2012 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Reviews, Pricing & Specs

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$103,650 to $140,440

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No standard equipment changes have been made to the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class for 2012. The production run of the SL65 AMG ended in early 2011. Industry buzz indicates that the SL-Class will undergo numerous physical and performance changes for the 2013 model year, including a new all-aluminum body, refined chassis and a revised powertrain that is reportedly more powerful and efficient.

Two trims are available in the 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class: the SL550 Roadster and the SL63 Roadster. Both are 2-door, 2-passenger retractable hardtops with rear-wheel drive that run on premium gasoline and have a 7-speed automatic transmission with overdrive that can be operated via steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. The SL550 Roadster has a 382-hp 5.5-liter DOHC 32-valve V8 engine that reaches 391 lb-ft of torque, while the SL63 Roadster comes equipped with a 6.2-liter DOHC 32-valve V8 engine that achieves 518 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. The SL550 Roadster is estimated by the EPA to get 15 mpg city/22 highway, while the SL63 Roadster is estimated to get 12/19.

The 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class's standard features include automatic dual-zone front air conditioning with voice activation, residual heat recirculation, cruise control, power windows with front and rear 1-touch down, remote window controls, auto-locking doors, remote keyless entry, illuminated entry, SmartKey integrated key/remote, proximity key, power trunk/hatch/door remote release, power open and close trunk, a power tilt-telescoping steering wheel with auto tilt-away and mounted audio controls, 12-way power reclining heated leather driver's and passenger front bucket seats with massaging lumbar support, heated folding side-view door mirrors with turn signal indicators, memory for 3 drivers' and passengers' seat, mirror, steering wheel, head restraint and climate-control settings, a leather steering wheel and shift knob, full leatherette headliner, auto-dimming rear-view mirror and rear window defroster.

Additional standard equipment features include a power retractable hardtop with automatic roll-over protection, a wind blocker and remote controls, projector beam bi-Xenon high-intensity auto-leveling headlights, headlight washers, fog lights, cornering lights, variable intermittent rain-detecting wipers with heating jets and wiper park, dual stainless steel exhaust with chrome tailpipes, a 510-watt Harman Kardon Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound system with 10 speakers, Sirius XM satellite/AM/FM/HD radio with voice-activation, speed-sensitive volume, a 6-CD/MP3/audio DVD changer, radio data system, weather radio, and automatic equalizer, a DVD entertainment system, first-row LCD monitor and wireless phone connectivity.

Individual options available for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL Class include radar-based cruise control, parking assist, a panorama roof and Mercedes-Benz Star Service prepaid maintenance for up 5 years or 50,000 miles. An AMG Performance Package is available for the SL63, which raises the top speed to 186 mph, adds an AMG performance steering wheel, performance suspension, limited-slip differential and 19-inch twin 5-spoke forged alloy wheels.

Safety features standard for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class include driver and passenger front-impact airbags, door-mounted driver and passenger side-impact airbags, driver and passenger side airbag head extension, knee airbag, front passenger airbag occupancy sensor, power adjustable and anti-whiplash front head restraints, four-wheel disc brakes with antilock braking system and brake assist, daytime running lights, tire-specific low-tire-pressure warning, integrated rollover protection, stability control and driveline traction control.

Appearance options for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class include 18-inch 5-spoke aluminum alloy wheels (standard on the SL550) or 19-inch AMG 5-spoke aluminum alloy wheels (optional for the SL550 and standard on the SL63), all of which are equipped with performance tires. Interior trim can be configured with burl walnut wood or black ash wood or carbon fiber.

The 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class finds itself in heavy competition with the BMW 650, Audi R8 and Porsche 911. Price-wise, it ranks near the upper end of the scale, especially the SL63 Roadster. Handling, performance, comfort and styling are all in line with other luxury sports cars. With big changes ahead for the 2013 model year, it may be possible to find a “bargain” on 2012 models, as buyers may wait to see what the changes will bring for Mercedes-Benz’s iconic sports car.

CarGurus Editorial Team
Published May 31, 2022 by CarGurus Editorial Team
While we highlight specific author bylines where possible, sometimes our content results from the combined efforts of several members of the CarGurus editorial team. As with all our editorial content, you can expect high levels of automotive insight and expertise delivered in a style that is approachable and free from jargon.

