Mercedes-AMG SL 63 2023 Review

The first new Mercedes-Benz SL in a decade lands in Australia in one flagship configuration: the 2023 Mercedes-AMG SL 63 4MATIC+ priced at $373,370 plus on-road costs.

That aligns the all-new luxury/performance roadster closely with other similarly-minded drop-tops like the Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet ($357,100 plus ORCs), Bentley Continental GT V8 Convertible ($473,400 plus ORCs) and Ferrari Portofino ($403,888 plus ORCs).

Mercedes-Benz Australia says it has configured a high level of equipment as standard on the new SL – see below.

Lots of equipment, actually.

That lofty purchase price gets buyers of the new 2023 Mercedes-AMG SL 63 a set of 21-inch AMG forged wheels, Nappa leather upholstery, eight-way power-adjustable front seats with integrated neck warmer (read: Airscarf), three-position memory function, seat heating, ventilation and massaging, heated steering wheel and 64-colour ambient interior lighting.

There’s also AMG puddle lights, metallic paint, keyless go access with seamless door-handles and digital headlight display as standard.

For its seventh generation, the SL 63 reverts back to a fabric folding roof mechanism that takes just 15 seconds to put up or down, at speeds of up to 50km/h. It can be had in black or red, depending on buyer preference.

Naturally, the options list is still quite stacked – even at this money. Buyers can add a host of black trim elements with the AMG Night Package ($6990), or opt for a sportier ambience with AMG Performance seats ($2490), among other add-ons.

The SL 63 is backed by a five-year/unlimited kilometre factory warranty in Australia, while servicing intervals are 12 months or 20,000km – whichever comes first.

Mercedes-Benz says the first five years or 100,000km worth of scheduled servicing will set owners back $7925, which we reckon is quite expensive even at this end of the market.

The 2023 Mercedes-AMG SL 63 is yet to be crash-tested by ANCAP or Euro NCAP (and is built in such small numbers, it probably never will be).

But the laundry list of standard safety items includes eight airbags, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, traffic sign assist, active traffic-assist, active steering assist and active lane change assist, along with a 360-degree camera, active park assist and pedestrian protection.

The new rear seat space offers a deployable roll bar that pops up automatically in the event of an accident, complemented by a steel windscreen frame up front.

The headline feature in the 2023 Mercedes-AMG SL 63 is a new 11.9-inch tablet-style infotainment interface with sat-nav, smartphone mirroring and wireless phone charging.

Cleverly, the screen can be electronically tilted to eliminate glare when the roof is down.

Elsewhere, there’s a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, head-up display and 11-speaker Burmester surround sound system.

We’re glad you asked. Under the bonnet of the 2023 Mercedes-AMG SL 63 is something quite special and increasingly scarce: AMG’s venerable M177 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, producing 430kW and 800Nm in this application.

Tightening emissions standards mean the axe has already fallen on this engine in vehicles including the latest Mercedes-AMG C 63 and GLC 63 (and contrary to reports, it’s understood there is no hope for an 11th hour revival in these models).

In an era of increasing electrification and engine downsizing, you can expect this SL 63 will likely be remembered as the last big-bore roadster from Mercedes-AMG.

In a first for the SL, the engine now sends drive to all four wheels, via a nine-speed automatic transmission. There are also active engine mounts, which are said to offer greater high-speed performance and rigidity without detracting from low-speed refinement.

The 4MATIC+ AWD system can apportion all grunt to the rear wheels and other big talking points with the seventh-generation SL is the adoption of five-link suspension for the front axle, rear axle steering offering up to 2.5 degrees of input, plus a trick new front-axle lift system that can work with the vehicle’s sat-nav to automatically raise the vehicle’s front-end for troublesome driveway entrances or other obstacles.

Mechanically, the SL 63 also comes standard with AMG Active Ride Control suspension including hydraulic anti-roll bars, as well as AMG composite brakes with 390mm rotors up front and 360mm units at the rear.

Built at Mercedes’ Sindelfingen plant, with V8 assembly at AMG’s Affalterbach HQ (also in Germany), the new SL 63 features wider front and rear tracks and a longer wheelbase than before.

In a win for internal combustion, we actually managed to finish our launch drive of the 2023 Mercedes-AMG SL 63 with a fuel consumption average much lower than the official claim of 13.9L/100km combined.

In a mix of highway, country, urban and headier driving over 300km, the big SL consumed 12.6L/100km, which isn’t great but relatively good given the performance on offer here.

The 2023 Mercedes-AMG SL 63 is the consummate touring machine.

