Review of the new Mercedes-Benz SL Range

The Mercedes SL has long stood for refined elegance and continent crushing ability but it was only with the introduction of the 2002 model year car that the 'Sport' part of the SL's 'Sport Leicht' (sport light) designation could justify its existence. The previous model was neither sporty nor lightweight and although the later design still doesn't so much tip the scales as total them, Mercedes have made the effort to endow the car with some genuine dynamic prowess, something that's continued with this facelifted version, announced in 2008.

One thing the Mercedes SL isn't short of is backstory, this model's ancestry dating back as far as 1954. Since then, the sportiness and lightness may have diminished with each revision but the SL has morphed into a beautifully engineered two seat GT car which attempts to fuse the luxury of an S class saloon with the appeal of open-top driving. The current generation car, known to proper Mercedes anoraks as the R230 series, found itself facing tough competition in its early years, hence Mercedes' decision to give it a new look and some technological tweaks in 2008.

Car buyers in the privileged position of having something north of £60,000 to spend and only two occupants plus a little bit of luggage as practical constraints have the world's most exotic and talented vehicles laid-out before them. This is a popular place for their money to end up. Let's find out why.

Though more focused these days, the SL remains more of a Grand Touring GT than a real sportscar, built more for bullet-like straight line performance than aggressive cornering. Having said that, this hefty 1,800kg car can still excite through a set of fast bends. The entry-level SL350 makes do with the standard suspension set-up that still shows great composure while the others utilise the clever Active Body Control technology that continually adjusts the suspension settings for optimum performance. The petrol engine choice boils down to V6, V8 or, if you have the budget and the stomach for it, V12. Go for the V6 in the base SL 350 and you get 315bhp, nearly 50bhp more than was offered in the pre-facelifted version of this car. This improved unit has a far sportier demeanour, revving to 7,200rpm and capable of jetting the SL through 60mph in 6 seconds.

"The SL is built more for bullet-like straight line performance than aggressive cornering."

All of which makes you wonder at paying the price premium for the next model up, the SL 500 with its burbling 5.5-litre V8 still producing 388bhp but only half a second quicker to sixty. Above this sits the mighty V12 SL 600 which harbours a twin turbocharged 5.5-litre V12 developing 517bhp and capable of sixty from rest in a supercar humbling 4.5s. If that's not fast enough, the SL 63 AMG model offers 525bhp, while the flagship SL 65 AMG delivers a thumping 612bhp.

Get the SL down from warp speed and the first thing you'll spot is that the 'peanut' style headlamps of the original post-2002 SL model have been replaced with massive single pod bi-xenon units. Their Intelligent Light System provides five different lighting modes which activate automatically. Motorway mode, for instance, is activated in two stages when speeds exceed 90km/h, increasing the driver's range of vision by 60 per cent. When the active light function is activated, the headlamps pivot with the steering. There are also cornering lights that illuminate the verge below 70km/h. Twin powerdomes on the bonnet and gill-style air outlets on the front wings also give the SL a more aggressive attitude.

Inside, owners of the original version of this car should notice the redesigned three-spoke wheel, the more supportive seats and the restyled instrument cluster. Otherwise the recipe is classic SL. With the hood down, there's minimal buffeting if you keep the windows and the wind blocker between the seats extended. The metal folding roof itself vies with the engines to be the highlight of the whole SL package, not least because it takes up less boot space than you might expect. You get a 310-litre luggage capacity in the SL that only drops to 206-litres with the top down. There's even a button that raises the whole roof cassette when it's in the boot so you can get easier access to your bags.

We can give you an idea where prices start (at around the £65,000 mark) but as to where they finish, well, theoretically, you could end up paying over £215,000 for this car if you go for the SL65 AMG Black Series version. More standard models compete mainly with BMW's 6 Series and Jaguar's XK.

As you'd have a right to expect for the kind of cash being asked, equipment levels are generous even at the base of the range, with all SL derivatives benefiting from the Mercedes Cockpit Management and Navigation Display (COMAND) system with its CD/DVD player, LINGUATRONIC voice control, satellite navigation and music server capable of storing up to 1,000 MP3 tracks. Leather upholstery is standard, as are those Xenon headlamps, rain sensing wipers, ESP and ASR skid control.

There's also the AIRSCARF system that has proven so popular with SLK buyers. This incorporates heating and a hot air blower in the head restraint of the seat to provide a constant stream of warm air, ideal for enjoying top-down motoring on those clear winter mornings.

Mercedes SL buyers tend not to sweat the details of running costs too much, but for what it's worth, the fuel economy of this version of the car is a step forward from that of its predecessor. The more powerful SL 350, for example, gets 28.5 miles from a gallon of super unleaded, a full 1.1mpg more than the old car. Even the SL 500 and SL 600 models have been improved in terms of engine efficiency and Mercedes claim a three per cent improvement in fuel economy.

The 2008 restyle helped to shore up the SL's residual values which were just starting to erode slightly. Insurance for cars of this ilk is never going to be cheap (expect group 20 for all but the entry-level SL350 which is rated at 19), but the buyer profile of the SL is a little more mature and responsible than some of its rivals and as such, you might find your broker's quote to be less eye-watering than the grouping would lead you to expect.

It may have been around for over half a century but the appeal of the Mercedes-Benz SL has scarcely diminished. Ask it to glide about town, sweep you through your daily commute or obliterate a trans-continental dash and this consummate luxury roadster will rise to the challenge in style.

Such capability is never going to be inexpensive and some will bemoan the lack of pure sporting focus but this version of the car transcends much of this with its shining all-round capability. The best SL to date? Most would agree.

TOP 5 SL CLASS DEALS

The results below show the top SL CLASS deals on buyacar

Mercedes Benz SL Class SL 350 2dr Tip Auto Convertible
Price £51,830 Read SL Class Reviews	Save £16,490
Mercedes Benz SL Class SL 500 2dr Tip Auto Convertible
Price £64,114 Read SL Class Reviews	Save £17,541
Mercedes Benz SL Class SL 300 2dr Tip Auto Convertible
Price £47,403 Read SL Class Reviews	Save £16,122
Mercedes Benz SL Class SL 600 2dr Tip Auto Bi-Turbo Convertible
Price £89,552 Read SL Class Reviews	Save £19,753
Mercedes Benz SL Class SL 63 2dr Tip Auto Sl Amg Convertible
Price £87,220 Read SL Class Reviews	Save £19,550
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