The 2023 Mercedes-AMG SL-class may have the appearance of a sporty sports car, but in reality it is more of a large touring vehicle with a stylish interior. Although the SL’s handling is exciting enough, its booming V-8 engine steals the show. Mercedes has a rear-wheel-drive SL43 with a 375-hp turbocharged four-cylinder, though, so you can avoid the storm. When upgrading to the SL55 and SL63 models, all-wheel drive and a significant power boost from a twin-turbo V-8 engine become available. The 469 horsepower SL55 and the 577 horsepower SL63 are the two strengths of those SLs that are available. The SL’s inside contains plenty of luxury and high-tech features, including a smart 11.9-inch infotainment display that can be adjusted to better fit the driver’s field of sight. It also has adequate room for two adults. The SL has two tiny back seats even though Mercedes-AMG calls it a roadster. However, as there is little room for legs and head when the convertible top is in place, the back seat is best reserved for totes or shopping.
Mercedes amg SL 55 – Power & Performance
The SL models are powered by a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 taken from the GT sports vehicle, with the exception of the base SL43, which has a 375-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four. The engine in the SL55 produces a strong 469 horsepower, but upgrading to the SL63 increases that output to a rumbling 577 horsepower. The SL55 and SL63 come standard with an all-wheel-drive system and four-wheel steering, while the SL43 only has rear-wheel drive. There is just one gearbox available: a nine-speed automatic. The top powertrains enable the relaunched SL-class to compete against more aggressive rivals like the Porsche 911 as well as convertible versions of the BMW 8-series and Lexus LC, both of which are equipped with potent V-8 engines. The car’s multiple drive mode adjustments make it challenging to find the ideal balance between comfort and agility, giving the sense that neither one is given enough attention. With the more potent V-8 on board, acceleration is quick, and in our tests, the SL63 reached 60 mph in just 3.0 seconds. Although we haven’t tested the base SL43 this year, Mercedes claims it can reach 60 mph in roughly 4.8 seconds and has a top speed of 170 mph.
Mercedes amg SL 55 – Safety
There will be a variety of driver-assistance capabilities available, but it’s unclear which ones will be required and which ones will be optional. Visit the websites of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for more details regarding the SL’s crash test results. A few essential safety elements include:
pedestrian identification in automatic emergency braking standards
Lane-keeping assistance and the standard lane-departure warning
Lane-centering adaptive cruise control is an option
Mercedes amg SL 55 – Interior & Comfort
The SL-class is still only available as a 2-door convertible. To reduce weight and increase storage space, the new model sports a cloth roof rather of the intricate folding hardtop of the previous iteration. However, don’t anticipate a large trunk. There are two small back seats that can accommodate a single passenger on occasion, but that space is more appropriate for freight than passengers. Mercedes’ innovative Airscarf feature, which softly breathes warm air on the necks of the driver and front passenger during cold weather rides, is a standard feature in the sumptuous cabin.
Mercedes amg SL 55 – Mileage
Both the SL55 and SL63 variants of the SL received EPA ratings of 14 and 21 mpg for city and highway driving. The BMW 8-series and Lexus LC’s V-8-powered models are both rated at 25 mpg highway, outperforming the SL by a few mpg.