Review Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster cabriolet

"With the roof folded down, the noise created by the fantastic AMG V8 engine is one of motoring's loudest and most memorable." The Mercedes SLS AMG Roadster doesn't have the amazing gullwing doors of the standard coupe, but it makes up for that with a fantastic driving experience that takes owners even closer to the action. It features a neat electric folding canvas roof which really brings the sound of the 563bhp 6.3-litre V8 into the cabin. Other changes over the standard coupe are new adaptive dampers which help improve comfort. The SLS AMG Roadster adds around £8,500 to the price of the SLS coupe. Drive4.8 /5 Softer ride improves handling The SLS AMG Roadster is great fun to drive. Sometimes convertibles don't handle as sharply as their coupe counterparts, but the Roadster feels just as focused as the coupe. In fact, the changes made to the suspension settings and the addition of adaptive dampers mean it's even better to drive than the coupe. Body control is better and the car crashes less over bumps. With the roof down, you can hear every single note of the incredible 6.3-litre V8 too, which has a bassy rumble under hard acceleration, punctuated by pops and bangs from the exhaust when you lift off. The SLS Roadster is as fast as a McLaren MP4-12C and Ferrari 458 Spider, with a 0-62mph time of 3.8 seconds and a 197mph top speed, meaning full throttle has to be used very sparingly indeed. Comfort4.2 /5 Fantastic seats provide lots of support The SLS AMG Roadster has luxurious and supportive leather sports seats, which have a wide range of electrical adjustment, and even have active bolsters designed to hold you firmly in position when cornering. The triple-layered roof does a great job of keeping out road and wind noise when it's raised, while a neat plastic wind deflector reduces buffeting when the roof is down. The new Adpative Damping system gives you three settings to choose from, and the softest of these offers a firm but comfortable balance. The seven-speed automatic gearbox changes gear very smoothly indeed in full auto mode, but it has an annoying delay when you take charge with the steering wheel-mounted paddles. Reliability4.5 /5 Very high attention to detail Build quality has always been a Mercedes strong point, and the SLS is certainly beautifully finished. Given the great attention to detail from the AMG division, we expect the Roadster to be just as reliable as its hardtop brother. What's more, there are no shortage of safety features, including lots of airbags, traction control (with two stages of intervention), ABS and a pop-up rollover bar should the unthinkable happen. Practicality4.0 /5 The boot measures 173 litres Replacing those gullwing doors with a set of conventional doors does mean that getting in and out of the SLS AMG Roadster is a lot easier, as there's no need to stretch up out of your seat to pull them shut. Once inside, all the buttons are logically laid out and labelled, and it's no harder to drive than a Mercedes-Benz SL-Class. The triple-layer hood can be raised or lowered in just 11 seconds at speeds of up to 30mph, so you won't get wet if the heavens open. There is plenty of space for two tall adults in the two-seater cabin, and the boot has 173-litres of space - only three litres less than the coupe - which is enough room for a suitcase and some squashy bags. Value for money3.2 /5 Ferrari California is cheaper With a price tag in excess of £175,000, the SLS AMG Roadster is very expensive indeed. It costs around £8,500 more than the coupe and is roughly £30,000 more than a Ferrari California, a folding metal roof convertible that handles better and sounds just as good. As you might expect, though, there is no shortage of standard equipment, with sat-nav, heated seats, cruise control and parking sensors all standard. Mercedes also includes a new AMG performance package, which allows owners to record lap times and acceleration statistics. There are still a number of options to choose from, including unique matt paint. Running costs2.5 /5 Painfully expensive to run With such an enormously powerful engine, the SLS AMG Roadster is very expensive to run. Mercedes claims 21.4mpg but in reality most owners will be lucky to see 15mpg on a daily basis. Emissions of 308g/km will mean the highest tax bill too. But depreciation is the biggest running cost. The standard SLS AMG coupe loses around £50,000 of its value in the first year of ownership, and we don't expect the Roadster version to fare any better.