Mercedes-Benz SLK Roadster (04-11) - Review

The SLK is a convertible that can be driven all year round with the roof down. The cockpit is surprisingly draught-free and – where fitted – the heated seats are extremely effective. There’s also the optional Airscarf system – heating vents built into the neck of the seats to warm around your head. It’s an innovation that was first introduced by Mercedes-Benz. The metal folding roof is well insulated and lined – it’s so snug inside that you wouldn’t be able to tell that you were driving a drop-top in winter, while the roof itself opens (or closes) at the push of a button in 22 seconds.

For a couple, the SLK offers reasonable practicality - especially for a roadster. There's a half-decent boot with 300-litres of luggage room (although it's restricted to 208 litres with the roof down) which is similar to the BMW Z4. There's a reasonable amount of room inside and it's possible to pack a couple of weekend bags and still have the roof down.

The SLK features a clean-looking and user-friendly cockpit. The buttons and switches are well placed and click satisfyingly into place while all cars from early 2008 get built-in Bluetooth hands-free phone technology. Detail changes within the cabin make it subtly more attractive, but are very difficult to spot, unless you know what you’re looking for. There’s a new 3D instrument cluster, changes to the colour of materials, upgraded sat nav system and full iPod/MP3 compatibility.