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It’s easy to forget how pioneering the original Mercedes-Benz SLK was when it arrived in the 1990s, with a folding hard-top that gave the car extra security and extra refinement in poor weather, but still allowed you to enjoy the rays when the weather improved. It kicked off a string of imitators.
In 2016, the SLK, by then in its third generation, became the SLC to better fit into Mercedes’ range at the time. It went off sale in 2020 but today makes a very appealing used car, thanks to its sporty open-topped looks, strong build quality, and of course that desirable Mercedes-Benz image. While not the most entertaining roadster you can buy, it’s still a car that can turn heads.
Roadsters like the SLC are slowly disappearing from the market, but they’re still around if you know where to look. The Porsche Boxster and BMW Z4 were key SLC rivals and still on sale today, while the Audi TT Roadster has only recently gone off sale, and is another very popular choice on the used market.
Mercedes-Benz didn’t invent the folding hard-top, but when the original Mercedes SLK debuted in 1996, it certainly popularised it. Landing in the middle of the 1990s roadster boom, the SLK allowed customers to drop the top when they wanted, but kept the security and all-weather refinement of a hard-topped car when the roof was up - all while enjoying that rock-solid Mercedes image.
SLK became SLC in 2016, coinciding with a facelift for the model’s third generation. It’s that car we’re concentrating on here, and with the most recent models produced in 2020, used examples are now tempting value - so is the SLC worthy of your attention?
If you’re drawn in by the SLC’s styling, brand image, and that folding hard-top, then yes. Some of the SLC’s rivals are more fun to drive, but as the roads fill with crossovers and SUVs, there’s still something very appealing about driving something low-slung, and being able to drop the roof, electrically in this case, to enjoy a sunny day.
Lowering the roof does eat into the SLC’s boot space, dropping it from 335 to 225 litres, so this needs to be considered if you plan on packing in luggage for a weekend away. But you could simply treat the SLC as a fixed-roof coupe, and one that performs well and doesn’t use much fuel at that. There was even a diesel version for a while.
Equipment levels were good, albeit not as high-tech as Mercedes’ other cars from the time, since the SLC was based on the older SLK that came out in 2011, but these cars still have all the basics such as air conditioning and cruise control. The cabin too seems a touch dated against more recent Mercedes, but it’s comfortable and well-built.
Just as it was back in 1996, the SLK’s closest rival is the Porsche Boxster. The Porsche is better to drive and surprisingly practical with front and rear boots, but its folding roof is a fabric affair, rather than a hard top. That also applies to the 2018-on BMW Z4, though the Z4 sold between 2009 and 2016 does have a folding hard top.
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The petrol-powered SLC 200 should meet the needs of most SLC buyers. It performs well, came with manual and automatic options so you can choose your preference there, and Mercedes claimed perfectly decent economy for it too, at more than 40mpg. If you really do need more then the diesel SLC 250d might be worth a look, though you’d have to put up with diesel noises if you put the roof down…
In terms of trim, the SLC Sport was well equipped but most models for sale will likely be in AMG Line trim, which does get extra kit and isn’t worth actively steering away from if it’s all you can find.
With the model on its way out and sales dwindling, it’s perhaps no surprise that Mercedes-Benz kept the trim lines simple for the SLC. You either got Sport or AMG Line (and Sport was dropped before the model went off sale), or traded up to the full Mercedes-AMG performance model. It’s worth noting that on the older (but very similar) Mercedes SLK, AMG Line was instead an option package on the regular SLK trim, should one of these appear in your search.
The Mercedes-Benz SLC’s dimensions are:
The Mercedes-Benz SLC’s boot size is:
Earlier SLCs, AMG 43 aside, snuck under the £40,000 mark when new, which means they avoid the surcharge applied to a car’s VED or ‘road tax’ when it costs more than this amount. As such, they’ll cost you £180 a year. Later on, shortly before the SLC went off sale, only the SLC 200s dipped under this price point, which means the SLC 300 and SLC 43 can cost up to £570 per year for the second to sixth years of registration.
As a sporty roadster with a Mercedes-Benz badge, you’ll probably be unsurprised to learn that insurance will cost more than it might for an A-class hatchback. The SLC 200 can be found in group 42 (in the 1-50 group system), with the SLC 300 in group 44, and the SLC 43 in group 46.
Read our full Mercedes-Benz SLC review
What is the most popular colour for Mercedes-Benz SLC ?
What is the most popular gearbox for Mercedes-Benz SLC ?
What is the most popular fuel type for Mercedes-Benz SLC ?
What is the most popular engine for Mercedes-Benz SLC ?
What is the average mileage for Mercedes-Benz SLC ?
33875
How many Mercedes-Benz SLC cars are available for sale?
16