Name: Mercedes-AMG SL (2022) | Expert Rating | The Car Expert
Item: Mercedes-AMG SL
Rating: 55.0

Summary

Now in its seventh-generation, the Mercedes SL (or SL-Class) is an upmarket two-door convertible and the latest in a long line of SL models that date back to the original 300 SL ‘Gullwing’ of the 1950s.

This latest iteration shares its platform with the second-generation AMG GT, and is the first SL to be sold under the performance ‘Mercedes-AMG’ brand rather than the traditional ‘Mercedes-Benz’ name.

Powered by a 4.0-litre V8 with an impressive 0-62mph sprint time of 3.6 seconds, and with the availability of all-wheel drive for the first time in an SL, the new model places more emphasis on performance and handling than the last few SL iterations, which prioritised comfort and luxury.

Despite its greater emphasis on sporting prowess, the SL still offers a refined interior that draws many luxuries from the flagship Mercedes-Benz S-Class saloon. As a result, several reviewers conclude that the SL struggles to successfully occupy a middle ground between a relaxing grand tourer and an adrenaline-packed sports car, to its detriment.

“We can’t help but feel the new SL sits in a bit of a no-man’s land”, admits Heycar‘s Lawrence Allan, “unable to offer the true plushness and interior richness of a proper luxury car while not quite delivering the properly sorted driving experience of the best sports cars.”

Should you be looking for a luxury cruiser, Georg Kacher of Parkers instead recommends Bentley, and adds that Aston Martin, Porsche and Ferrari make more engaging sports cars than this Mercedes. That said, he still concludes that the SL is a “highly accomplished” package that is easy to like and recommend, provided you can afford its lofty six-figure price tag.

As of December 2024, the Mercedes-AMG SL holds a New Car Expert Rating of E, with a score of 55%. Its media review scores to date have been average, as are its CO₂ emissions, while running costs are inevitably high.

More Mercedes-Benz Expert Ratings, new car reviews, news and features

SL highlights

Powerful petrol engines
Attractive exterior styling
Relatively practical luxury interior
Agile handling

SL lowlights

Not very fuel efficient
Small rear seats and boot
Quite heavy for a convertible
Very expensive, base price and up

Key specifications

Body style: 2+2 roadster
Engines: petrol, petrol mild-hybrid
Price: From £108,165 on-road

Launched: Winter 2022/23
Last updated: N/A
Replacement due: TBA

Image gallery

Media reviews

Reviews, road tests and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

Auto Express+

Model reviewed: SL 63
Score: 8 / 10
“The pricey Mercedes-AMG SL 63 makes more sense when you realise the next-generation AMG GT won’t be offered as a roadster. It should sit neatly as a soft-top alternative to the AMG GT because there’s no question over the levels of performance, but it comes at a cost to the SL’s traditional comfort-oriented approach.”
Author: Alastair Crooks
Read review

Model reviewed: SL 43
Score: 7 / 10
“The Mercedes-AMG SL 43 has all the kerbside appeal of its more expensive siblings and some extra usability, but with AMG taking the reins for this generation of SL we’d hoped for a little more excitement from behind the wheel.”
Author: Alastair Crooks
Read review

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The new Mercedes-AMG SL should serve as both refined cruiser and engaging sports car, thanks to development from performance division AMG. It nearly gets there, but in compromising to try and hit both targets, it’s not quite as good as it could be at either.”
Author: Antony Ingram
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Model reviewed: SL 55
Score: 8 / 10
“The new four-wheel-drive Mercedes-AMG SL 55 AMG is surprisingly sharp to drive for a two-tonne, open-topped car and its hood-up refinement is also deeply impressive. But its interior, although extremely well equipped, lacks design maturity – and if ever a car could have too many toys to play with (or become confused by) this is it. We like the new SL, but we don’t love it.” (Steve Sutcliffe)
Read review

