From the first one in 1954, the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class has undergone several facelifts to remain elegant, sporty and powerful while still offering a convincing full-fat sports car experience.
What should you expect to find in a Mercedes-Benz SL Class?
The SL comes in four trim levels: AMG, AMG Line, AMG Sport and Grand Edition. The AMG range earned the SL a place among the fastest roadsters in the past decade. All the trims come with the following features as standard:
- 7-speed automatic transmission
- Body-coloured bumpers
- Electric-powered driver and passenger seats
- Heated seats
- Remote locking
The current generation of SL cars also have several extra features - limited to the premium spec levels of the earlier editions - such as:
- Electric sunroof
- Height-adjustable seats
- Parking sensors
- Sports seats
Besides different performance-enhancing features, the real difference between the various trims of the SL Class is acceleration. While the entry point SL 400 is a moderately fast car, reaching 62 mph from a standstill in only 4.9 seconds, the V8 engine in the SL 500 takes only 4.3 seconds. The AMG SL 63 takes 4.1 seconds, while the V12-powered SL 65 does not exceed the 4-second mark. However, you will have to compromise on fuel efficiency in return for the extra take-off and engine power.