2013 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class

RETRACTABLE HARDTOP
The SLK started the retractable-hardtop craze and it's still setting the pace. Buyers can select from three different top panels: standard body-colored polycarbonate, a panorama roof of tinted see-through polycarbonate, and the Magic Sky Control with variable tint you control electrically.

AIRSCARF & AIR GUIDES
In a bid to make top-down motoring a more pleasant experience in cooler weather, M-B engineers have provided adjustable Air Guide deflectors on each roll bar and the Airscarf system, which delivers warm air to your neck from an outlet in the headrest.

The 2013 SLK might not be as pure a sports car as some of its competitors, but that's a benefit in terms of comfort and convenience. The luscious interior is Mercedes-Benz deluxe in every way. One highlight is the thick-section, 3-spoke steering wheel that is flat-bottomed to help clear your thighs. The main gauges are two big analog circles that flank a screen displaying a wide variety of driver-selectable information. A twist-and-push electronic controller on the console operates audio and navigation features – not immediately intuitive, but it works.

Mercedes suggests the exterior design of the 2013 SLK is both futuristic and retro, and it actually is, in a way: It looks fresh and modern, yet there's no mistaking where it came from. The SLK borrows some cues, particularly its big-grille face, from the SLS AMG supercar. Though not a particularly large car, its stance and nose-down rake help establish a look of substance. And of course, the iconic retractable hardtop, unlike a soft canvas convertible top, means the body lines always look clean and finished, whether the top is up or down.

When you're going up against established players like the Porsche Boxster and BMW Z4, 201 horsepower seems a little underwhelming, but the base 2013 SLK250 makes the most of it with either a 6-speed manual or 7-speed automatic transmission. Powering the SLK350 is a 60-degree 3.5-liter V6 featuring direct fuel injection and multi-spark ignition. It makes 302 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, and works with the 7G-TRONIC automatic transmission. That's enough to rocket the SLK from zero to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds. The SLK55 AMG's V8 makes a lusty 415 horsepower. Both the V6 and V8 engines now incorporate ECO start/stop to save a little fuel sitting at stoplights.

1.8-liter turbocharged inline 4-cylinder
201 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
229 lb.-ft. of torque @ 2,000-4,300 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 23/31 mpg

3.5-liter V6
302 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
273 lb.-ft. of torque @ 3,500-5,250 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 20/29 mpg

5.5-liter V8
415 horsepower @ 6,800 rpm
398 lb-ft of torque @ 4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 19/28 mpg

The base 2013 Mercedes-Benz SLK250 starts at a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $43,805. The V6-powered SLK350 runs $56,305, and the 415-horsepower SLK55 AMG costs $68,895. Loading on options and accessories (Sport Package, Lighting Package, interior Trim Package, Multimedia Package, Magic Sky Control roof, and more), an SLK250 can approach $60,000, an SLK350 can top $70,000, and the SLK55 AMG can blow past $85,000. The Mercedes roadster is a different animal than the Porsche Boxster (or the BMW Z4 or Audi TT), but its starting price is comparable (except for the V8-powered AMG). To see what SLK buyers in your area are paying, check out the Fair Purchase Price on KBB.com. In terms of retained value over time, we expect the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SLK models to run about on par with the Porsche Boxster and others in the segment.

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