1996 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Trims and Specs

By 1996 Mercedes-Benz had packed so many features into the SL320 it was hard to see what owners were missing when they opted for the SL320 instead of the more expensive but similarly styled SL500 or SL600. Sure, the SL320's bigger brothers had more powerful engines, but the SL320's 3.2 liter six-cylinder more than held its own for most drivers.

New features in the 1996 model included side-impact airbags. Tweaked styling and new alloys gave the car a "fresher" look than its predecessors in the 1994 and 1995 model years.

"This is the best (car) on the planet," gushed one owner. There were some minor complaints about the ease of operation of the center console, but most owners had nothing but praise for the 1996 SL320.

1996 marked the first year of significant overhauls for the Mercedes-Benz SL500 following a re-christening in 1994. The car still had its 5.0 liter, 315 horsepower V8 engine but a number of new features were pumped into the design.

Among the most notable changes: fresh styling and new alloys, optional Electronic Stability Protection, and a five-speed automatic as standard equipment.

The SL500 was a "good cruising car," and, in the words of a biased owner, "the last MB ever built with the old well-known quality of Mercedes."

1996 marked the first year of significant overhauls for the Mercedes-Benz SL500 following a re-christening in 1994. The car still had its 6.0 liter, 389 horsepower V12 engine but a number of new features were pumped into the design.

Among the most notable changes: fresh styling and new alloys, Electronic Stability Protection, and a five-speed automatic as standard equipment.

The SL600 was a "good cruising car," and, in the words of a biased owner, "the last MB ever built with the old well-known quality of Mercedes."