2017 Mercedes-Benz SLC-Class: First Impressions

CARS.COM — Mercedes-Benz’s retractable-hardtop roadster gets a new name for 2017 — it used to be called the SLK-Class — but there’s still a lot of old Mercedes bits in this convertible when you get inside.

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Seen at the 2016 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the 2017 SLC-Class’ interior isn’t appreciably new. It still has a small dashboard screen that looks dated by today’s standards and rickety climate control dials that, thankfully, have been replaced in other Mercedes cars. They need to be here, too. Overall, it just doesn’t feel as nice as the brand’s own C-Class sedan.

The SLC-Class rides low — you don’t so much as sit in the driver’s seat as drop down into it — and the bucket seat you fall into has firm cushioning that some people will probably think is too hard. The SLC-Class is a small car, but taller drivers will appreciate how far back the seats travel.

One of the big improvements is the SLC-Class’ new front styling. The grille and headlights are rounder and take after the recently updated SL-Class roadster.

As for the rest of the exterior, I was left with the feeling that the design team was of two minds when working on the new styling because the SLC-Class mixes smooth surfaces with the occasional sharp crease. It’s a bit disjointed.

Mercedes sells just a handful of small roadsters each year — less than 5,000 SLKs each of the past two years. The updates and new name don’t look like enough to change that trajectory.