2022 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Reviews, Pricing & Specs

The 2022 Mercedes-AMG SL-Class is the pure essence of drop-top luxury motoring. It has been offered in America since the 1950s, dating back to the iconic Gullwing 300 SL.

The 2022 Mercedes-AMG SL-Class is the pure essence of drop-top luxury motoring. It has been offered in America since the 1950s, dating back to the iconic Gullwing 300 SL. With the arrival of the high-performance AMG GT, Mercedes-Benz could focus on a comfortable driving experience with the SL. To wit, this is the first SL to offer seating for four in a 2+2 layout. (In Europe, past generations offered small, optional rear seats.) The new SL also replaces the power-retractable hardtop of the previous car with a classic cloth top. It can be opened in 15 seconds at speeds up to 37 mph.

Buyers can select the Mercedes-AMG SL 55 Roadster or the 63 Roadster. The lavish cabin features a fully digital instrument panel and a large central touchscreen that actively tilts upward for easier use. It features the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. MBUX also features an advanced voice control system that can understand conversational commands like, “make the car warmer.” It is activated simply by saying “Hey Mercedes.”

The four-passenger cabin features multi-contour front seats that are heated and ventilated. They also feature active massaging and the Airscarf neck-warming feature, allowing for top-down driving well into colder months. The SL also comes standard with a heated steering wheel, multi-color ambient cabin lighting, a Burmester premium sound system, and remote keyless entry. Moving up to the SL 63 adds an augmented reality navigation system and a head-up display. The SL 63 can also be selected with carbon fiber exterior details and as an aerodynamics package with added fins and bodywork, as well as active underbody aero elements.

Both versions of the SL come equipped with a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8, routing power through a nine-speed automatic transmission to 4Matic all-wheel drive. In the SL 55, this setup makes 469 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, providing a zero-to-sixty time of 3.8 seconds. If that’s not swift enough for you, the SL 63 puts out 577 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque, yielding a zero-to-sixty time of 3.5 seconds.

Mercedes-Benz offers active ride control (standard on SL 63, optional on SL 55), which allows the driver to select a firmer or softer ride. This setup also features a front-axle lift, which can raise the nose to clear speed bumps or steep garage entrances. You can save locations in the navigation system to have your SL automatically activate this feature. Selecting the SL 63 adds active engine mounts, an electronically controlled limited-slip differential, and a data recorder for track use.

The SL comes standard with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and lane-departure warning. The 2022 Mercedes-AMG SL-Class is backed by a four-year/50,000-mile powertrain warranty.