Sporty, elegant and stylish, the Mercedes-Benz SL has serious appeal. 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 comfortable for drivers.

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 a dramatic improvement over the previous car.

INTERIOR COMFORT AND DRIVE

The SL has one of the finest cabins in the sector, and it offers a real sense of occasion as soon as you get in. The materials used are top-notch: they feel well-made and look like they will be durable. The round knob on the central console controls the entertainment and air-con systems and on the fascia there’s an array of buttons. It’s entirely logical and the layout is so well thought-out that it only takes a few moments to work out which one is which.

The SL 350 is a great choice for comfy cruising, road and tyre noise is minimal. Thankfully though, Mercedes has chosen not to rein the vocal chords of the V6 engine.

The Dual Exhausts both make a fantastic sound when accelerating.

Engines are mated to a seven-speed semi-automatic gearbox with paddleshifts behind the steering wheel.

This sixth generation feels much sharper, especially when you switch the car from comfort mode to sport, and much more agile. That’s thanks to a substantial drop in weight and a 57mm increase in track.

• Powerful engines
• Quality interior
• Strong residuals