Mercedes SL Review: Why This Iconic Roadster Still Turns Every Drive Into a Event

When was the last time driving actually felt like something?

You know that moment when you realize your car has quietly become an appliance? It gets you from A to B, maybe C on the weekend, but the journey itself feels like background noise to your podcast queue. The steering is light, the cabin anonymous, the experience forgettable. You arrive, but you never really went anywhere.

If you're honest, even those performance SUVs and electric crossovers that promise excitement start to blur together. Screens, modes, assistants, subscriptions – but where's the goosebumps, the spine-tingling sound, the sense that you bought something a little bit irrational on purpose?

That restless itch – for emotion, for drama, for a car that doesn't apologize for being indulgent – is exactly the problem the latest Mercedes SL sets out to solve.

Meet the Mercedes SL: The comeback of a legend

The Mercedes SL is one of those rare badges that actually means something. It's been the poster car, the movie star, the boulevard cruiser and the long-distance GT since the 1950s. In its latest generation (R232), Mercedes has completely reimagined the SL as a 2+2 soft-top roadster developed by Mercedes-AMG – and crucially, it's no longer just a stylish cruiser. It's a genuinely serious sports car with everyday usability baked in.

On the official Mercedes-Benz site, the SL range currently centers around high-performance variants like the SL 55 4MATIC+ and SL 63 4MATIC+. Both pack hand-built twin-turbo V8s, 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive, a rapid 9-speed automatic, and adaptive suspension. Optional rear-axle steering, a multi-layer fabric roof that folds in around 15 seconds, and the latest MBUX infotainment with an adjustable tilting central display turn the car into a surprisingly flexible companion.

In other words: the new SL wants to be your Sunday-morning canyon carver, your holiday GT, and your "top down at sunset" sanity break after a brutal week.

Why this specific model?

In a world full of fast cars, why should you care about this particular one? Because the new Mercedes SL does three things at once that most rivals only nail one or two of.

• It feels properly special the moment you see it. The long hood, short rear deck, wide stance, and fabric soft top echo classic SL proportions, but the details are aggressive and modern. The AMG Panamericana grille, slim LED headlights, muscular rear haunches – this isn't a retro reboot, it's a rebooted icon.
• It's fast in a way that feels almost excessive. In SL 55 form, you're looking at a twin-turbo V8 with around 350+ kW (480+ hp) and all-wheel drive. Step up to the SL 63 and power climbs to the vicinity of 430+ kW (570+ hp), with 0–100 km/h in the low 3-second range according to independent tests. That's supercar-quick in a car that can still do the school run.
• It doesn't punish you for wanting comfort. This is where the SL quietly embarrasses some purer sports cars. Adaptive suspension, multiple drive modes (from Comfort to Sport+), excellent seats, and a surprisingly compliant ride mean you can actually live with it daily if you want. The multi-layer fabric roof is well insulated, cutting wind and road noise to near-coupé levels when up.

What you're really buying, though, is versatility with drama. You get a 2+2 layout (yes, the rear seats are small, but good for kids or short trips), usable trunk space, all-weather all-wheel drive, and modern safety tech – without giving up the soundtrack and theater that pure EVs or muted turbo-six engines can't quite replicate.

Mercedes has also leaned into tech in a way that actually improves driving rather than distracting from it. The latest MBUX system brings a portrait-orientation central display that can tilt electrically to reduce glare when the roof is down – a clever, surprisingly useful detail straight from the official documentation. Digital instruments, head-up display, and a full suite of driver-assistance systems are there if you want them, but easily dialed back when you just want to listen to the V8.

At a Glance: The Facts

Feature	User Benefit
AMG 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 (SL 55 & SL 63)	Explosive acceleration with a rich, authentic soundtrack that turns every tunnel and on-ramp into an occasion.
4MATIC+ fully variable all-wheel drive	Confident traction in wet or cold conditions, making the SL a genuine all-season sports car rather than a fair-weather toy.
Electrically operated fabric soft top	Opens or closes in roughly 15 seconds, even at low speeds, so you can chase sunlight or shelter without pulling over.
Adaptive suspension & available rear-axle steering	Comfortable ride on long journeys, yet sharp, agile handling in tight corners or urban streets.
MBUX infotainment with tilting central display	Modern, intuitive interface with smartphone-style controls and reduced glare when driving with the top down.
2+2 seating layout	Room for occasional rear passengers or extra luggage, making weekend trips more practical.
Comprehensive driver-assistance systems	Adaptive cruise, lane-keeping and safety tech reduce fatigue on long drives and add peace of mind.

