In the world of high-performance GT cars, the Mercedes SL is the one with the enviable history. Its lineage goes all the way back to the 1950s with the legendary 300SL “Gullwing”, with every generation since mostly keeping true to its original purpose – a glamorous grand tourer with sports car power. For the current generation, launched in 2022, Mercedes has tried to add a more hardcore performance kick to the cocktail. This SL was designed and engineered by Mercedes-AMG – the German carmaker’s performance and motorsports division, and, as such, there’s a more of a laser focus on driving dynamics to make the SL more of a rival to a Porsche 911, for example.
The Mercedes SL has always had glamour in spades, but the latest generation adds a welcome dose of driver engagement and fun to the mixture. It’s sharper, leaner and more involving to drive than ever before, and yet still looks a million dollars when cruising down Park Lane.
Jack is an experienced motoring journalist who has been covering the latest new-car releases for the last 10 years.
Read bioWalk into a Mercedes-Benz showroom and you’ll be setting aside just under £110,000 for the entry-level SL 43 Premium, which gets a four-cylinder engine. The four-wheel drive V8 models start at £153,000 for the SL 55 and rise to £197,000 for the bonkers SL 63 S E Performance plug-in hybrid. Sitting at the very top of the range is the super-exclusive and equally super-posh SL 680 Monogram Series, trimmed by Mercedes's ultra-luxury brand Maybach. It has a price tag of a cool £241,000. Used prices are a lot more reasonable, with the SL 43 models coming in at £70,000 – and that's for cars with less than 10,000 miles on the clock, representing a huge saving over new examples. V8 models are priced around the £100,000 mark for a one-year-old car with less than 10,000 miles. The Maybach SL 680 is too new to appear in used car listings.
The SL has a pretty broad engine line-up for a halo model, with some versions even using electric motors to bolster performance levels. The range kicks off with the SL 43 that uses a 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder with a mild-hybrid system. It packs around 375bhp and sends its power to the rear wheels through a nine-speed automatic gearbox – it’s the only SL that’s rear-wheel drive. Next, it's the V8s, starting with the SL 55 4Matic+. Its 4.0-litre, twin-turbo V8 really is a gem of the eight-cylinder breed, and the 55 packs 468bhp. Sitting above this is the SL 63 4Matic+ that has an increased power reserve of 577bhp. Both have four-wheel drive – hence the 4Matic+ badging – and rear-axle steering for better stability and cornering.
Those V8s will be powerful enough for most, but Mercedes-AMG offers an even more potent version. The SL 63 S E Performance takes a 604bhp 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 and adds a 200bhp electric motor to it, to give a whopping 804bhp. Its 4.8kWh battery can be charged up, so this SL is a plug-in hybrid. With an electric range of just eight miles, it's clear that this plug-in hybrid system isn't really designed for super-eco motoring, but to give extra power for the V8 engine.
That broad engine range gives quite different driving experiences. The 43 feels the lightest and easiest to drive of the lot, but can still deliver exhilarating performance – it feels more of a sports car than the others, which tend to lean more on the SL’s GT heritage. The V8s are what you’d expect – thunderous power with a snarling soundtrack. The 55 and 63 give a lovely balance between refined, comfortable cruising, and savage performance backed up by that classic AMG V8 growl.
The four-wheel drive system also gives a welcome extra dose of traction, which is helpful if you intend to use your car all-year round. The 63 S E Performance takes things to the next level with outrageous acceleration. It can hurtle from zero to 62mph quicker than many million-dollar supercars, at 2.8 seconds, and yet can cruise gently just like the lesser SLs. Speaking of cruising, all versions of the SL have a very refined side to their character. Roof up, and it’s a snug and comfortable place to sit.
The current generation SL is a big and heavy GT by definition, yet it disguises its weight impressively well. It’s easily one of – if not the – most engaging SLs ever built, as it has a sense of agility and litheness that earlier models never really had. The V8 cars add to this with rear-wheel steering, which gives better handling and more agility. The 43 gets normal sports suspension, while the 55 gets adaptive dampers which allow you to tweak the suspension to be softer or harder at the touch of a button.
The 63 cars get a more advanced system for even greater control over the dampers, and their handling is boosted with a limited-slip differential that allows the power to be better delivered to the road. All models ride well, even the 43 with its standard suspension set-up, and give excellent body control when cornering quickly, while dealing nicely with potholes and speed humps around town.
