The Mercedes-Benz SL280 is a classic case of less being more. Fitted with the smallest engine (a mere 3-litre V6) in the current SL line-up, it should be an uninspiring and insipid drive.

But lo and behold, the car is quite something else. It may not be blisteringly fast but it is no escargot either.

Tapping the pedal is sufficient for reasonable progress, flooring it will have you easily overtaking most cars on the road.

Power delivery is measured and seamless, with 300Nm of torque available from a low 2,500rpm all the way to 5,000rpm. This allows the SL to tool around uncomplainingly in the city and stretch its legs quite effortlessly on open roads.

Its relatively benign engine will rev sweetly and solidly past 6,000rpm time after time. All you hear is a subdued, well-lubricated roar and the whoosh of the wind as the topless two-seater make the lampposts go backwards.

It fares very well when compared with beasts with bigger displacements or more cylinders. The V6 beneath its rippling bonnet does not come across in the least as an over-extended 'small' engine that compensates a shortfall in cubic centimetres with raw revs.

It performs adequately in any speed range and there is no hint of a torque vacuum anywhere.

For that reason, you seldom need to flog the horses. And when you do, they respond well. The car reaches 100kmh in 7.8 seconds, which is fairly swift for a 1.8-tonne machine propelled by a 3-litre normally aspirated engine.

In comparison, the 3.7-litre 18-valve SL350 test-driven three years ago was 0.6 seconds quicker in the century sprint but a whole lot thirstier.

It had a five-speed autobox, while the SL280, like many Mercs today, is fitted with a seven-speed transmission that is fuel-efficient, responsive and silky smooth.

It feels like it is tailor-made for the SL and suits its relaxed and confident grand tourer demeanour.

The car's tyres feel a tad overwhelmed by the heft of the SL, and will squeal like little girls when taking corners fast.

Being weighty has its advantages, though. The car exudes first-rate solidity. Its NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) levels are extremely low, even when the engine is red-lined repeatedly.

The car may rock and roll over humps but it simply glides over other minor imperfections.

With the exception of the lefthand-drive-only SLR McLaren, the SL is the most esteemed sports model in Merc's line-up. And its prices reflect that.

The $350,000 tag for the 'entry-level' SL280 buys you a number of class-leading luxuries, though. A speedy and silent motorised foldable hardtop, a wind deflector that pops up and folds away at the touch of a button and servos that move the front seats away and back into position without you risking a chipped nail.

The current SL line-up is the facelift of a generation that was launched seven years ago. The cosmetic changes are obvious, such as a new face and new eyes, power domes on the bonnet, as well as the SLR-like gills on the front fenders.

Other new features include a new design steering wheel, bi-xenon headlamps with turning lights and a new adaptive braking system.

The model line-up includes a 3.5-litre V6 SL350, 5.4-litre V8 SL500, 5.5-litre V12 SL600, 6.2-litre V8 SL63AMG and 6.0-litre V12 SL65AMG, which produces a whopping 612 horsepower.

Currently, only the SL280, SL350, SL500 and SL63AMG are available here.

The SL280 is the slowest of the lot but it is, nonetheless, a highly enjoyable and desirable car.