Mercedes SL 400 2016 review ~ station of gear

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27 Feb, 2016 11:00am Jonathan Burn

Classy Mercedes SL 400 roadster gets updated engines, styling and tech

No car manufacturer will be as busy as Mercedes in 2016. The auto giant will launch upwards of 10 all-new or heavily revised models in the remaining nine months of the year – so while BMW and Audi may be leading the premium sales charts (in the UK at least), you have to suspect that might not be for long.

The facelifted SL is the first out of the blocks, and although it’s not the most important model for Mercedes – we’ll leave that accolade to the new E-Class – it’s significant nonetheless. It gets updated engines, new tech and a fresh look, not to mention some serious brake horsepower.

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When the entry-level SL 400 kicks off at £73,805, the two-seat roadster clearly isn’t going to be the staple model in Mercedes’ portfolio; only 1,100 UK sales are targeted per year. This SL 400 is the biggest seller in the range, though, powered by an uprated 362bhp 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 that now drives through a slick-shifting nine-speed automatic gearbox. Power is sent to the rear wheels only, and 0-62mph is achievable in 4.9 seconds. It’d be fair to say the basic sports car requirements are all present and correct, then – on paper, at least.

In fact, every SL now gets from 0-62mph in less than five seconds. You can, of course, go faster. The range-topping 6.0-litre twin-turbo V12 AMG SL 65 covers the same benchmark sprint in only 4.0 seconds, but costs an astonishing £173,295 – that’s around £11,000 for every extra tenth of a second. But if your time is precious...

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The SL 400 serves up all the pace and performance you’re ever likely to need, though. The addition of a new nine-speed automatic gearbox makes progress all the more effortless with smooth and accurate changes, and with 500Nm of torque available from only 2,000rpm, a jab at the throttle delivers a welcome surge of acceleration. Our test model came with optional Active Body Control suspension. It costs a considerable £3,080, but delivers a supremely supple and relaxed ride. Hit a pothole and the SL becomes a little flustered, but the roadster does well to disguise its size.

Dial the dynamic select control up to Sport mode and ask a little more of the SL, and it begins to expose its weaknesses. Its comfort-biased set-up is immediately evident, with light steering that feels overly elastic in Sport setting. That said, the car does respond faithfully to fast direction changes, and will corner with a suitable degree of precision.

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The Active Body Control system also comes with the new Curve Tilt function from Mercedes’ S-Class Coupe, leaning the car into bends to keep it flat. The SL’s body control feels better without it, though, as you can sense when the grip is loading up through corners more naturally.

While the gearbox is beautifully compliant when you’re taking it easy, it isn’t the most obedient unit when you want to swap ratios yourself. It’s reluctant to change down, and will upshift for you in manual mode when you edge closer to the rev limiter, which can result in frustrating double upshifts. If it’s driving involvement you’re searching for, the Jaguar F-Type Convertible is probably worth a look.

The SL is perfectly happy to be hustled along, but it works far better when you ease off a little. Roof-down, buffeting in the cabin is kept to a minimum and the smooth twin-turbo V6 emits a rich howl from the exhaust.

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Taking it easy also enables you to appreciate the revamped interior, which comes trimmed top to bottom in soft leather and brushed metals. It really is quite special.

In terms of practicality, the SL is very impressive for a two-seat roadster. There’s huge adjustability in the driving position and steering wheel, while the 500-litre boot is wide and deep. Even with the top stowed, a nifty feature swings the roof upwards by 25 degrees so you can load and unload bigger items more easily.

The updated SL is a well rounded and desirable car. Visual updates give it slightly more road presence, and the added performance makes it feel that little more eager throughout the rev range. It straddles the line between being a full-fat sports car and luxurious GT cruiser, which for some will be the best of both worlds. Many, however, will crave the sharpness delivered by rivals such as the Jaguar F-Type – especially when you consider even this entry-level car is more than £70,000.

Model: Mercedes SL 400 AMG Line
Price: £73,805
Engine: 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6
Power/torque: 362bhp/500Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed auto, rear-wheel drive

0-62mph: 4.9 seconds
Top speed: 155mph
Economy/CO2: 36.7mpg/175g/km
On sale: Now

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