New Mercedes-AMG SL or Lexus LC Convertible: costs

Buying and owning

Costs, equipment, reliability, safety and security

Amazingly, in this company, the £108,395 Lexus LC Convertible looks like good value, costing around £39,000 less than the Mercedes-AMG SL 55. Of course, you could opt for the £108,020 'entry-level' SL43, but then you'd have to make do with a 375bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, which may be great in the Mercedes-AMG A45 hot hatch but is less desirable in a luxury convertible. 

If you go down the PCP finance route (as we suspect most buyers will), the LC retains its price advantage, thanks to its lower list price and slower predicted depreciation. Assuming that you put down a £10,000 deposit and limit yourself to 10,000 miles a year over three years, the LC will set you back £2130 per month, compared with £2590 for the SL.

In terms of running costs, both cars command large servicing bills and insurance premiums. But surprisingly, the LC was significantly more economical on our real-world test route, returning 24.2mpg to its rival’s 19.5mpg. That will add up if you tend to cover big annual mileages.

You do at least get plenty of standard kit in both cars. As well as essentials such as keyless entry, LED headlights, adaptive cruise control and metallic paint, you get a heated steering wheel, neck warmers and heated and ventilated seats. The SL also gets a head-up display – a £1250 option on the LC – that projects key information onto the windscreen, directly in the driver’s line of sight.

Neither car has been assessed for safety by Euro NCAP but both come with driver aids such as automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring and traffic-sign recognition. The LC also gets a rear cross-traffic warning that stops you from reversing into unseen vehicles; if you want this on the SL, you’ll need to shell out for the £2500 Driving Assistance Package.

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