2020 SLC 200 Final Edition review | 2016 - 2020 Mercedes-Benz SLC Used Buying Guide

The culmination of the segment-defining compact roadster from Mercedes-Benz: the SLC. For this video, we jump in and explore the facelift, what made this model what it is and tell you everything you need to know about the car, equipment, options, engines and what to consider when looking at the Approved Used market.

Join us for a ride through the history of the model via memory lane for a certain presenter.

Find your perfect Approved Used car with us: https://www.landlautomotive.co.uk/used-cars
Approved Used benefits: https://www.landlautomotive.co.uk/approved-used-benefits

Things left on the cutting room floor as the "Director's cut" was about 45 minutes long:

Engines: the 180 doesn't feel slow with the 9-speed auto but the extra power and torque from the 200 is certainly noticeable. The 300 petrol feels more relaxed as it doesn't need to be worked quite as hard to get moving and the additional overtaking performance is very handy. The 250 d though is probably my pick of the range (all variants considered) for having sky high MPG figures and nearly as much torque as the 43. They are quite sought after and quite rightly so!

The SLC 43: Fitted with its biturbo V6 engine, the model arrived with 367 hp before being bumped up to 390 hp sometime in 2018/2019. It can go very quickly from an effortlessly capable GT in 9th gear to dropping multiple ratios and launching forward like a missile. The steering and ride is even sharper; the exhaust note and performance is simply addictive. 30+ MPG is possible on a long cruise and half that when driving enthusiastically.

Final Edition Premium: This option builds on the rather well-appointed Final Edition by adding the Harman Kardon surround system, LED lights, COMAND Online infotainment, the glass vario-roof, AIRGUIDE, folding mirrors and the reversing camera.

Uncommon options: Keyless entry is signified by the chrome tops of the door handles - this was standard on Final Edition Premium models. The clock on top of the dash - it's a must have for me!

Magic Sky Control was also briefly available as an option for the SLC although I've never seen one with it. This uses an electrochromic panel in the glass roof section to dim the roof at the touch of a button. No sunblind was ever offered for the glass roof as far as I'm aware.

The manual transmission: the parking brake must be selected/deselected by the driver at the end/start of each journey. Switching off the engine and opening the door will not automatically engage the parking brake. The throw between ratios is nice and short with the biting point about two thirds of the way down the clutch pedal's travel.

Sport specification: This was available from launch until 2018 before being dropped with AMG Line becoming the standard style/equipment package. SLC 200 and SLC 250 d were available as Sport models.

Folding mirrors: These were optional! All models came with electric mirror adjustments but I have seen many highly-specified SLCs that didn't have the box for folding mirrors ticked.

Jobs for the facelift: Bring it back! The electric sports cars are coming. Let's hope some sort of EQ SLC will arrive in the future.

Other servicing/maintenance tidbits: the SLK 250 CDI/SLC 250 d had their AdBlue reservoir in the lower part of the boot. The rearmost windows do close all the way when the roof is raised unlike in the 2nd generation model!

Number of times "SLK" was mentioned in this video: 22.

Written and presented by Ken Pearson
Filmed by Ken Pearson, Jack Horrocks and the L&L Automotive Marketing Team
Edited by Ken Pearson

Key info:

SLC 180: 1.6 litre in-line 4-cylinder turbo; 156 hp/250 nm torque.
SLC 200: 2.0 litre in-line 4-cylinder turbo; 184 hp/300 nm torque.
SLC 250 d: 2.1 litre in-line 4-cylinder twin-turbodiesel; 204 hp/500 nm torque. (available until 2017)
SLC 300: 2.0 litre in-line 4-cylinder turbo; 245 hp/370 nm torque.
AMG SLC 43: 3.0 litre V6 biturbo; 367 hp (2016 - 2018) 390 hp (from 2019) /520 nm torque.

We have some old digital brochures on file, let us know if you'd like a copy sent your way.

Chapters

0:00 - Intro
1:29 - A brief history lesson
3:58 - Exterior, styling and Final Edition touches
6:29 - Interior
11:49 - Driving
17:59 - What to look for and what to look out for
22:33 - Final thoughts
24:22 - Further watching

Additional imagery sources:

Various SLK/SLC images from Mercedes-Benz UK Media: https://mercedes-benz-media.co.uk/
Various SLK/SLC images from Mercedes-Benz Global Media: https://group-media.mercedes-benz.com/
Dream car number 2: "2014 Citroën C4 Cactus Feel Edition PureTech e-THP 110 Hello Yellow Seitenansicht" by Kickaffe used under Creative Commons Attribution. Original file: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2014_Citroen_C4_Cactus_Feel_Edition_PureTech_e-THP_110_Seitenansicht_Hello_Yellow.jpg
SLK 32 AMG images: me. Found on an old PlayStation 3.