That is to say it provides wind-in-your-hair, open-top thrills without any of the wincing and grimacing that usually comes with driving a $400,000 convertible supercar.

The controls are considered in their weighting, the cabin oozes luxury and refinement, and the driveline is tractable and smooth from the get-go – a small exception being the all-wheel drive system’s tendency to occasionally bind at low speed, a long-known AMG idiosyncrasy.

For all of Mercedes’ rhetoric around standard equipment, the SL genuinely has an answer to every first-world issue, be it glare from the moveable centre touch-screen or tricky driveway entrances courtesy of the front-lift system.

Equally, the SL 63 enamours its driver with newfound rigidity, too; this isn’t a wobbly drop-top afflicted by body flex over bumps and through corners (although we expect the fixed-roof version, the new AMG GT coupe, to be even stiffer).

Instead, it feels tied down to the road and measured in its movements through corners – especially when lined up against its direct 5.5-litre SL 63 predecessor.

The wider and longer footprint gets credit where it’s due here. So too the new five-link front suspension layout, which endows the 4.7-metre roadster with excellent body control, communicates bumps with aplomb and helps with overall vehicle composure despite a hefty 2.0-tonne kerb weight.

Our three-hour stint behind the wheel of the SL 63 was one of the most enjoyable drives in recent memory: no wind turbulence to speak of in the cabin with the roof down, a firm but graceful ride over mixed road surfaces and excellent acoustics with the roof either up and down.

The secret sauce? Not surprisingly, AMG’s venerable M177 4.0-litre biturbo engine. The lusty V8 offers the type of theatre and soundtrack that convertibles of the future will likely wish to emulate.

The bent-eight pops, crackles, belches and gargles in a kaleidoscope of different sounds that are best heard on mountain ascents. It also features the unmistakable bass note that a V8 ought to, which can be happily augmented or subdued by your selection of driving mode.

Aforementioned fuel economy was a surprising strength on test, as was the V8’s ability to offer instant acceleration without even an instant of hesitation. It is everything you could hope for.

Another highlight is the all-wheel drive system, which offers assuring levels of grip and works with the rear-wheel steering system to offer excellent power-down out of both flat, tight turns and tighter, greasier corners alike.

Ultimately, the SL 63 isn’t the delicately balanced sports car willing you on with the intimacy of its controls.

But it is comfortable, full of character and enjoyable to steer, so either way you’ll be happy to see squiggly arrow signs and many kilometres of ribboning roads ahead.

The 2023 Mercedes-AMG SL 63 marks a huge elevation in interior presentation and technology for its seventh generation.

Nappa leather furnishings, bristling high-quality highlights and clever, thoughtful tech conspire to deliver a true luxury experience. It is also decidedly comfortable, with ample adjustment for the seats, steering wheel and key controls (and that’s before you begin fiddling with massaging function, heated surfaces or the much-vaunted Airscarf neck-warmer).

We had little trouble navigating its infotainment and digital instrument cluster menus, and despite minimal hardwired switchgear (a long-held gripe for your correspondent), the configuration of the main touch-screen made navigation still quite easy.

To be truthful, the new rear-seat area presents a lot like other four-seat convertibles: it’s more a place to stow soft bags than actual passengers.

Mercedes’ 1.5-metre height guideline reflects this, though the installation of ISOFIX child-seat attachment points is appreciated and there is usable space there if you need to get your mates home safely from a long lunch.

The 240-litre boot is something of an extension of the second row, being much smaller in size than before on account of the four-seat layout.

Mercedes-Benz claims you’ll fit a set of golf clubs in the back, but we found that to be a small extension of the truth, given it wouldn’t easily swallow our generic bag and clubs, which were conveniently on-hand during the test.

That said, there is ample space for smaller bags and suitcases in the SL’s boot, which is probably more the intended brief.

The 2023 Mercedes-AMG SL 63 indeed charts new territory for the storied SL badge.

It’s not a dedicated, track-ready sports car – and nor is it intended to be – but the ample performance, theatre and character is commensurate with its lofty price tag.

Equally, the more practical interior is a welcome addition and helps underline what has to be one of the easiest AMGs to simply dotter about in and enjoy.

And that is indeed the operative word here: enjoyment. As you’d expect for over $400,000 in the traffic, the new SL 63 enamours you in a way that few other vehicles do.

2023 Mercedes-AMG SL 63 4MATIC+ at a glance:
Price: $373,370 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol
Output: 430kW/800Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel: 13.9L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 319g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Not tested