At one point not long ago, before everyone started wanting fast SUVs and Porsche 911s, the Mercedes-Benz SL was the de-facto sports car for those looking to spend on a statement showpiece. Unfortunately, the SL has lost its lustre over the years and it is no longer even the most desirable Mercedes-Benz – that title goes to the flashy G-Wagon. With the release of the all-new SL, we brought in the ultimate sledgehammer, this 2023 Mercedes-AMG SL 63 4MATIC+ to see if it can bring back the magic.
The first step to bringing back fans is by increasing that curb appeal, and Mercedes-AMG designers have certainly accomplished that. The new styling is striking and grabs attention everywhere it goes. When compared to the outgoing generation, the new SL Roadster’s new makeover is a huge success – not only does the new body look far less bulbous, the whole design looks athletic and immensely appealing. We do miss the power retractable hardtop that has been around for the past two decades, but the change back to a fabric soft-top gives the SL 63 a fresh appeal with the added benefit of significant weight saving as well as clearing room for two extra seats in the back.
While the newly added space behind the front seats are technically considered passenger seats, they are really better used as shelves as there is virtually no legroom available. We do, however, enjoy the spacious room in the front with the help of the nicely bolstered and massaging AMG sports seats. We had no issues finding a comfortable driving position with decent visibility once we got used to where the car’s blind spots are. Cargo space is measured at 213 litres which is adequate for a weekend getaway.
According to Mercedes-AMG, interior design of the SL draws inspiration from the minimalistic language used in the first 300 SL Roadster that started it all back in the 1950s. The new “hyperanalogue” cockpit consolidates most of the infotainment, vehicle settings, and climate control functions into the motorized tablet-style touchscreen on the centre console, and users can input commands using either touch, voice, or the touch-sensitive directional prompts on the steering wheel.
This infotainment system, named MBUX which is short for Mercedes-Benz User Experience, can be a little clunky to use if you are relying on touch rather than voice, with the latter being the preferred method as you can simply use conversational prompts to make your commands. The system also has capability to learn your habits and eventually tailor its contents to fit the user’s needs. Our tester is equipped with the optional Burmester High-End 3D Surround Sound system that immerses its occupants with deep and crisp sound quality regardless of the convertible top position.
Given that this is Mercedes-AMG’s flagship sports car, we had lofty expectations and unfortunately felt the SL 63 4MATIC+ had come short on interior appointments. The design, while clean, lacked the wow factor that we have seen in recent Mercedes-Benz products such as the new Mercedes-EQ lineup, as well as the lavish materials we have seen in the S 580 4MATIC sedan. Many of the high touch areas, such as the shortcut bar on the bottom of the screen, the seat adjustment switchboard on the door cards, and the cupholder cover are all made of plastic and this is a letdown to many of its peers in this elite segment of the finest sports cars.
The good news though is that the Mercedes-AMG SL 63 still manages to feel luxurious when the vehicle is in motion – unwanted noises are well isolated to the outside despite the soft-top design, the ride is quite comfortable, and the confidence you feel behind the wheel is still up there amongst the best. The soft-top can be operated at speeds up to 60 km/h in as little as 15 seconds which is a big improvement when compared to the old retractable hardtop, and makes any worry of sudden weather changes much more manageable.
It also makes all the right sounds thanks to the hand-assembled 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine. Output is rated at 577 horsepower and peak torque measures in at 590 lb-ft. There is no shortage of acceleration power as the nine-speed transmission is quick to downshift on its own when you put our right foot down, and the standard 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive system means drivers are hardly ever surprised when the wheels start spinning hard. The thunderous engine and exhaust notes – especially when the vehicle is in Sport+ or Race modes – instantly excites everyone in and around, and exponentiate its appeal if attention is what you long for.
Handling characteristics of the SL 63 4MATIC+ feel closer to a sporty luxury tourer than a full-fledged sports car. The steering is quite accurate and the sportier drive modes add a good amount of weight to the wheel, but the response felt too artificial for it to really be engaging with the driver. You can sense that every move is carefully calculated by computers to provide maximum traction and performance. The SL 63 features rear-axle steering which further added to the vehicle’s unnatural feel but that is a result of us not expecting how tight it rotates when the rear wheels move in the opposite direction to the front at speeds up to 100 km/h, or when they move parallel at speeds above that.
For a sports car of the SL 63’s caliber, fuel economy is usually secondary so owners are unlikely to be too upset over the 17.1L/100km city consumption rating, which was close to what we observed for the week. Over the highway, its fuel economy figure significantly improved to 11.3L/100km and that all but confirms that open road is the most suitable environment for the SL 63.
Starting at $215,000 and with an as-tested price of $237,520, the Mercedes-AMG SL 63 4MATIC+ competes in an exclusive club that consisted of elite sports cars such as the BMW M8 Competition Cabriolet, Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet, and the Aston Martin Vantage Roadster. These cars can easily cost $50,000 more or less from one another, but buyers who are looking for these are unlikely to decide based on the price tag alone. They will simply pick the one that tugs their heartstring the most, and often times brand loyalty plays a big part in these decisions so a spec-sheet comparison is rather pointless here.
The 2023 Mercedes-AMG SL 63 4MATIC+ is certainly not perfect, far from it as a matter of fact. However, its killer looks and commanding theatre is likely enough for it to win back some of its fans and get a bit of attention back from the G-Wagon and other social media stars, and we expect other SL models such as the performance hybrid variant and a lighter rear-wheel drive version will help this famed badge become relevant once again.
