2024 Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-AMG SL

It seems like all our lives we’ve looked at SL models gliding down the road and wondered what it would be like to own one, to be one of those people living on a posher plane of existence than the rest of us. The kind who could wear white clothes and not get them stained within 10 seconds of putting them on. There’s no guarantee that owning an SL would keep your laundry bills low, but it certainly exists on a higher plane than even a lot of other luxury cars.

For one, there’s the exclusivity. The SL is for the driver and really just one other person. Sure, there’s a couple of small rear seats, but they’re better used as somewhere to put jackets and purses. Secondly, there’s the pure pleasure aspect. The SL is a place to luxuriate in plush surroundings and to relish the impeccable road manners. Third (we could could go on, but you’re getting the idea), there’s the option of being open to the elements — sea breeze, mountain air, the glow of a full moon. Yes, we see the SL as a romantic car. And there aren’t enough of those in the world.

With this generation of SL, which launched for 2022, Mercedes-Benz decided to spice up the romance by making each variant a high-performance AMG model. The 2024 SL isn’t only a lavishly appointed luxury roadster with an incredible heritage — it’s a bona fide sports car as well.

We’ve logged hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of luxury convertibles, including the Mercedes-AMG SL.

The SL 63 S E Performance makes its debut, using plug-in hybrid technology for thrills with a side of thrift.

There are several other ways of getting around in high style while catching some rays and fresh air. The BMW 8 Series Convertible begins at just over $100K, the Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet comes in a smidge under $130K, and the Lexus LC Convertible starts at around $107K. The SL is hardly a bargain, then, yet it also stands up well against really high-dollar stuff like the Aston Martin Vantage V8 Convertible, Bentley Continental GTC, and new-for-2024 Maserati GranCabrio, where the price of entry is at least $200K.

Before buying a new SL luxury sports car, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. Resale values may not matter much at this level of luxury, but the 911 is a particularly strong performer here. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

Drivetrains in the 2024 AMG SL go from great to good gracious. The SL 43 flexes its 375 horsepower to sprint from standstill to 60 mph in a perfectly zippy 4.8 seconds. Most SL buyers don’t need to go faster than this. But the ones who do can put the SL 55’s 469 horsepower to the ground to hit 60 mph a second sooner. Or shave off another 0.3 of a second in the 577-horsepower SL 63.

To compare with the SL 43, the “base” Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet has 379 horsepower and is about half a second quicker to 60 mph, but the Mercedes beats the BMW 840i Convertible by a small margin. Anyway, it isn’t all about the numbers with an SL.

There’s a twist in the tale this year, however, as the AMG SL 63 S E Performance model comes along, harnessing electric power as well as combustion to push the SL to extremes it’s never known before. It develops a truly awesome 805 horsepower and up to 1,047 lb-ft of torque. The 60-mph mark is but a fleeting event that happens just 2.8 seconds (gasp) into its rush to a top speed of 198 mph.

In general, we’ve found that the SL does a fantastic job of balancing engaging performance with a luxurious ride quality. We could cruise for hours on the highway with no complaints. Yet the SL is equally in its element on twisting back roads, thanks to the all-wheel steering system (in the V8-powered models) and the well-tuned AMG Ride Control suspension system.

Fuel Economy

It’s unlikely that SL buyers will care too much about gas bills. That said, the SL 43 achieves 22 mpg in combined city/highway driving. Which is OK, we guess. The BMW 840i Convertible gets 24 mpg combined, about as good as this class gets. The SL 55 and SL 63 both run to 16 mpg combined.

We could sit in these front seats all day, they’re so well-shaped and comfortable. Mercedes-Benz invariably impresses us with its superb cabin materials and build quality, and that’s exactly what’s going on here. Everything we touch feels classy. We also appreciate the technology, like the highly customizable digital gauge cluster and the user-friendly infotainment system with gorgeous graphics.

The back seats are an afterthought — we could hardly fit back there without sliding the front seats all the way forward. Maximum trunk space is 8.5 cubic feet — more than the soft-top Lexus LC, less than the BMW 8 Series Convertible.

We’d say the Mercedes-AMG SL is handsome. It looks simultaneously expensive and athletic, with sports car proportions and stylish wheel options. This current SL forgoes the retractable hardtop of previous SL generations in favor of a powered soft top. We think it looks great with the roof down.

11.9-inch touchscreen
The SL’s infotainment system has excellent graphics and user-friendly features, including standard navigation and voice control. We love that the angle of the screen is adjustable to reduce glare.

Airscarf
Warm-air vents in the front seats make the SL more comfortable to drive with the top down in cooler weather. Factor in all-wheel drive and the SL could be a car for all seasons.

AMG Performance 4Matic+
This high-performance all-wheel-drive system comes standard in V8-powered SL models. It optimizes torque to all four wheels for a sublime driving experience.

AMG Active Ride Control
This sophisticated adaptive suspension system can adjust each corner for ultimate stability, even in tight corners at high speeds. We’ve experienced it and found it does everything Mercedes-Benz claims. It’s standard in the SL 63 and optional in the lower trims.

AMG Dynamic Select
The standard AMG Dynamic Select system includes Comfort, Slippery, Sport, and Sport+ modes, plus an Individual setting that drivers can fine-tune to their liking. We’ve found that each one has its own distinct feel.

Driver Assistance Package
This optional package adds an array of safety tech such as adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assistance, active lane-keeping, active emergency stop assistance, and route-based speed adaptation. We think it’s worth choosing.

A 4-cylinder engine in an SL might seem uncharacteristically humble. But remember, these are all AMG models and the unit in the SL 43 makes 375 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque, making it one of the most powerful turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engines in production. Gotta love that kind of stuff.

Back to more predictable specifications, the SL 55 has a turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 (hand-built in the usual AMG fashion) generating 469 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. The same engine in the SL 63 pushes output to 577 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque.

New this year, the SL 63 S E Performance uses that V8 again, then drops an electric motor into the mix to create an absolutely massive 805 horsepower and up to 1,047 lb-ft of torque. Which makes this (checks notes) the most powerful plug-in hybrid in production, along with the AMG GT Coupe using this drivetrain. It’s certainly the most powerful SL there’s ever been. The battery is designed for quick energy delivery rather than meaningful electric-only range.

All-wheel drive comes in as standard at the SL 55 level, and every SL has an AMG-tuned 9-speed automatic transmission.

4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty

The new-vehicle warranty offered by Mercedes-Benz lasts four years or 50,000 miles, whichever happens first. This covers the powertrain as well. Most European luxury car companies have the same terms. Mercedes-Benz doesn’t offer any free scheduled maintenance, which BMW does.

Safety

High-end cars like the SL aren’t usually crash-tested outside of their manufacturer’s own development programs. The SL comes well-stocked with standard safety features, however, such as automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, 360-degree camera system, parking assistance, and adaptive front lighting. Optional safety tech in the Driver Assistance Package includes adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assistance, and traffic sign recognition.