2nd Mercedes SL 400

Established folding hard-top is still a class act, but is showing its age in this company

ALTHOUGH it was facelifted in 2016, this sixth-generation SL was first released in 2013, so it’s no surprise that the cracks are beginning to show against more modern competition such as the Lexus LC 500h. However, the Mercedes roadster has an appeal all of its own, thanks to its folding hard-top.

You can operate it on the move in less than 20 seconds at up to 25mph – and even if it’s cold, the car’s Airscarf system (£575) blows hot air on to your neck to keep you warm. There are heated seats, too.

On top of this you get all the equipment you’d expect from a £75,000-plus convertible: sat-nav, DAB radio, Bluetooth, LED lights and a reversing camera are all included.

However, the Mercedes’ cabin is even more cramped than the confined Lexus’s, while some of the materials inside are of questionable quality in a car with such a hefty price tag.

While the roof adds an extra dimension to the experience, it isn’t without its drawbacks. It limits headroom and hampers luggage space when it’s folded down and stowed in the boot.

You also feel the dynamic compromise of this set-up, because the SL isn’t as sharp to respond to your inputs, while the firmer ride even in the adaptive dampers’ comfort setting means big bumps send a quiver through the structure as the SL wobbles and loses some composure.

It’s pleasant on the motorway and a flowing road at a more leisurely pace, though, and with the roof down, it gives you even better access to the 362bhp 3.0-litre V6’s creamy exhaust note.

On test the Mercedes accelerated from 0-60mph in 6.0 seconds, just two tenths behind the Lexus. Although it’s 250kg lighter than the LC, this is still a heavy car, and while traction off the line was good, the gearbox isn’t super-snappy moving up through the ratios.

It’s a nicer powertrain than the hybrid Lexus’s, however, even with the engineered steps in the LC’S box. The Mercedes’ nine-speed auto is smooth and handles changes almost imperceptibly, while it’s just fast enough if you take manual control with the gearshift paddles.

It’s hard to compare in-gear pace due to the different transmissions, but the SL matched the LC from 30-50mph, taking 1.8 seconds in third. It was also faster through the gears from 30-70mph, posting a time of 4.2 seconds, which was three tenths ahead of the Lexus.