User reviews for 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

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User rating:
by Anonymous
Feb 27, 2021
The retractable top is ingenious. German engineering lived up to its reputation on everything about this car. The basic controls are identical to my old Merc so I felt right at home with it. It is so much fun!Feb 27, 2021
by Nicholas C
Apr 03, 2020
power is awsome, handles like a go cart love it with top down turns a lot of heads sleek & aggressive styling this a is a great sports car!!Apr 03, 2020

2012 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Pricing

Original MSRP
$103,650 to $140,440
Price range
N/A
Average price on CG
N/A
YoY price change
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Trims & specs

Air Conditioning

Active charcoal air filtration · Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones

Airbags

Dual front airbags · Dual front knee airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags

Audio System

Auxiliary audio input: jack · Hard Drive: 40GB · In-Dash CD: DVD · Premium Brand: Harman-Kardon · AM/FM radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · 1 subwoofer · Surround audio: 5.1 · Total Number of Speakers: 10

Brakes

ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 13.0 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 11.8 · Rear brakes: disc

Comfort Features

Dash trim: wood · Door sill trim: aluminum · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather and wood

Convenience Features

Center console: front console with storage · Cruise control: adaptive · Cupholders: front · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Memorized settings: side mirrors · Multi-function remote: trunk release · One-touch windows: 2 · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: power tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: cruise controls · Storage: door pockets · Universal garage door opener: Homelink · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating

Driver Seat

Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 12

Drivetrain

Axle ratio: 2.65

Exterior Features

Door handle color: chrome · Exhaust: dual exhaust tips · Exhaust tip color: chrome · Mirror color: body-color · Paint: premium

Headrests

Front headrests: power adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2

In Car Entertainment

Infotainment screen size: 6.5 in.

Instrumentation

Fuel economy display: range · Warnings and reminders: low oil pressure

Lights

Headlights: HID

Mirrors

Exterior mirrors: power

Passenger Seat

Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 12

Roof

Convertible rear window: glass · Convertible roof: power retractable hard top · Sunroof: panoramic

Safety

Parking sensors: front and rear

Seatbelts

Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front

Seats

Driver seat power adjustments: height · Front seat type: sport bucket · Passenger seat power adjustments: height · Upholstery: leather

Suspension

Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: multi-link · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): rear · Suspension control: electronic

Telematics

Navigation system: hard drive navigation system · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth · Satellite communications: TeleAid

Tires

Type: performance

Tires and Rims

Wheel type: aluminum alloy

Wheels

Wheel spokes: 5

Windows

Front wipers: variable intermittent · Power windows: remote operation

Air Conditioning

Active charcoal air filtration · Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones

Airbags

Dual front airbags · Dual front knee airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags

Audio System

Auxiliary audio input: iPod/iPhone integration · Hard Drive: 40GB · In-Dash CD: DVD · Premium Brand: Harman-Kardon · HD radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · 1 subwoofer · Surround audio: 5.1 · Total Number of Speakers: 10

Brakes

ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 13.0 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 11.8 · Rear brakes: disc

Comfort Features

Dash trim: wood · Door sill trim: stainless steel · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Headliner trim: Alcantara · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather

Convenience Features

Center console: front console with storage · Cruise control: adaptive · Cupholders: front · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Memorized settings: 3 driver · Multi-function remote: trunk release · One-touch windows: 2 · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: power tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: multi-function screen controls · Storage: door pockets · Universal garage door opener: Homelink · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating

Driver Seat

Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 12

Drivetrain

Axle ratio: 2.65

Exterior Features

Door handle color: body-color · Exhaust: dual exhaust tips · Exhaust tip color: chrome · Mirror color: body-color · Paint: special factory paint

Headrests

Front headrests: power adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2

In Car Entertainment

Infotainment screen size: 6.5 in.

Instrumentation

Fuel economy display: MPG · Warnings and reminders: low oil pressure

Lights

Headlights: auto delay off

Mirrors

Exterior mirrors: driver side auto-dimming

Passenger Seat

Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 12

Roof

Convertible rear window: glass · Convertible roof: with wind blocker · Sunroof: panoramic

Safety

Parking sensors: front and rear

Seatbelts

Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front

Seats

Driver seat power adjustments: height · Front seat type: sport bucket · Passenger seat power adjustments: reclining · Upholstery: premium leather

Suspension

Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: multi-link · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): front · Suspension control: electronic

Telematics

Navigation system: hard drive navigation system · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth · Satellite communications: TeleAid

Tires

Type: performance

Tires and Rims

Wheel type: aluminum alloy

Wheels

Wheel spokes: 5

Windows

Front wipers: rain sensing · Power windows: remote operation

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