The SL’s interior is classically GT in many ways, as you sit low down with the dashboard and window-line rising above you, and in between the driver and front passenger there’s a large centre console. You feel cocooned, particularly when the roof is up. But the latest SL is just as modern as the rest of the Mercedes range, and has the latest technology. There’s a 12.3-inch digital instrument display ahead of the driver, and a large 11.9-inch portrait touchscreen in the centre that runs Mercedes’ excellent MBUX software. Neatly, the screen can electrically tilt to reduce glare. The infotainment system may have a great operating system, but with pretty much all of the car’s features controlled through it, it can get a little frustrating at times.
To fold down the roof, for example, involves sliding your figure across the screen like you’d do to unlock your smartphone. It’s a bit gimmicky. And so too is the steering wheel – its four spokes are festooned with touch-sensitive controls, which can get a little infuriating to use at times. The biggest disappointment is the quality, though. While on first impressions the interior is covered in tactile materials like leather on the seats and metal for the speaker grilles, it doesn’t have a sense of solidity that you’d expect. The plastic trim around the touchscreen feels fragile, for example, and not the quality you’d expect from such an expensive Mercedes.
It’s a 2+2 with two tiny seats in the back, but these seats are the very definition of ‘occasional use’. Small kids will be able to squeeze into these very flat and upright chairs, or adults on very, very short trips, but more likely than not they will be used for extra storage. There’s loads of room up front, though, with both driver and passenger having near infinitesimal adjusting seats to get the perfect position. There are also loads of large and handy storage spaces dotted around the cabin. With the move from folding metal hard-top to fabric soft-top, the current generation SL has a pretty decently-sized boot. That roof folds away behind the rear seats and doesn’t encroach on the 213-litre boot too much. The space is more than large enough for some luggage for a weekend holiday, or two bags of gold clubs, says Mercedes.
Being Mercedes' range-topping convertible, equipment levels are naturally high. The base-spec SL 43 Premium gets 19-inch multi-spoke alloys, adaptive digital headlights, ambient lighting, heated and electrically adjustable front seats, the twin screens, and a high-end Burmester stereo system. There's also Mercedes' Airscarf system, which blows warm air onto your neck through vents in the headrests. Premium Plus adds larger 21-inch wheels, massaging seats, a heated steering wheel, head-up display, augmented reality navigation, and 'AMG Track Pace' to analyse and improve your driving skills. The 55, 63 and 63 S E only come in Premium Plus guise, while the Maybach gets a whole different level of luxuries, with features such as a bonnet covered in Maybach logos, and an upgraded interior.
The SL range is pretty easy to get your head around. The 43 cars come in Premium and Premium Plus guise, with even the Premium getting luxuries such as ambient lighting, heated and electrically adjustable front seats, and a high-end Burmester stereo system. The V8 cars only come in Premium Plus trim, and it’s the 43 and 55 cars that are the most popular on the used market. Look out for more personalised cars on used car listing platforms such as AA Cars, as the SL could be optioned with a wide range of extras. The colour palette is vast, with a particular focus on vibrant metallic colours, and there are different interior colours. Some owners even opted for even more customisation by opting for one of Mercedes’ “Manufaktur” bespoke paints.
The SL hasn’t been tested by independent experts Euro NCAP, which isn’t unusual as it’s a low-volume model. But, being a Mercedes, the SL is packed with advanced safety systems, such as autonomous emergency braking, lane assist, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control.
Unsurprisingly, the SL isn’t cheap to run. The 43 can return 31mpg, claims Mercedes, but in normal everyday use this will be in the high-20s, while the V8 cars will likely return fuel consumption in the low- to mid-20s in mixed use. Drive the 63 S E Performance carefully, utilising its small electric range to the max, and this might return in the high-20s. CO2 emissions for all engines are all over 200g/km; while you might think the plug-in hybrid will be tax friendly, it isn’t. It pumps out 180g/km and still attracts high VED because of its low eight-mile EV range. Speaking of VED, the 43 is whacked with a £1,565 first-year bill, while the V8s sit in top band, so £2,605 for the first year.
Waltham Cross
Kenley
Romford
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