Let’s address the small, mid-engined elephant in the room.

When it comes to two-seat roadsters under $200K, Porsche’s Boxster is the benchmark. Mercedes-Benz’s SLK55 AMG put up a good defence, relying on brutish charm to stand out on its own.

2017 Mercedes-AMG SLC 43 rear

While the SLC is a significant update of the SLK, it’s more evolutionary than the name change suggests. The front-end’s been stiffened and the suspension’s been overhauled, but it hasn’t banished its aggressive ride and doesn’t sparkle with fine balance or bite.

2017 Mercedes-AMG SLC 43 interior

You’ll find the same 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 in C43 and E43 variants, but it sounds best here, unfiltered by sound deadening and tickling your ears with its raucous wail. It pulls hard from 3000rpm all the way until its redline, and would walk past a Boxster on the run (it should, at 50kW and 100Nm healthier).

2017 Mercedes-AMG SLC 43 side

The SLC43 is enjoyable on the right road and day. But to match a long-time benchmark, that might not be often enough.

SPECS Engine: 3.0L V6 twin-turbo Power: 270kW Torque: 520Nm Weight: 1520kg 0-100km/h: 4.7sec Price: $134,615