Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class 0–60 Times
The Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class 0–60 times and quarter-mile times below are from 18 recorded performance tests sourced from reputable automotive resources such as Car and Driver, Motor Trend and Motor Week and more.
The fastest tested Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class is the 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class SLK55 AMG Roadster, which went from 0 to 60 mph in 4.10 seconds, reaching the ¼ mile in 12.50 seconds at 116.0 mph, according to Car and Driver.
The slowest tested Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class is the 1998 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class SLK230 Kompressor Roadster, which took 6.90 seconds to reach 60 mph, running the ¼ mile in 15.20 seconds at 91.8 mph, according to Motor Trend.
Out of all the Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class tests in our database, the average 0–60 mph time is 5.31 seconds. The average quarter-mile time is 13.73 seconds at 103.47 mph.
Fastest 0–60
4.10sec
2012 SLK55 AMG Roadster · stock
Average 0–60
5.31sec
Across 18 runs
Avg ¼ Mile
13.73sec
@ 103.5 mph trap
Slowest 0–60
6.90sec
1998 SLK230 Kompressor
Across 18 verified runs, the Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class ranges from 4.10 to 6.90 seconds 0–60, with a 5.31-second average.
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Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class Performance Overview
Compact rear-drive roadster performance defines the Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class across 18 verified tests spanning 1998 to 2015. In the R170 era (1998–2004), the formula centered on gasoline four- and six-cylinder power, from the supercharged M111 in the 1998 SLK230 Kompressor Roadster at 6.9 seconds to 60 mph to the naturally aspirated M112 V6 in the 2001 SLK320 Roadster at 6.8 seconds, before the AMG branch arrived with the supercharged 349-hp M112 E32 ML and a 4.5-second run in the 2002 SLK32 AMG Roadster.
The R171 generation (2005–2010) moved fully to naturally aspirated gasoline engines, broadening output from 228 to 355 hp and lowering the ceiling again. Its key step was the 2005 SLK55 AMG Roadster, which cut 0-60 to 4.3 seconds with the M113 V8, while the generation averaged 5.16 seconds across eight tests.
R172 (2011–2015 in this data) brought turbocharged and naturally aspirated gasoline options, ranging from 201 to 415 hp. Mainstream trims such as the SLK250 and SLK350 remained in the low-to-mid five-second range, while the 2012 SLK55 AMG Roadster set the model's quickest figures at 4.1 seconds to 60 mph and a 12.5-second quarter-mile at 116 mph. In this dataset, the SLK finishes as a gasoline-only roadster line with its fastest results concentrated in late AMG form.
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Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class 0–60 Times by Generation: R170 to R172
3 generations| Generation | Years | Avg 0–60 | Fastest 0–60 | Tests | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R172 | 2011–2020 | 5.25s | 4.10s — 2012 SLK55 AMG Roadster | 6 | The R172 generation (2011–2020) averaged 5.25 seconds to 60 mph across 6 tests, led by the 2012 SLK55 AMG Roadster at 4.10 seconds. Output ranged from 201 to 415 hp across 1.8L Turbo I-4, 3.5L V6, 5.5L V8 configurations. |
| R171 | 2005–2010 | 5.16s | 4.30s — 2005 SLK55 AMG Roadster | 8 | The R171 generation (2005–2010) averaged 5.16 seconds to 60 mph across 8 tests, led by the 2005 SLK55 AMG Roadster at 4.30 seconds. Output ranged from 228 to 355 hp across 3.0L V6, 3.5L V6, 5.4L V8 configurations. |
| R170 | 1997–2004 | 5.71s | 4.50s — 2002 SLK32 AMG Roadster | 4 | The R170 generation (1997–2004) averaged 5.71 seconds to 60 mph across 4 tests, led by the 2002 SLK32 AMG Roadster at 4.50 seconds. Output ranged from 190 to 349 hp across 2.3L Supercharger I-4, 3.2L Supercharger V6, 3.2L V6 configurations. |
R172
2011–2020
Avg 0–60
5.25s
Fastest
4.10s
Tests
6
2012 SLK55 AMG Roadster
The R172 generation (2011–2020) averaged 5.25 seconds to 60 mph across 6 tests, led by the 2012 SLK55 AMG Roadster at 4.10 seconds. Output ranged from 201 to 415 hp across 1.8L Turbo I-4, 3.5L V6, 5.5L V8 configurations.
R171
2005–2010
Avg 0–60
5.16s
Fastest
4.30s
Tests
8
2005 SLK55 AMG Roadster
The R171 generation (2005–2010) averaged 5.16 seconds to 60 mph across 8 tests, led by the 2005 SLK55 AMG Roadster at 4.30 seconds. Output ranged from 228 to 355 hp across 3.0L V6, 3.5L V6, 5.4L V8 configurations.
