Model tested: Mercedes SL 350, Mercedes SL63 AMG
Price as tested: £65,080, £154,375
Range price: £65,080 - £154,375
Insurance group as tested: 20
Insurance group range: 20
Date tested: April 2008
Road tester: Adrian Higgins

Mercedes has updated its luxury two-seater sportscar the Mercedes SL.

The German manufacturer says sportiness, safety and comfort are the secrets to the Mercedes SL’s continued success.

We took a test drive at the car’s UK launch to find out whether the Mercedes SL lived up to its “incomparable” billing.

View more pictures of the new Mercedes SL

Mercedes has combined classic looks with the latest technology to put together the new Mercedes SL.

It is more than 50 years since the iconic roadster first debuted three years after the Gullwing SL coupe paved the way in 1954.

And Mercedes harks back to those days with design cues from the age of rock ‘n’ roll.

Like the 2008 Mercedes SLK the more eye-catching front end features a striking V-shaped raised bonnet and simplified grille.

This, along with front wing air outlets creates a more purposeful, wider-looking car – and is a look reinforced by the more aggressive rear including angular rather than curved exhaust pipes.

Inside too, the look is simplified and updated with a new three-spoke leather steering wheel, and restyled chronometer-design instrument cluster.

Buyers will be able to personalise their car but the models we drove kept everything neat and simple with good quality black dash and leather seats, with silver finish and white dials adding to the luxury feel.

4.2 seconds 0-62mph time

The Mercedes SL has a five model range: The six cylinder SL 350, eight cylinder SL 500 and 12 cylinder SL 600 along with the performance eight cylinder SL63 AMG (a new addition to the line-up) and 12 cylinder SL 65 AMG.

All models have an electronically limited top speed of 155mph The expected top seller: the £65,080 315bhp SL 350 covers 0-62mph in 6.2 seconds with the 612bhp SL 65 AMG shaving a full two seconds off that time.

Mercedes has re-engineered the SL 350 to increase the power output from 272bhp and while the rev limit has been increased to 7200rpm and maximum pulling power occurs at 4900rpm drivers will still achieve 97 per cent of that power at just 2000rpm. It’s impressive.

In driving terms this simply means there is a large reserve of easily-accessed power there when you need it making swift acceleration for overtaking manoeuvres simple.

Power is delivered by 5 or 7-speed automatic dependent on model. The 350 SL we drove features the 7-speed box and this also contributes to the smooth delivery of power.

The AMG versions feature a speedshift MCT sports gearbox.

Seventh to fourth gear kickdown

This further improves the speed and flexibility of gear changes enabling the car to kick-down from seventh to fourth gear, or fifth to second gear while “race start” functionality combines better acceleration with improved grip.

This can be further adjusted with gear changes accelerated from 200 milliseconds in comfort mode, through S and S+ mode to manual mode which cuts this time in half.

Delivering this power effectively to the road will be assisted by the direct-steer system – a £130 option available later this year - which responds according to a combination of speed and driver involvement

Meanwhile Active Body Control adjusts settings to suit the driving situation.

We found both models we drove agile, solid and responsive with the AMG model boasting immense controlled power.

Improved economy

The driving involvement with the lower, smaller SLK is greater but the SL inspired no less confidence in its ability to grip and corner during our one-and-a-half hours on twisting country roads.

This performance comes at a price and all models fall within the highest car tax band G - currently attracting a £400 annual bill. Fuel economy has been improved but will still have an impact ranging from an average 28.5mpg return for the SL 350 down to 18.7mpg for the SL 65 AMG.

A six disc CD, four gig music storage, iPod connectivity, sat-nav and Bluetooth all come as standard as part of Mercedes Command system, as does Linguatronic voice recognition functionality.

The Air Scarf, delivering hot air to your neck as required - such as when driving with the roof off in colder conditions – is a £420 extra.

Mercedes have taken top-end luxury motoring up another notch with the SL.

We like what we saw – and we reckon you will too. But more than that, we liked what we drove too.

View more pictures of the new Mercedes SL