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Jun 09, 2024

Mercedes

This German brand loves producing high-performance, luxury sports cars – and their current line-up has some real gems! There are few brands with such a rich and illustrious history as that of

This German brand loves producing high-performance, luxury sports cars – and their current line-up has some real gems!

There are few brands with such a rich and illustrious history as that of Mercedes-Benz, famous for some truly legendary sports cars, such as the 300SL gullwing, and more recent hits like the SLS and formidable Black Series.

Mercedes are clearly keen on maintaining this reputation as manufacturers of epic sports cars, as their current line up includes some seriously cool models. Inside each example, Mercedes guarantees a luxurious interior, a plethora of exclusive driver-focussed options, and some seriously powerful engines.

These are some highlights from their sports car lineup in recent years, including all the relevant information you need to decide which model would be perfect for you.

Information has been collected from press releases, reviews, Mercedes-Benz, and other sources such as Edmunds, and MPGbuddy, to bring you these top Mercedes-Benz sports car, with pricing and MPG data.

This stylish new coupe is sure to be a big success for the brand when it launches in 2024. Mercedes clearly have high hope for the CLE, which blends the C-Class and E-Class coupes into one model. In their own words, the CLE 'merges the finest in comfort and innovation, with the purest in driving excitement'.

Price Range

$55,000 - $70,000 (estimate)

MPG

36 MPG

0 – 60 MPH

4.4 seconds

Top Speed

155 MPH

Top In-Car Entertainment Features

Prices can expect to lie somewhere between the current C-Class and E-Class coupe pricing, so a base model is likely to appear just below $60,000. Mercedes has confirmed both 4-cylinder and 6-cylinder engines will be available, and that a plethora of luxurious features will be available for occupants inside.

Related: Everything You Need To Know About Mercedes-Benz's EV Lineup

The SL43 AMG is the most recent addition to the legendary SL lineup, starting at $109,900. In recent years, the SL range has exclusively offered AMG products, highlighting the sporting capabilities of these striking convertibles.

Price Range

$109,900 +

MPG

24.5 MPG

0 – 60 MPH

4.8 seconds

Top Speed

171 MPH

Top In-Car Entertainment Features

The SL43 AMG is surprisingly economical for a high-performance sports car, returning an average of 24.5 MPG from the turbocharged 2.0-liter M139 engine. Despite being just a 4-cylinder, the new SL is capable of 171 MPH and an impressive sub 5 second 0 – 60 MPH time, which is enough to beat the figures of Porsche's 718 base model.

If the above SL43 AMG sounds good to you, then this supercar-slayer is almost certainly going to appeal even more. It costs an eye-watering $179,150 (without options), but Mercedes assure in return for this huge sum, owners are provided with their most capable SL to date.

Price Range

$179,150 +

MPG

21 MPG

0 – 60 MPH

3.5 seconds

Top Speed

196 MPH

Top In-Car Entertainment Features

This drop-top monster is capable of almost 200 MPH, and will beat almost anything to 60 MPH from a standstill. Inside though, this is far from a stripped out, driver-focussed sports car, as the usual Mercedes-Benz refinements can be found in abundance.

The tilting infotainment display is particularly brilliant, allowing drivers to angle it to avoid glare from the sun; a genius touch in a convertible like this.

Merging the lines between the last two models is this, the SL55 AMG. A happy medium between affordability and performance, the SL55 sits perfectly in between the SL43 and SL63, and as a result comes in $40,000 less than the flagship model.

Price Range

$138,850 +

MPG

21 MPG

0 – 60 MPH

3.8 seconds

Top Speed

183 MPH

Top In-Car Entertainment Features

Perfectly capable, the SL55 AMG can top 180 MPH and will still shoot from 0 to 60 MPH in sub 4 seconds, which will be ample for most drivers. Once again, economy is really quite good for such a powerful sports car, returning 21 MPG as a combined average.

While the SL models above certainly have sporting potential, their 2+2 layout somewhat restricts their ability to be classed as a true driver's car. Mercedes-Benz are pleased to present the AMG GT then, to fill this gap, as their flagship sports model.

