Mercedes-Benz SL review - sports car or boulevard cruiser? - Mercedes-Benz SL prices, specs and rivals
Surprisingly good fun, particularly in AMG trim, the SL is a roadster of broad talents
You’ll pay from £73,810 for an SL, which nets you an SL 400 in AMG Line trim. You can then splash out thousands more on Mercedes’ long list of options, though a basic SL is hardly stingy in terms of equipment, with 19in alloy wheels all-round, an AMG styling pack, LED headlights, a panoramic folding hard top, leather seats and climate control. A special SL 400 Edition model (£75,000) currently adds keyless go, a comfort suspension package, Mercedes’ Airscarf system for warming your neck with the top down, and unique alloy wheels.
SL 500 models start at £82,860, while the SL 63 starts at £114,115 and the SL 65 begins at £173,315. AMG models once again get their own unique alloy wheel designs, a more aggressive AMG body styling package and unique interior trim. The SL 63 also gets a limited-slip differential, while the 65 gets forged alloy wheels of either 19 or 20-inch diameter.
The list of potential SL rivals is long, with luxurious and comfort-orientated choices like the Bentley Continental GT Convertible at one side, and more focused cars like the Ferrari California T at the other. The Aston Martin Vantage Roadster - in either V8 or V12 format - is also well worth a look. There’s great diversity in this section of the market and all have merit in some way, but for feel-good factor we’d be choosing the Aston Martin.
