Mercedes-AMG SL 63 review: classic muscle car appeal punches hard

This red-blooded hot rod harks back to a golden age of motoring, delivering V8-powered thrills for an eye-watering price.

David McCowen

3 min read

August 17, 2023 - 7:57AM

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Powerful V8 engines have never been a budget option.

Folks watching their wallets rarely pay a premium for eight-cylinder engines, knowing they will also have to double down with bigger bills at the petrol station.

They’re certainly not a cheap choice in Mercedes showrooms.

The Mercedes-AMG SL 63 looks elegant, but punches hard.

With the V8-powered C63 and GLC 63 AMG models consigned to history and the E63 on its last legs, bent-eight power is fast becoming a rare – and expensive – option for Benz buyers. Which is a shame, as Mercedes makes a hell of a V8 engine.

The twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 under the luxuriantly long hood of the new Mercedes-AMG SL 63 is a winner, combining a chest-thumping soundtrack with athletic effortlessness.

Capable of sending 430kW and 800Nm to all four tyres, the punchy V8 fires the roadster to 100km/h in 3.6 seconds, and on to a top speed of 315km/h.

The hand-built V8 is a gem of a motor.

Cold statistics don’t tell the full story. Open the sports exhaust and it sounds like a thunderstorm, reverberating your body with a primal rumble amplified by its open-topped body. Turbos add to the theatre, inhaling and exhaling with throttle movement occasionally accompanied by a pyrotechnic display from the quad tailpipes.

A soft-top roof affords cleaner lines on the road.

It’s a shame that the days of sub-$200,000 V8s at Mercedes are over, as this power station will keep you energised on every drive.

There’s no shortage of aural drama from the new Mercedes SL.

And the new model backs it up with dramatically improved looks made possible by a folding fabric roof.

The old car’s folding metal top returned an awkward silhouette and oversized boot.

Like any modern Benz, it’s loaded with tech.

A simple cloth cover for the new car allowed designers more freedom when shaping the bodywork.

It also opened up space to put another pair of seats behind the driver and passenger, giving Mercedes a “two plus two” layout to counter the class-leading Porsche 911.

Australian customers have to find $373,370 plus on-road costs (about $400,000 drive-away) to take the Mercedes home.

The SL 63 represents a $400,000 investment.

While that is a huge chunk of change, it’s about $5000 more than the predecessor cost when it launched in 2016.

And the SL is well-equipped for a prestige car that offers a strong degree of personalisation.

It comes as standard with features that add about $20,000 in options to the cost of a Porsche, including a front axle-lift system, rear-wheel-steering, Matrix LED headlights and a bi-modal sports exhaust.

As with the latest Mercedes products, it has a tablet-style touchscreen mounted low on the centre console, shaping up as an 11.9-inch display with wireless smartphone mirroring and a Burmester surround-sound stereo.

The SL 63 is a little heavy in the bends.

It also has a 12.3-inch digital dashboard, a head-up display and massaging seats that have a built-in fan to keep your neck warm when driving with the top down.

Comfort is key for the SL – you can even adjust the angle of the central touchscreen so that it’s not too much of a reach.

The comfort theme continues on the road, where the big convertible delights in wafting along at a brisk, but not red-hot pace.

Four-seat versatility broadens the car’s appeal.

The two-tonne roadster isn’t a track warrior or scalpel-sharp corner carver. Numb steering undermines its sporting appeal, as do electric rear wheel steering and a hydraulic anti-roll bar system that lack the immediate connection of conventional components.

As with many heavy cars, the SL’s mass feels a step behind the driver’s input. But few drivers would expect a luxury Mercedes to offer the last word in driver involvement. Those who do would be better served waiting for the second-generation Mercedes-AMG GT coupe.

And folks who are happy to drop the top and bask in the glory of one of the world’s great V8s will not feel short-changed, even at this price.