Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Convertible (2012 -) Review

Review by Parkers on 16 Mar 2012

Last Updated: 04 Apr 2017

Sporty, elegant and stylish, the Mercedes-Benz SL has a lot of appeal. Then again, there are hardly any shrinking violets in this sector.

Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Convertible (12 on)

Powerful engines, quality interior, strong residuals, more efficient engines

Not as fun to drive as some rivals, vague steering, expensive servicing costs

New price range:

£79,990 - £93,230

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Used price range:

£12,319 - £72,732

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Summary

Parkers Rating:

4 out of 5

Sporty, elegant and stylish, the Mercedes-Benz SL has a lot of appeal. Then again, there are hardly any shrinking violets in this sector. Rivals include the Porsche 911 Cabriolet, the BMW 6 Series Convertible and the Jaguar XK Convertible. So what to do? In a bid to keep the pressure on, Mercedes-Benz has put the SL on a diet. Every version has shed up to 140kgs, and now comes with a new range of cleaner and more powerful BlueDIRECT engines featuring stop/start technology to make life more uncomfortable for rivals.

Now largely made of aluminium, the car is lighter than the previous generation and feels more agile as a result. That weight loss has also made the car more efficient and it emits less CO2 than the older models. In terms of handling the SL is still second-best when compared to the Porsche 911, but it is a dramatic improvement over the previous car.