Used 2020 Mercedes-Benz SL

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz SL continues a grand tradition of grand touring. For more than 60 years, the SL has represented grace, luxury, engineering, design and desirability. It’s transcended mere transportation to become a cultural touchstone, a symbol of fine living and fine driving.

And there’s nothing else quite like it. Similar alternatives include the BMW 8 Series and the Porsche 911, but they have their own characters. And by the time the new Lexus LC convertible arrives, the Mercedes SL will be redesigned.

An all-new SL is coming for 2021, with AMG spearheading the car’s development. In the meantime, the current-generation SL remains packed with useful technology, luxury features, safety equipment, and a retractable hardtop, so it serves simultaneously as a coupe and a convertible. Which makes the $92,000 or so entry price easier to bear.

With a long, low shape, seating for two and a choice between a turbocharged V6 or V8 to drive the rear wheels, the 2020 Mercedes SL’s ingredients suggest a recipe for an out-and-out sports machine. That’s not quite right. This car is more about eating up the miles in style and luxury.

That’s not to say it doesn’t offer driving enjoyment. The 2020 SL has its fair share of poise, especially when the optional adaptive suspension is fitted. Then virtually all evidence of body roll is eliminated, yet the ride never becomes stiff or uncomfortable.

Substantial power flows from either engine, and the standard 9-speed automatic transmission is extremely refined. A 4-mode Dynamic Select system modifies throttle, gear changes and steering response. We’d be inclined to keep it in Sport mode most of the time, clicking into Comfort on occasion and sometimes getting mischievous with Sport Plus. There are definite differences among all of the driving modes.

The 2020 SL-Class doesn’t have the futuristic interior design of newer Benzes, but its roomy interior oozes class and quality. Premium sun-reflective leather, deeply comfortable 16-way power-adjustable and heated seats, and a Harman Kardon sound system with nine speakers and two subwoofers make the SL the perfect place for piling on the miles.

We recommend the available Airscarf system that blows warm air through neck-level vents in the seats. It makes dropping the top on a chilly, starlit evening even more compelling. Premium Nappa leather, seat ventilation, seat massage, and a thundering Bang & Olufsen BeoSound audio system are also easy upgrades to recommend.

There’s limited storage behind the SL’s seats, but trunk space is good at 10.2 cubic feet with the roof up. Put the power retractable hardtop down, and that space shrinks to 7.1 cubic feet, enough for a couple of golf bags or luggage for a long weekend trip.

It’s a rare convertible that looks good regardless of whether the roof is up or down. We’d argue that the Mercedes-Benz SL is one of them. And while some generations of SL might have been more attractive, this one carries the necessary elegance.

Featuring the classic roadster silhouette of a long nose and tidy tail, the SL looks best in profile. From other angles, it’s clear the car’s basis on a sedan platform and the storage requirements associated with the retractable hardtop force compromises in terms of its proportions.

The advantage of a retractable hardtop is better insulation from noise and weather, plus greater security. With the SL, the standard panoramic roof panel also helps to make the car feel airy inside when the roof is raised. The hardtop, however, will vanish when the redesigned 2021 SL arrives, replaced by a fabric roof that helps to ensure better design balance and proportion.

BITURBO V6 ENGINE
The words “bargain” and “Mercedes-Benz” rarely occur in the same sentence, but the turbocharged V6 in the SL 450 is just 87 horsepower shy of the V8 engine’s output, which isn’t much when there’s already 362 horsepower to play with. Yet the SL 450 is nearly $24,000 less than its V8-powered SL 550 sibling.

MAGIC SKY CONTROL
It’s a $2,500 option, but it’s too cool not to have. At the touch of a button, Magic Sky Control turns the panoramic glass panel in the power-retractable hardtop either transparent or opaque.

Naturally, given its high starting price, the 2020 SL 450 is equipped with many standard features. Exterior details include 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, LED exterior lighting, a power trunk lid, and the power-retractable hardtop with panoramic glass roof insert.

Inside, the SL 450 includes dual-zone climate control, heated seats, sun-reflecting leather upholstery, ambient cabin lighting, and a power wind-blocker to cut down on drafts when the top is down. The infotainment system is equipped with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, navigation, two USB ports, and a 600-watt surround-sound audio system.

On the safety front, every SL features automatic emergency braking, drowsy-driver monitoring, automatic collision notification, SOS emergency calling, Pre Safe pre-impact collision preparation, and pop-up roll-over protection.

Upgrade to the 2020 SL 550, and you get V8 muscle, AMG-design wheels, and an active parking-assist system that works with parallel and perpendicular parking spaces. The SL 500 also includes ventilated and massaging seats, the Airscarf neck-warming feature, an analog dashboard clock, and brushed-aluminum pedal covers. Some standard features in the SL 550 (like massaging seats and Airscarf) are available as options in the SL 450.

Mercedes-Benz offers many tempting ways to spend more money on a new SL. The Magic Sky Control glass roof panel joins the glorious Bang & Olufsen audio system on the options list, and the Active Body Control with Curve suspension lends the car a decidedly more athletic character. You can also choose from a variety of extra-cost paint, wheel and interior trim selections, and upgrade the multimedia offering with a Wi-Fi connection.

The recommended Driver Assistance Package includes numerous driving aids, such as adaptive cruise control, active blind-spot assist, active lane-keeping assist, active steering assist, and active cross-traffic braking. Pre-Safe Plus is also a part of this package, preparing the SL’s cabin and occupants for front- and rear-impact collisions.

A twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 motivates the Mercedes-Benz SL 450, delivering 362 horsepower to the rear wheels through a perfectly refined 9-speed automatic transmission. According to Mercedes, this is enough firepower to launch the SL 450 from a standstill to 60 mph in a highly respectable 4.9 seconds.

If there’s one engine synonymous with traditional automotive luxury, though, it’s a V8. The SL 550 obliges with a forceful twin-turbocharged 4.7-liter version, developing 449 horsepower and shaving more than a half-second off the sprint to 60 mph.

Both engines have a stop/start function that saves some fuel while idling, which you can easily disable. All-wheel drive is not available for the 2020 Mercedes SL.

3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 (SL 450)
362 horsepower @ 5,500-6,000 rpm
369 lb-ft of torque @ 2,000-4,200 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 20/28 mpg

4.7-liter twin-turbocharged V8 (SL 550)
449 horsepower @ 5,500-6,000 rpm
516 lb-ft of torque @ 1,800-3,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/25 mpg