Auto Trader+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“The latest in a long line of Mercedes SLs is sportier and more advanced than ever, a new four-cylinder option an intriguing twist on the formula.” (Dan Trent)
Read review

Car+

Model reviewed: SL 55
Score: 8 / 10
“Don’t be fooled by the name, the new Affalterbach-engineered SL is more aggressive than ever before. Although it’s kept most of its manners on the road, a new chassis packed with tricks such as active ride and rear-wheel steering has given it a new suite of abilities.”
Read review

Carbuyer+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7.8 / 10
“Considering the size and weight of the SL, it’s impressive that it’s so agile. Twisty roads and long, fast corners are now much more involving, even if the SL can occasionally feel a little twitchy on the motorway.”
Read review

Carwow+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The main highlight of an AMG is what’s under the bonnet. With two V8 petrol options available, both give you superb performance and a thrilling soundtrack. The autocmatic transmission is super smooth when cruising around, but when you need to change down and overtake, it’s very responsive.”
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Evo+

Model reviewed: SL55 4Matic
Score: 7 / 10
“Merc’s new SL roadster sits between chilled-out cruiser and AMG hot rod, but doesn’t quite nail either personality trait…” (Stuart Gallagher)
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Heycar+

Model reviewed: Range overview
“WIth the extremely high standards set by the competition we can’t help but feel the new SL sits in a bit of a no-mans land, unable to offer the true plushness and interior richness of a proper luxury car while not quite delivering the properly sorted driving experience of the best sports cars.” (Lawrence Allan)
Read review

Motoring Research+

Model reviewed: SL 55
Score: 8 / 10
“The Mercedes-AMG SL 55 isn’t supercar-quick, although you never feel short-changed on the road. Factor in four-wheel drive, a nine-speed auto gearbox and stability-enhancing rear-wheel steering, and the result is confident and very rapid progress. However, its steering feels oddly artificial and no amount of electronics can entirely mask its weight. But not everyone wants to drive like their pants are on fire and the SL still does the long-striding, luxurious GT thing very well. Overall, the Mercedes-AMG SL is an easy car to admire, but a harder one to love.”
Author: Tim Pitt
Read review

Parkers+

Model reviewed: Range overview
“As far as potent luxury cruisers go, a Bentley Continental GT might perhaps be a smarter buy. As an open-top sports car, any Aston Martin, Porsche or Ferrari is the more involving drive. But somewhere in the middle of that lies the new Mercedes-AMG SL as a highly accomplished new occupant of the middle ground – and as such it’s an easy car to like and recommend if you’re not looking for thrills and spills.”
Read review

Top Gear+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“A car of impressive abilities, the Mercedes SL combines real performance with GT-like refinement and tech.”
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

No safety rating

As of December 2024, the Mercedes-AMG SL has not been assessed by Euro NCAP. Considering its hefty price tag, it is unlikely to ever be tested.

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

As of December 2024, the Mercedes-AMG SL has not been assessed by Green NCAP.

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

No reliability rating

As of December 2024, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Mercedes-AMG SL to generate a reliability rating.

The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using workshop and extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy, sourced from both official dealerships and independent workshops.

As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the SL, we’ll publish the results here.

Running cost rating

Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data

Fuel consumption	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Petrol models	26 mpg	E	21 – 31 mpg	E – E
Plug-in hybrid models	37 mpg	D	– mpg	E – E

CO₂ output	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Petrol models	258 g/km	D	206 – 305 g/km	D – D
Plug-in hybrid models	175 g/km	C	– g/km	A – A

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	50	F	50 – 50	F – F

Service and maintenance	Cost	Score
Year 1	£557	D
Year 2	£1,380	D
Year 3	£2,140	D
Year 4	£2,467	D
Year 5	£3,242	D
Overall	£9,786	D

Unsurprisingly, the Mercedes-AMG SL is an expensive car to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.

The car’s fuel economy is poor, raising daily costs, and its insurance premiums here in the UK are in the highest bracket.