Funny how time flies. While the fifth-generation Mercedes SL was showing the first signs of ageing, would you have guessed it had been with us since 2001?

The fact it still looks reasonably fresh must explain why the firm hasn’t tampered with the design formula too much in the car’s first major makeover. Instead, the majority of the work has gone on under the skin. There are new engines, the AMG version debuts Merc’s first multi-clutch transmission, and the suspension and steering have been retuned. It also gains some impressive hi-tech kit. The previous model was a big success in the UK, which explains why Mercedes is spending so much effort promoting the newcomer. But will it all be enough to make the SL the champion of the upmarket roadster class?

Here we find out, as the Mercedes meets the Jaguar XKR Convertible. This is a tough test for the German drop-top – not least because the last SL was defeated by the XKR when the latter was launched in 2006 (Issue 927). With a supercharged V8, good looks and Jaguar’s stability assured by Tata’s takeover, the Brit is in great shape.

On paper, this pair are evenly matched. Both feature V8s delivering around 400bhp, plus fully electric roofs, and only £790 separates them on price. But which is the cabrio to covet most?

Jaguar XKR Convertible

<H2 class=articlestrapline>The big cat is still sleek, but are good looks enough to claim victory?

</H2>
Auto Express Car Reviews


May 2008


The XF saloon is currently more 
important in terms of sales and 
mainstream impact, yet it was the 
XK coupé that proved Jaguar could 
produce a model to beat the world’s best – it 
was Auto Express Car of the Year in 2006.

Winning that award calls for far more than 
simply good looks, but there’s no denying the styling is the first thing that strikes you about 
the XK. We don’t think the drop-top is quite 
as elegant as the coupé, which has a longer 
roofline and sleeker profile, but the meaty rear haunches help to give it some attitude. However, as with the Merc, the Jag is undoubtedly at its best with the top dropped.

Stowing the roof takes slightly less time than in the SL, although the operation isn’t nearly 
so entertaining to view – it’s largely the same mechanism as in a traditional convertible, with 
the fabric folding away beneath a solid panel. 
The end result is clean and tidy.

But the sleek styling can’t hide the fact that the XKR is a big car – in fact, at 4,791mm it’s more than 200mm longer than the SL, as well as being taller and significantly wider. The extra size has allowed Jaguar to sneak in a couple of rear seats complete with Isofix mountings. However, they are so cramped that few child boosters will 
actually fit in, let alone the kids themselves. The boot is more accommodating, but the high floor means you will struggle to get in bulky loads.

The best part of the convertible’s interior is undoubtedly the driving environment. Beautifully constructed and attractive, it is much more cosy and welcoming than the Mercedes’ slightly 
austere cabin. OK, so the matt-finished wood looks like laminate flooring, but with fewer 
buttons (thanks to the touchscreen system) 
the layout is clearer, simpler and more elegant.

There are niggles, though. Our car’s cream dash reflected badly in the windscreen, the positioning of the roof buttons on the header rail is awkward, plus the thick fabric top and slim back window mean rear visibility is poorer than in the SL. But we’d encourage you to lower the hood whenever possible so you can relish the V8 exhaust note. This is a great car to enjoy in the confines of a tunnel…

With the roof up, it’s the whining supercharger that’s most audible, while the XKR’s ability to accelerate is jaw-dropping. Although torque doesn’t peak until 4,000rpm, the Jag feels 
strong from below 2,000rpm, while the six-
speed gearbox features paddles behind the wheel and delivers silky shifts.

In fact, everything about the Jaguar is smooth. For starters it’s effortlessly easy to drive and lighter on the road than the SL, with purer responses and a fabulously composed ride. The CATS adaptive dampers not only keep the body stable, but also absorb lumps and bumps – all the more amazing when you consider this car rides on 20-inch wheels with super-low-profile tyres.

The Jaguar’s body itself is susceptible to shake, although this is by no means excessive. You can’t escape from the fact that the XKR is 
a big, wide car to drive along country roads. Nevertheless, it’s just as agile as the SL, and has the uncanny ability to match the driver’s mood. It is happy to charge round corners, or simply relax.