R170
1997–2004
Avg 0–60
5.71s
Fastest
4.50s
Tests
4
2002 SLK32 AMG Roadster
The R170 generation (1997–2004) averaged 5.71 seconds to 60 mph across 4 tests, led by the 2002 SLK32 AMG Roadster at 4.50 seconds. Output ranged from 190 to 349 hp across 2.3L Supercharger I-4, 3.2L Supercharger V6, 3.2L V6 configurations.
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Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class 0–60 Times by Year and Trim
18 tests · 7 years
▾
2015 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class
1 verified run
Avg 0–60
6.30
sec
Avg ¼ Mile
14.70
sec
Recorded Tests
1
#15
2015 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class SLK250 Roadster
6.30sec 0–60
0.0s · 0mph
0.0s · 0mph
14.70s
¼ mi @ 95.0 mph
▾
- 0–60 mph
- 6.30 sec
- ¼ Mile ET
- 14.70 sec
- Trap Speed
- 95.0 mph
- Engine
- 1.8L Turbo I-4
- Drivetrain
- RWD
- Transmission
- 6M
- Horsepower
- 201 hp
- Torque
- 229 lb-ft
- Curb Weight
- 3,175 lbs
- Power-to-Weight
- 15.8 lbs/hp
- MPG EPA
- 22 C / 32 H / 22 Obs
- Production Vehicle
- Body Type
- Roadster
- Powertrain
- Gasoline
- Test Source
- Car and Driver
- Overall Rank
- #15 of 18
How we verify Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class performance data
We include only independently published road-test results from automotive publications. Manufacturer-claimed 0–60 times are excluded unless clearly labeled. When multiple publications test the same Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class trim, each run is listed separately — weather, tires, surface, rollout, and instrumentation all affect results.
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Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class 0–60 and quarter-mile distribution
0–60 vs ¼ mile · lower-left is fasterEach dot is a recorded test run
0–60 →
¼ mile →
Fastest
Recorded run
Slowest
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Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class performance FAQs
10 questions
For 2015, the recorded SLK-Class test is the SLK250 Roadster, which runs 0-60 mph in 6.3 seconds. That car also posts a 14.7-second quarter-mile at 95 mph, with 201 horsepower and 229 lb-ft driving the rear wheels.
The quickest SLK-Class on record is the 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG Roadster. It reaches 60 mph in 4.1 seconds, making it the fastest SLK-Class tested. It also owns the best quarter-mile result for the model line at 12.5 seconds with a 116 mph trap speed.
The fastest stock SLK-Class is also the overall leader: the 2012 SLK55 AMG Roadster at 4.1 seconds from 0-60 mph. There are 18 verified SLK-Class tests on record, and all 18 are production vehicles, so the quickest stock and quickest overall results are the same.
Across 5 verified SLK55 AMG Roadster tests, the average 0-60 mph time is 4.28 seconds, and the quickest run is 4.1 seconds. That makes the SLK55 AMG the fastest commonly tested SLK-Class trim, clearly ahead of the standard non-AMG versions.
The third-generation R172 SLK-Class, sold from 2011 to 2020, averages 5.25 seconds from 0-60 mph across 6 tests. The fastest R172 is the 2012 SLK55 AMG Roadster at 4.1 seconds, while the generation spans outputs from 201 to 415 horsepower.
The quickest second-generation R171 SLK-Class is the 2005 SLK55 AMG Roadster, which reaches 60 mph in 4.3 seconds. Across 8 tests, the R171 generation averages 5.16 seconds to 60 mph, making it the fastest generation on average, even though the absolute quickest SLK is an R172.
The first-generation R170 SLK-Class, built from 1997 to 2004, averages 5.71 seconds from 0-60 mph across 4 tests. Its quickest version is the 2002 SLK32 AMG Roadster at 4.5 seconds, while the slowest recorded SLK-Class overall is also an R170: the 1998 SLK230 Kompressor Roadster at 6.9 seconds.
The SLK55 AMG is decisively quicker. Across 5 tests, the SLK55 AMG Roadster averages 4.28 seconds to 60 mph and runs as quick as 4.1 seconds. By comparison, the SLK350 Roadster averages 5.43 seconds across 6 tests, with a best run of 5.1 seconds.
Across 6 verified SLK350 Roadster tests, the average 0-60 mph time is 5.43 seconds. The quickest recorded SLK350 run is 5.1 seconds. That places it comfortably quicker than the SLK250 and mainstream early SLK models, but behind the AMG-badged SLK32 and SLK55 variants.
Across all 18 SLK-Class tests, the average quarter-mile time is 13.73 seconds at 103.5 mph. The fastest quarter-mile run belongs to the 2012 SLK55 AMG Roadster, which covers the distance in 12.5 seconds at 116 mph, making it the benchmark for straight-line SLK performance.
Sources
Car and Driver
Motor Trend
Motor Week
0–60 and quarter-mile times vary with driver, weather, tire temperature, and wear. We collect every verified run we can find — so you see the range of what a Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class can do, not a single marketing claim.
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Other Mercedes-Benz 0–60 times
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