Mercedes SLK cabriolet (2011-2015) - Practicality & boot space
The Mercedes SLK hasn’t been designed to be a practical car – but its boot is the largest in this class
The Mercedes SLK is 4.1 metres in length – the same as an Audi TT Roadster and shorter than a Porsche Boxster. But visibility isn’t an SLK strong suit – partly because you sit so low down and also because the windows are surrounded by thick door and roof pillars, making the rear and over-the-shoulder views particularly poor. Use of the door mirrors and parking sensors is essential.
The Mercedes SLK comes with a tyre-pressure monitoring system – to alert you of an impending puncture – and a tyre repair kit. Unfortunately, there’s no option to fit a space-saver or full-size spare wheel.
Mercedes SLK interior space & storage
There’s plenty of headroom with the roof up, and funnily enough, even more when it’s down. Storage spaces around the cabin include a reasonable glovebox, two cup-holders behind the gearlever, tiny door pockets for your sunglasses and some cubbies and nets to hold smaller items. Space is tight, then, but there are more storage places in this car than you’ll find in a Porsche Boxster.
Boot space
While the Mercedes SLK will never be a practical car, it’s surprisingly capable for a small convertible. It can carry up to 335 litres of luggage – 19 litres more than a Ford Focus. But this space is low and wide, so it’s better suited to soft bags than bulky suitcases – and it shrinks to 225 litres if you want to put the roof down. Doing so also makes the boot opening much smaller and can make items hard to reach.
In comparison, the Audi TT Roadster has 280 litres of luggage space, while the Porsche 718 Boxster has 280 litres split between its front and rear boot compartments. The BMW Z4 is the best of the bunch, at 310 litres, but still slightly behind the Merc.