The XKR is also extremely well equipped – but without the Merc’s folding metal roof and sheer depth of engineering, we’re not convinced it 
can justify the £76,995 asking price

Mercedes SL500

<H2 class=articlestrapline>Newcomer combines the essence of its predecessor with a modern twist

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Auto Express Car Reviews


May 2008


Classy, desirable and superbly refined 
– the Mercedes SL is the best-selling upmarket roadster of all-time. However, in terms of showroom success, the 
two-seater’s best days are behind it. Ever since sales peaked in 2003, they’ve been on a gentle decline. The 2006 facelift slowed the slide, but 
in order to get back on the rise, Mercedes has made some substantial changes.

However, is this really the new-generation model the firm claims? Sure, it now has a one-bar grille, SLR-style side vents and bonnet bulges, all of which add visual aggression. Yet step back and you’ll see the proportions have barely changed, least of all the height and wheelbase. The platform hasn’t been updated either. Radical it isn’t: in fact, we’d argue that the styling, although more modern, is less elegant than that of its predecessor.

That’s not to say the SL has gone downmarket. The roof mechanism remains a sight to behold: pull back the lever on the centre console and, as 11 hydraulic cylinders whirr into action, the three-part top artistically hides itself away with the minimum of fuss. In comparison, the Jag’s mechanism looks cheap and dated.

Overall, it seems Mercedes has spent far more on engineering than its rival. There’s the new Airscarf, overhauled COMAND system, seatbelts integrated into the seats and the fact that, even when the top is lowered, accessing the boot is easy, thanks to electric motors that raise the folded lid.

Don’t think the SL is flawless, though. A mesh wind deflector which distorts rear visibility really isn’t good enough on a £78,000 car, and the cabin design is disappointingly similar to before. The ergonomics are fine – the low-slung driving position is excellent – but the tacky silver trim is out of place. Neither does the button-heavy dash have the clarity and simplicity of the XKR’s layout.

When it comes to speed, though, the two cars are evenly matched. At 1,910kg, the SL carries an extra 195kg and, with 388bhp and 530Nm, it gives away 22bhp and 30Nm, yet this pair were separated by fractions of a second in all of our acceleration tests. The SL500’s 5.5-litre V8 doesn’t quite have the low-down urge of the Jaguar’s supercharged unit, but it’s smooth 
and refined. Combine this with a linear power delivery, and the Merc is deceptively fast, aided by the slick-shifting seven-speed gearbox.

Relaxed yet muscular, the V8 is extremely well suited to the SL. This is a roadster that’s able to play sporting or laid-back roles with ease. As a cruiser it excels on smooth roads, soaking up the miles. On more testing tarmac, although the body feels a fraction tauter than the outgoing SL’s, it’s not much quieter or stiffer than the Jaguar.

Chassis shudders are quickly absorbed, yet the glass-panelled roof reflects noise around the cabin rather than absorbing it, so there was little to choose between the two in our sound tests. 
Top-down, there’s no denying the Merc’s cockpit suffers from less buffeting, though.

Revisions to the suspension mean the SL is more nimble and precise than its predecessor. But although it’s pleasantly quick cross-country, the Merc isn’t a responsive sports car – it far 
prefers to take things easy and cruise along.

Despite the new face and minor improvements, Mercedes hasn’t tampered with the SL’s great recipe – but is the fresh model distinctive 
enough to attract new buyers to the brand?

Full Car Reviews



1st Jaguar XKR Convertible

The big cat is still sleek, but are good looks enough to claim victory?

• View Jaguar XKR Convertible

2nd Mercedes SL500

Newcomer combines the essence of its predecessor with a modern twist

• View Mercedes

Wow!! I'm surprised by the result. Would definitely choose the XKR here!! I just love this Jag.

Love this interior:

No competition for me.

Although I'm not a fan of the new face, the Merc is the only choice for me.

The Jag interior is very attractive in beige, looks modern but yet British. Darker wood would have been my preference.

Damn that Jag interior is so boring i almost fell asleep

SL by a mile.

This new SL is slowly growing on me, woudn't be caught dead in that XKR or any Jag for that matter. But thats just me

The Jag's interior is poorly detailed on so many levels... On pictures and even in real life, I felt completely underwhelmed by the materials used, the ergonomics and the feel of the whole thing. The SL, on the other hand, has an interior that actually relaxes the driver. Its laid-back, wide and feels like a space-ship. Pity for those plastic buttons though, thought MB would have done at least a materials reworking for that. Otherwise, the SL's interior is as good as roadster interiors can go.

Nice win for the Jaguar's top XK against the base V8 SL. Add SL63 AMG, stir and re-bake, different taste I'm sure.

M

That's not a question for me: SL