2019 Mercedes-Benz SLC-Class Review: A Hard Sell
The Mercedes-Benz SLC 300, the only non-AMG SLC available in the US, and its folding hard-top, can be an attractive choice for someone looking for a small luxury sports car, particularly as it starts at less than $50,000. However, if you're expecting Porsche Boxster levels of dynamism or BMW Z4-like technology and modern design, you will be disappointed. With a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder producing 241 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, the smallest Merc roadster isn't to be completely ignored though. Sending power to the rear wheels, the little cabriolet uses a nine-speed automatic gearbox to make shifting a stress-free pleasure. With numerous options available, the SLC 300 could be a perfect fit for those who aren't enticed by athletic accolades or the latest tech. But even with a new design from a few years back, sales are declining as the SLC struggles to shake the hairdresser stigma.
What's the Price of the 2019 Mercedes-Benz SLC-Class?
Available in one trim only, the SLC 300 roadster is on sale at a starting price of $48,950. Fully loaded, a Shadow Grey Magno SLC with multi-spoke AMG wheels and AMG body styling, adaptive LED headlights, Harman Kardon audio, Nappa leather, navigation, dual-zone climate control, and pretty much every other available feature, will clock around $72,000. Both prices are still subject to Merc's $995 destination and handling charge, as well as other taxes and fees that may be applicable.
2019 SLC-Class Exterior
Dimensions
| Length | Wheelbase | Height | Max Width | Front Width | Rear Width | Curb Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 162.8 in | 95.7 in | 51.3 in | 71.5 in | 61.4 in | 61.6 in | 3,296.0 lbs |
2019 SLC-Class Performance
Handling and Driving Impressions
The SLC encourages one to drive with vigor and can be rewarding when momentum is well-held and the perfect line is chosen, but thanks partly to its slightly lofty driving position, it feels wrong somehow. Look, it turns in well, steers well, and builds confidence, but it never truly feels exhilarating, something that the Boxster's engineers have mastered. For more flamboyance, driving the BMW Z4 will give you more of a tingle too, allowing the occasional slide, whereas the Merc tracks more plainly. No understeer and no oversteer can be a good thing in a car with less power than many rivals though. That said, even the typically vanilla Audi TT can be more visceral than this in the corners, more eager to eat up the next turn. At the end of the day, we're comparing the SLC to some of the best roadsters on the market, and the bottom line is that the little Merc does have an abundance of mechanical grip that is only compromised over rough, broken asphalt. In the city, the auto stop-start system can frustratingly jerk the car before you've come to a complete stop; but, when you need to stop more rapidly, the brakes are impressive and easy to gauge.
2019 SLC-Class Interior
2019 SLC-Class Trunk and Cargo Space
Warranty
| Basic | Drivetrain | Corrosion | Roadside Assistance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Years / 50,000 Miles | 4 Years / 50,000 Miles | 4 Years / 50,000 Miles | 4 Years / 50,000 Miles |
Verdict: Is the 2019 Mercedes-Benz SLC-Class A Good car?
The Mercedes-Benz is not a bad car, but it's not great either - not when compared to the other open-top sports cars available on the market. Yes, the Merc is the only luxury roadster in this price bracket that has a folding hard-top, but unfortunately, it's just not dynamic enough in terms of performance, technology, style, or standard features to make it a stand-out choice in the segment. The infotainment system could have been borrowed from Fred Flinstone's runabout, and the gearbox is just as uncomfortable to use on downshifts. Overall, it's not an excessively offensive car, and the price is certainly attractive, but when you consider that you can have an absolutely brilliant Porsche in your garage for around $10k more, or a far more striking, modern, and dynamic BMW Z4 at $250 less, the SLC seems like a poor choice. As a sweet 16 present for the spoilt prep-school resident and future Instagram model, the SLC may be amazing. To everyone else, the SLC fails to cut it.
What Mercedes-Benz SLC-Class Model Should I Buy?
Since Mercedes-Benz offers only one trim level, the choice here comes down to what options to spec, if any. As the car is not particularly magnificent in terms of performance when compared to other German offerings, we'd skip the AMG styling packages and add plain black leather for $770 and the Premium package for $2,800. Blind-spot monitoring, heated seats, dual-zone climate control, and Airscarf are included here, making the SLC more comfortable. We'd also add Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for $350, and the $1,850 Driver Assistance package with adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist. All-in, the price increases by less than $6,000 over the base starting point, bringing it to $55,800 before destination and other fees.
2019 Mercedes-Benz SLC-Class Comparisons
2019 Mercedes-Benz SLC-Class vs Porsche 718 Boxster
If you're considering the Merc rather than the Porsche, don't. The base 718 Boxster costs $59,000 versus the SLC's $49,950, but is far better looking and is, crucially, a much better car to drive and live with. The flat-four turbo makes 300 hp - almost 60 more than the SLC's inline-four can muster - and it can be had with either a slick manual or a brilliant double-clutch gearbox. Thanks to its soft-top, and more importantly its front trunk, it can also carry more stuff, with 9.7 cubic feet of trunk volume compared to the Merc's 6.5 cubes. In the cabin, you get a hard drive to store your music, a much more advanced and easy to read infotainment system, and a more premium-feeling interior. Satellite radio is also standard, and for those hot days, you can have ventilated seats - something the SLC does not offer. In terms of driving, the Boxster's rave reviews are glowing the world over. We'd disregard the Merc for this Porsche any day.
2019 Mercedes-Benz SLC-Class vs BMW Z4 Roadster
First of all, the Z4 can be had with a Supra-shared straight-six turbo. But in the interests of a fair battle, let's look at the sDrive30i variant. This Bimmer's turbocharged four-banger offers better fuel economy and still makes 14 hp and 22 lb-ft more than the Merc's own four-pot. It also has a bigger trunk, at 9.9 cubes, and gets Apple CarPlay as standard (although Android Auto is not offered). The Z4 also has access to a head-up display and standard dual-zone climate control, as well as an optional heated steering wheel. The features and specs aside, the BMW has a much more simplistic, yet modern, feel to the interior and feels like it was designed yesterday, whereas the Merc's interior feels like it was scavenged from blueprints buried deep in the archives. The exterior is also arguably better proportioned and doesn't appear to be a lazy attempt at keeping an aging car on life support. Plus, it handles like a dream and can be coaxed into the occasional drift without too much butt-clenching. As an all-rounder or as a sports car, the SLC loses to everything - unless you really, really must have a hard-top convertible.