What users are saying

Browse through Reddit threads and enthusiast forums and a consistent picture emerges around the latest Mercedes SL.

The praise:

• Driving feel & engines. Owners and testers applaud the V8's power and character. Many highlight how the SL 55 hits the "sweet spot" between performance and comfort, while the SL 63 feels genuinely savage when pushed.
• Ride quality. Compared with stiffer sports cars, the SL's adaptive suspension wins points for being genuinely comfortable on long trips without turning mushy in Sport modes.
• Cabin & design. The interior design, especially with higher-spec trim and the ambient lighting, gets strong reactions: people call it "special", "theatrical" and "properly premium". The car's presence on the street is frequently mentioned – the SL turns heads in a way few rivals do.
• Usability. The 2+2 layout and 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive are often cited as the reason owners justify choosing the SL over purer two-seat, rear-drive alternatives.

The complaints:

• Price and options. No surprise here: this is an expensive car, and option packs escalate the price fast. Several forum users note that a well-specced SL 63 can end up in the same territory as serious supercars.
• Weight. Enthusiasts point out that the SL is heavy. That mass shows up under hard track-style driving, even if the chassis and rear-axle steering do a good job of hiding it on the road.
• Rear seat realism. Those 2+2 seats? Great for kids or short journeys, but adults won't want to be back there for long. Most owners treat them as "luxury luggage space".
• Complex tech. MBUX is powerful but deep; a few drivers complain that simple tasks sometimes take more taps or voice commands than they'd like. The learning curve is real, though most adjust after living with the car for a while.

Overall sentiment: if you're buying an SL, you're buying it with your heart as much as your head – and most owners seem very happy they did.

Alternatives vs. Mercedes SL

The luxury roadster and GT market is fiercely competitive. Here's how the Mercedes SL stacks up against some obvious rivals.

• Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet: The 911 is sharper and lighter, with a more focused sports-car feel and an unmatched motorsport pedigree. However, its rear seats are just as tight, and the ride is typically firmer. If you prioritize precision and track days over comfort and drama, the Porsche edges ahead; if you want comfort, presence, and V8 theater, the SL fights back hard.
• BMW 8 Series Convertible: An excellent long-distance GT with refined engines and a spacious cabin. Yet it doesn't quite deliver the same "event car" vibe; its design and soundtrack are more restrained. The SL feels more special when you drop the top.
• Lexus LC Convertible: Arguably the SL's closest emotional rival. Stunning design, naturally aspirated V8, and lovely build quality. The LC leans slightly more toward relaxed GT character, while the SL brings more tech, more configurability, and available all-wheel drive.
• High-performance EVs (e.g., Porsche Taycan, Mercedes-AMG EQE): These offer brutal straight-line speed and cutting-edge tech, plus environmental advantages. What they still struggle to match is the SL's multi-sensory drama: the sound, the vibration, the feel of an engine working through the gears with the sky above you.

Where the SL really carves out its niche is in its balance: not as obsessive as a pure sports car, not as anonymous as a luxury cruiser. For buyers who want one car that can do "everyday" and "extraordinary" depending on the drive mode, it's uniquely appealing.

Behind the scenes, this car comes from Mercedes-Benz Group AG (ISIN: DE0007100000), the global automotive giant that also develops everything from compact EVs to heavy-duty trucks. That scale shows up in the SL's tech and safety systems, but the car itself still feels like a passion project rather than a committee-built product.

Final Verdict

So, who is the Mercedes SL really for?

It's not for someone counting kilowatt-hours or obsessing over rear-seat space. It's for you if you've worked hard enough that you don't want your car to be yet another compromise. If you're done pretending that a crossover can stir your soul, and you're ready to admit that what you really want is something gloriously, unapologetically unnecessary – but deeply, viscerally satisfying.

The new SL delivers that satisfaction with a modern twist: serious speed, usable tech, year-round capability, and enough comfort to chew through miles without wincing. It doesn't hide its size or its price tag, but it rewards you every time you twist the starter button and feel the car come alive.

If you're cross-shopping the Porsche 911 Cabriolet, BMW 8 Series Convertible, or Lexus LC, your choice will come down to priorities. Precision versus comfort. Understatement versus theater. If your needle swings toward emotion – toward the car that makes every drive feel like an occasion – the Mercedes SL deserves to be at the very top of your shortlist.

Because life is too short to drive something forgettable. And the SL, for all its tech and all its heritage, is anything but.

@ ad-hoc-news.de | DE0007100000 MERCEDES