2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class

Aggressive styling, glorious exhaust note, quick-action hardtop

Dead steering wheel, wonky iPod integration, high price relative to competition

For spirited driving, cruising the Pacific Coast Highway, or motoring home in stop-and-go traffic, the 2009 SLK300 never feels out of place. It's not as sporty as the mid-engine Boxster, but is more so than the front-drive, sedan-derived Audi TT.

Though mechanically operated -- unlike BMW's Active Steering unit -- the Mercedes system provides too little feedback through the wheel. It's slow off center and takes too much edge off the driving experience. The same need not be said for the engine, which provides 221 lb-ft of torque from 2500 to 5000 rpm. It propels the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK300 to 60 mph in 6.1 sec and through the quarter mile in 14.5 sec at 96 mph. The six-speed manual's shifter is easy to work, and the clutch takeup is light and linear. This V-6 sounds good, too; the exhaust note is more tenor than the burbling baritone of the V-8 SLK55 AMG.

Still, the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK-class trumps the rest of the segment in comfort and long-distance usability, even given its small trunk. And the updates make a tangible, noticeable difference. The revised steering offers much better feedback and mid-corner response, and the new engine sounds a heck of a lot better-meatier and more guttural-than the old one. Unsupportive seats, a sluggish transmission, and a slightly porky chassis are the most noticeable downsides. And while the 2009 SLK's interior feels both robust and durable, its materials and surfaces lack the crafted, soft-touch charm that you get in a Boxster or Z4.

I took a trip to northern Michigan and had a duffle, the aforementioned briefcase and backpack, and put the top down while waiting at a traffic light. It was a fantastic, breezy summer day, just perfect for a long easy cruise. The engine is reasonably powerful, although it doesn't take your breath away. It also doesn't empty your wallet: EPA is 18 city/26 highway.

The new engine isn't just all bark and no bite: horsepower has been increased by 32 compared to last year's 3.5-liter. Producing an even 300 hp at 6500 rpm and 265 lb-ft at 4900, the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK-class is seriously quick. Mercedes claims that it'll hit 60 mph in 5.3 seconds, which is only four tenths slower than the V-8-powered SLK55 AMG. The V-6's newfound thrust comes courtesy of a higher compression ratio (11.7:1), a new intake manifold, and modifications to the valvetrain. To sweeten the deal, the 350 actually gets better fuel economy than last year's engine.

The rest of the driving experience in the 2009 SLK is just as pleasant as its exhaust note: the suspension is taut but gives a surprisingly smooth ride at highway speeds. Handling is fairly neutral, and grip is prodigious. Brake feel is excellent, and cross-drilled rotors stay quiet all the time. The chassis is remarkably solid and free of scuttle shake. The transmission is only occasionally slow to react to sudden throttle inputs, and I was disappointed that the non-AMG SLK models lack a full manual mode.

More important than any cosmetic update is the 2009 Mercedes SLK350's extra 32 hp and 7 lb-ft of torque, thanks to the 3.5-liter V-6's higher compression ratio, enhanced pistons, revised intake manifold, modified valvetrain, and raised redline. Expect this sonorous, more efficient version of the V-6-which slices the SLK's 0-to-60-mph time by two-tenths to 5.3 seconds - to migrate soon to other 350 Benzes. (At the top of the SLK-class pile, the SLK55 AMG carries on basically unaltered, aside from minor cosmetic changes; AMG engineers chose not to shoehorn their stunning 6.2-liter V-8 into the two-seater, so the SLK and the Triassic G-wagen are the only AMG models still using the 5.4-liter V-8. The base 2009 2009 Mercedes SLK's output is unchanged, too, although its name has inflated from SLK280 to SLK300.)

Style and handling are nothing without power, so Mercedes has given the 3.5-liter V-6 more grunt. The engine is now allowed to rev to 7200 rpm, while a new intake manifold, an increased compression ratio, and valvetrain changes all help it make 32 more horsepower, for an even 300 at 6500 rpm. Torque is up seven lb-ft to 265 at 4900 rpm. The exhaust has also been tuned for a more aggressive note, which should be evident during rev-matched downshifts of the 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission. The 3.0-liter V-6 model gets a more displacement-correct SLK300 model designation, replacing the confusing SLK280 name. That engine's horsepower figure remains at 228, though Mercedes claims fuel economy is up, with a similar drop in carbon-dioxide emissions. The 300 is the only 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK-class available with a six-speed manual, with the seven-speed auto as an option.