Price Range

$119,650 +

MPG

17.5 MPG

0 – 60 MPH

3.5 seconds

Top Speed

194 MPH

Top In-Car Entertainment Features

This 2021 model has a whole host of awesome infotainment features inside, including the voice recognition system, which can be activated by simply saying 'Hey Mercedes'. If that's not your style, then everything can still be activated by touch on the central screen, and even displayed on the 12.3" screen that sits behind the steering wheel, in place of a typical gauge cluster.

Related: 15 Best Mercedes Models Of The Decade

The 2019 AMG GT is of course quite similar to the 2020 model, although Mercedes-Benz do bring in tweaks quite regularly, in order to keep their models competitive in the market. This sleek sports car is surprisingly affordable, with a base price of $115,900, placing it much cheaper than anything from the likes of Ferrari, more directly targeting Audi R8 or Porsche 911 customers.

Price Range

$115,900 +

MPG

19 MPG

0 – 60 MPH

3.5 seconds

Top Speed

194 MPH

Top In-Car Entertainment Features

One thing the AMG GT is not shy of is performance, with a 194 MPH top speed and 0 – 60 MPH time of just 3.5 seconds. Whereas the more performance-orientated GTR's and Black Series cars may be a little sparse inside, due to weight saving techniques, the base AMG GT is still crammed with create comforts, such as Apple CarPlay and ambient lighting.

Now discontinued, the SLC was the entry-level sports car on offer from Mercedes-Benz, and a tempting option for anyone after a cheap, luxurious sports car. Competing directly with cars such as the Audi TT and BMW Z4, the SLC certainly offers a lot, especially in the cabin.

Price Range

$51,715 +

MPG

27.5 MPG

0 – 60 MPH

5.8 seconds

Top Speed

155 MPH

Top In-Car Entertainment Features

All occupants will enjoy the Harman Kardon sound system, with 14 high-performance speakers to blast music through, using the integrated Apple CarPlay and Android Auto systems. A 7" touchscreen display gives a user-friendly way to access all infortainment features.

Before the SL-Class shifted from a Mercedes-Benz product to a Mercedes-AMG product, this SL550 was the flagship model, sporting a 4.7-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine.

Price Range

$115,695 – $121,095

MPG

21 MPG

0 – 60 MPH

4.3 seconds

Top Speed

155 MPH

Top In-Car Entertainment Features

As a final send-off to the non-AMG models, a Grand Edition of the SL550 was launched in 2020, which would set customers back a hefty $121,095. Inside though, they would be treated to exclusive options, such as a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a remarkable Bang & Olufsen audio system.

Performance and economy of this flagship SL-Class is fairly inline with the SL43 and SL55 AMG models, returning an average of 21 MPG, and hitting 60 MPH from a standstill in just a few tenths of a second longer.

Sitting at $25,000 cheaper than the aforementioned SL550, this SL450 offers a lower barrier to entry to ownership, while still retaining many of the attributes of the flagship model.

Price Range

$91,995 +

MPG

24 MPG

0 – 60 MPH

4.5 seconds

Top Speed

155 MPH

Top In-Car Entertainment Features

The MPG takes a notable increase by 15% over the SL550, so while the SL450 is still no economy car by any stretch, running costs are noticeably less than the more expensive model. Inside though, the SL experience is still very much the same, with a premium sound system that would satisfy even the fussiest of audiophiles.

Related: 10 High-Performance Mercedes-AMG Sports Cars That Dominate The Road

The 2019 AMG GT C Roadster is perhaps the perfect combination of the SL and AMG GT range, offering the thrill of Mercedes' most complete sports car, in conjunction with drop-top motoring.

Price Range

$124,700 – $158,850

MPG

18 MPG

0 – 60 MPH

3.5 seconds

Top Speed

188 MPH

Top In-Car Entertainment Features

Performance is present in spades; 188 MPH and a 3.5 second 0 – 60 MPH time would seem insanely quickly in any car, but surely even more so when exposed to the elements. Creature comforts are still plentiful inside, with a wind scarf feature that blows hot air onto the neck of occupants, in addition to the usual high-standard audio systems and touchscreen displays.

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Dan Clougher is a UK based classic car dealer who joined the HotCars team in 2023; as a keen writer, he is excited to contribute and add his touch to the HotCars team. Whilst Dan has a genuine love for anything with four wheels, his true passion is for mid-century, european and modern classics. Having never left the showroom floor since finishing school, Dan always has a keen eye on the used car market, and is never too far from an auction floor.