Mercedes-Benz SLC Mk1 Review (2016-2020)
Mercedes-Benz SLC cars for sale
2.0
Expert review
Pros
Folding metal roof adds security
Glamorous looks
Boot is a reasonable size with the roof up
Cons
Boot space reduces with the roof down
Dated and cramped interior
Not exciting to drive nor comfy to travel in
The CarGurus verdict
We don’t have much reliability data on the Mercedes SLC, though we do have slightly older data on the SLK which, as we’ve explained, is all but the same car under the skin. That means it’ll give us a fair indication of how dependable the SLC will be, and to be honest, the news isn’t great.
The SLK scored a lowly 74 per cent in the 2017 running of the What Car? Reliability Survey, which was below average compared with other convertibles and sports cars.
What’s more, Mercedes-Benz doesn’t have a tremendous reputation for reliability at the moment; the manufacturer finished 19th out of 24 car makers featured in the 2019 JD Power Vehicle Dependability Study. That said, BMW, Audi and Jaguar all finished even lower than Mercedes in the same survey, so it’s a fair supposition that none of the SLC’s premium rivals are likely to be much more reliable.
First, there was the Mercedes-Benz SLK. Launched in 1996, this stylish little roadster with an innovative folding hardtop became well-known for providing a dash of glamour at a more affordable cost than the larger SL.
By 2016, it was into its third generation, at which point Mercedes sought to bring the SLK into line with the rest of its model range by renaming it the SLC.
The name change brought with it a minor facelift, though by and large this was limited to a new steering wheel and a few tweaks to the styling; in reality, the SLC remains much the same as the SLK it replaced.
What’s more the driving experience, described kindly, is distinctly laid-back. The SLC doesn’t feel particularly happy about being hurried through bends; while it’ll go round them fine, it leans over a bit and the heavy, numb steering does nothing to enhance your enjoyment of the process.
It doesn’t handle well, then, but the trouble with the SLC is that it isn’t very comfortable, either. At low speeds especially, it jolts and jitters its way across all but mirror-smooth tarmac, and while you don’t get too much wind- or road noise thanks to that metal hardtop, you do get a few creaks and shimmies from the bodywork.
Until recently, you could get an SLC 180 with a 1.6-litre petrol engine that was rather slow, and there was a diesel option, the SLC 250d, which was rather noisy but benefitted from very good fuel economy. Both of these engines have been discontinued, though, leaving only the SLC 200 and SLC 300 in the standard, non-AMG range.
Both engines are 2.0-litres, of 181bhp and 242bhp, respectively, and while both offer a decent amount of get-up-and-go, they’re strangely unexciting to drive due to their reedy, overly synthetic engine note. The SLC 200 comes as standard with a six-speed manual gearbox, though you can also specify a nine-speed automatic, dubbed “9G-Tronic” by Mercedes, which comes as standard on the SLC 300.
The dashboard itself is attractive, but some of the materials are less so, and the infotainment screen looks miniscule in this day and age. Its software feels and looks pretty dated, too, and the menu systems aren’t particularly intuitive. You do at least get a rather nifty ‘Airscarf’ feature, a pair of neck-level vents which blow warm air around you when the roof’s down.
As the SLC is shortly to go out of production, the only models you can buy are badged Final Edition; gone are the individual AMG Line and Sport versions. Having said that, that means the entry-level SLC now gets the same sporty bodykit as the AMG Line version had, as well as electric part-leather seats, metallic paint, Bluetooth connectivity, cruise control and satnav as standard.
The Final Edition Premium then adds LED headlamps, a reversing camera and a glass roof. AMG versions, meanwhile, get a smattering of extra performance equipment, as well as a Harman Kardon sound system and ambient interior lighting.
The most economical SLC of all is the SLC 200 with the manual gearbox. You can expect to see 30-35mpg on average, although this will drop off by a couple of miles per gallon if you choose the nine-speed automatic gearbox instead.
You’ll see similar fuel economy from the SLC 300, meanwhile, though as you might expect, the AMG SLC 43 takes a bigger hit to its fuel consumption; expect around 25mpg. None of these fuel economy figures is particularly impressive; in fact, you should see slightly better fuel economy from most of the SLC’s direct rivals.
What’s more, despite the fact it’s soon to be replaced, the SLC doesn’t exactly look like good value. An Audi TT of a similar specification will cost significantly less to buy, and while a BMW Z4 is more expensive, it isn’t by much.
Compared with a Porsche Boxster S, meanwhile, the AMG SLC 43 does actually look very cheap. In terms of its driving experience, however, the Porsche is light years ahead, so it’s worth spending the extra to get.
Mercedes servicing costs, meanwhile, are quite expensive, and once your SLC reaches three years old, there’s no discounted menu pricing option at Mercedes main dealers, such as you’d get with Audi and BMW. You can at least spread the cost of your car’s maintenance by opting for a service plan, which will allow you to pay monthly instead of having one big bill each year.
The SLC’s one saving grace money-wise is the way it holds its value. You should get a little more of your money back than you would with a BMW Z4, and that goes some way toward mitigating its less impressive fuel consumption.
We don’t have much reliability data on the Mercedes SLC, though we do have slightly older data on the SLK which, as we’ve explained, is all but the same car under the skin. That means it’ll give us a fair indication of how dependable the SLC will be, and to be honest, the news isn’t great.
The SLK scored a lowly 74 per cent in the 2017 running of the What Car? Reliability Survey, which was below average compared with other convertibles and sports cars.
What’s more, Mercedes-Benz doesn’t have a tremendous reputation for reliability at the moment; the manufacturer finished 19th out of 24 car makers featured in the 2019 JD Power Vehicle Dependability Study. That said, BMW, Audi and Jaguar all finished even lower than Mercedes in the same survey, so it’s a fair supposition that none of the SLC’s premium rivals are likely to be much more reliable.
- One big difference that came along with the name change from SLK to SLC was the engine in the AMG version. Gone was the big, burbling 5.5-litre V8 of the old SLK 55, and in its place sat a more efficient 3.0-litre V6. But while the size of the engine had dropped, power actually increased, largely thanks to the two turbos bolted on to the new engine. The AMG SLC 43, as the new car became, is more entertaining than the rest of the range as a result of that engine, though for driving pleasure it can’t hold a candle to rivals like the Audi TT S and BMW Z4 M40i.
- Now that the BMW Z4 has reverted to a fabric roof, the SLC is alone in its class in offering a folding metal hardtop. This takes 20 seconds to raise or lower, and can be operated at speeds of up to 25mph, so you don’t have to stop if a shower hits. The hardtop is one of the SLC’s few major benefits, as it offers greater security than a fabric roof, and reduces wind noise inside the car.
- Given the SLC’s status as a sports car, the manual gearbox of the SLC 200 might appeal, but we’d recommend giving it a miss; its notchy, long throw makes it anything but sporty to drive. The automatic option is much nicer to use, and it suits the way the SLC works best: used as a cruiser, for sedate posing around town and gentle al-fresco motoring.
- Given the SLC isn’t a car you’re going to drive quickly, we reckon the best version is also the least powerful: the SLC 200 Final Edition. We’d spend a bit more to add the nine-speed automatic gearbox, too.
- Of course, if you really want an SLC and you want it to be fast, the AMG SLC 43 is probably the one to have, but keep in mind it doesn’t come cheap and there are far more dynamically adept options available from rival manufacturers.
