 1450 rpm

2

Read Review

$24,915- $31,270

Gasoline

8.18

155 hp @ 6000 rpm

148 lb.-ft. @ 4600 rpm

2

Read Review

$85,050- $108,050

Gasoline

8.29

329 hp @ 5250 rpm

354 lb.-ft. @ 1600 rpm

2

Read Review

$72,600

Gasoline

8.11

415 hp @ 6800 rpm

398 lb.-ft. @ 4500 rpm

2

Read Review

$23,550- $35,600

Gasoline

8.27

134 hp @ 4500 rpm

162 lb.-ft. @ 1250 rpm

4

Read Review

$52,100- $82,100

Gasoline

8.51

265 hp @ 6700 rpm

206 lb.-ft. @ 4500 rpm

2

Read Review

2016 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class vs competitor's 0-60

    Car Name
    0-60 MPH
    Quarter Mile
    Top Speed
    SourceCompare
    6.3 sec14 sec152 mph
    4.5 sec--
    4.6 sec11.9 sec190 mph
    2016 BMW Z4

    Ranked #3

    5.4 sec14.0 sec130 mph
    6.7 sec15.1 sec-
    7.5 sec16.0 sec124 mph

    2016 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class vs competitor's MPG

      Car Name
      MPG City
      MPG Highway
      MPG Combined
      Fuel Tank Capacity
      Range (C/H)
      SourceCompare
      25 mpg32 mpg28 mpg18.5 gal.462.5/592 mi.
      27 mpg38 mpg31 mpg11.6 gal.313.2/440.8 mi.
      27 mpg34 mpg30 mpg11.9 gal.321.3/404.6 mi.
      2016 BMW Z4

      Ranked #4

      22 mpg34 mpg26 mpg14.5 gal.319/493 mi.
      22 mpg30 mpg24 mpg16.9 gal.338/507 mi.
      20 mpg27 mpg23 mpg19.8 gal.396/534.6 mi.

      2016 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class vs competitor's dimensions

        Car Name
        Length
        Width
        Height
        Ground Clearance
        Wheelbase
        SourceCompare
        162.8 in.71.5 in.51.2 in.4 in.95.7 in.
        181.6 in.73.9 in.51.8 in.3.8 in.101.8 in.
        172.2 in.70.9 in.50.5 in.4.3 in.97.4 in.
        2016 BMW Z4

        Ranked #3

        166.9 in.70.5 in.50.8 in.5 in.98.3 in.
        163.2 in.71.5 in.51.2 in.4 in.95.7 in.
        154.1 in.68.3 in.48.6 in.4.9 in.90.9 in.

        2016 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class vs competitor's trunk space

          Car Name
          Trunk Capacity
          Passenger Volume
          Max Trunk Volume
          SourceCompare
          10.1 cu.ft.48.8 cu.ft.10.1 cu.ft.
          2016 BMW Z4

          Ranked #1

          8 cu.ft.164.4 cu.ft.8 cu.ft.
          4.6 cu.ft.104.4 cu.ft.4.6 cu.ft.
          13.5 cu.ft.-13.5 cu.ft.
          7.6 cu.ft.76.3 cu.ft.7.6 cu.ft.
          4.6 cu.ft.-4.6 cu.ft.

          2016 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class vs competitor's cargo space

            Car Name
            Cargo Volume
            Cargo Volume w/ Seat Area
            Max Cargo Volume
            SourceCompare
            65.2 cu.ft.10.1 cu.ft.10.1 cu.ft.
            7.6 cu.ft.7.6 cu.ft.7.6 cu.ft.
            71.5 cu.ft.13.5 cu.ft.13.5 cu.ft.
            80.1 cu.ft.4.6 cu.ft.4.6 cu.ft.
            2016 BMW Z4

            Ranked #5

            150 cu.ft.8 cu.ft.8 cu.ft.
            4.6 cu.ft.4.6 cu.ft.4.6 cu.ft.

            2016 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class vs competitor's towing capacity

              Car Name
              Payload Capacity
              Weight
              SourceCompare
              705 lbs.3241 lbs.
              710 lbs.2855 lbs.
              739 lbs.2888 lbs.
              2016 BMW Z4

              Ranked #1

              562 lbs.3263 lbs.
              413 lbs.2332 lbs.
              540 lbs.3836 lbs.

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