Mercedes-Benz SL-Class 65 AMG 2dr Car Review - June 2013

The six litre engine that is under the bonnet in this SL-Class is truly impressive when it comes to performance, offering 621bhp that helps to propel the car from 0-62mph in just four seconds. The top speed of the car is electronically limited to 155mph, but would be capable of significantly more, although this version of the engine is the one that is slanted towards performance as opposed to efficiency. One of the best aspects of the driving experience in the SL-Class is that the driver is protected from the wind even when the top is down, with only the tallest driver finding their head in the air flow.

Getting comfortable in the car is not a problem, with the seats fully adjustable along with the steering wheel, and the roof offering plenty of headroom when it is in place. Refinement is generally good, but when you start working the engine the six litre powerhouse is certainly audible within the cabin, while there is also a little bit of wind noise at speed.

The stylish front end does dominate the look of the vehicle, with the large Mercedes-Benz logo and single chrome bar on the grille giving a sporty look that is reminiscent of some of the classic Mercedes-Benz sports cars. The flared bonnet and sleek lines of the car do give it an aerodynamic look, while the large light clusters and the split chrome exhausts improve aesthetics further. The AMG version comes with its own set of alloy wheels, which complete the stylish image nicely.

This version of the SL-Class does come with a very good level of equipment, with the 'Magic Sky Control' roof being a particularly interesting feature, allowing drivers to change the roof from transparent to opaque at the touch of a button. The interior of the car is classy and comfortable, and includes leather seats and satellite navigation as standard, with climate control and power heated seats ensuring the cabin is pleasant when the roof is up. The car is also supplied with gadgets such as front and rear parking sensors, rain sensing wipers and adaptive cruise control to improve the driving experience.

Although the SL-Class is a high performance two seat sports car, it also is fairly practical as it looks to appeal to those looking for the grand tourer, with reasonable luggage space and a cabin that offers plenty of room for the driver and passenger.

There is a good range of six air bags included as standard with the car, while there are also plenty of different electronic systems such as the attention assist system which prompts drivers to take a break if they are getting tired. It is hard to criticise Mercedes-Benz when it comes to reliability, and the SL-Class is likely to enjoy a similarly strong record.

With a list price of £168,250, this flagship version of the SL-Class is likely to be appealing to the driver who prides performance over price, and this continues when it comes to the running costs too. High insurance and road tax on the vehicle is supplemented by the efficiency, with this six litre engine only able to offer an average 24.4mpg.

Because of the high purchase price for this top end version of the SL-Class, it is also likely to suffer from significant depreciation when it comes to selling the car, although for many drivers this can also be a secondary concern to the driving experience. The car is delivered with a three year unlimited mileage warranty, and the potential for up to thirty years' roadside breakdown assistance is an incentive to service the car regularly with your Mercedes-Benz dealer.