Insurance Group: 50
MPG: 29.1
CO2: 226
0-62 Mph: 6.2 secs
BHP: 311 BHP
Range: 512 miles
The only down side about the V6 is the suspension, which is a little firm and it misses out on the V8 and V12’s Active Body Control, which allows the driver to select a suitable suspension level and vastly improves the driving experience.
PROS: The SL 350 is a great convertible, with a strong engine and a sleek interior doing justice to Mercedes’ high-quality reputation.
CONS: There are more powerful versions in the SL-Class range and this is still a very expensive car to buy and to run.
The handling of the SL-Class is excellent. The suspension of the V6 version is a little firm and the drive can be a little uncomfortable.
The V6 engine is 3498cc and uses unleaded petrol with a fuel tank capacity of 80 litres. There is a seven-speed automatic gearbox, which provides smooth acceleration, although the changes can be a bit jerky at higher speeds.
The engine is refined and although there is a tiny bit of wind noise at high speeds, the convertibles are incredibly quiet with metal roof up. The wind blocker means that there is limited noise with the roof down.
The SL 350 has a 311bhp engine delivering 266lb-ft of torque at 4900rpm and reaches 0-62mph in 6.2 seconds with a top speed of 155mph.
The interior of the SL-Class convertible is well-designed and high-quality, living up to the reputation of Mercedes-Benz as a stylish manufacturer.
The seat and steering wheel adjust comfortably and the dash is comprehensive with the Command system proving easy access to the equipment such as satellite navigation and stereo, although it is a bit more distracting than the BMW’s iDrive system. The seats are supportive and comfortable and the visibility good.
The SL 350 comes with leather seats, power steering, cruise control, metallic paint, climate control, stability control, alloy wheels, Bluetooth, satellite navigation, MP3 connectivity and stereo as standard, with optional extras including rear parking sensors for £630.
For fuel economy, the SL-Class convertible has a start/stop system, which allows for great efficiency and low CO2 emissions.
The SL-Class convertible comes with all the safety equipment you would expect in a high-quality car including driver, passenger and front side airbags, alarm and immobiliser as standard. It also has the stability control, Attention Assist system, which alerts tired drivers, the Pre-Safe anticipatory crash-protection system and a pop-up bonnet to protect pedestrians in the case of a collision.
The convertible also comes with an automatically released roll-over bar and the metal roof is much more secure than a fabric roof, as on other convertibles.
Mercedes-Benz has a great record in reliability and came 6th in the 2011 JD Power survey out of 28 other manufacturers.
The boot is a fair size offering 206 litres of space with the roof down and 310 litres with the roof up. The SL-Class convertible has loads of room in the front for two passengers and there are many storage options in the convertible.
The running costs are high with the SL-Class convertibles despite the efficient engine stop/start system. The SL 350 model costs £68,360 and has a combined economy of 29.1mpg and CO2 emissions of 226g/km.
The SL-Class convertibles are expensive and the running costs high, but the convertibles look the part and drive excellently. The amount of equipment it comes with reflects the price and the quality of Mercedes.
The resale value on the SL-Class convertible is good and Mercedes-Benz promise good service and reliability as well, although servicing is expensive.
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