2023 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Review

Name: 2023 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
Brand: Mercedes-Benz

Price Range: $75,998 - $128,990

Mercedes-Benz SL-Class AMG SL 43 Convertible Exterior

The latest SL is more enjoyable to drive than ever thanks to quick acceleration and a well-tuned suspension that's neither too firm nor overly soft. The interior is comfortable and well appointed, though we found some of the in-car tech to be cumbersome. Storage is limited too.

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2023 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Review

by the Edmunds Experts

7/25/2023

What's new

AMG SL 43 is the new entry-level trim
Part of the seventh SL generation that debuted for 2022

What is the SL?

Now that Mercedes has discontinued the two-door S-Class and AMG GT, the SL is the most luxurious and expensive convertible in the three-pointed star's arsenal. It was redesigned last year, with both the AMG SL 55 and AMG SL 63 powered by a potent twin-turbocharged V8 in two states of tune — the former offering 469 horsepower and the latter 577 hp.

But what if you care more about a car's design and road presence than what's under the hood? The new 2023 Mercedes-Benz AMG SL 43 answers the call by cutting the cylinder count in half. The switch to rear-wheel drive — compared to the all-wheel-drive layout of the SL 55 and SL 63 — helps lower weight even further. The result is a grand-touring convertible that's less powerful but not significantly slower than its siblings. And with less weight over the front axle, it might even be the driver's choice.

What's under the SL's hood?

Three powertrains are available for the 2023 Mercedes-Benz SL. The new AMG SL 43 is driven by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making a stout 375 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque. Power is routed to the rear wheels through a nine-speed automatic transmission. Moving such a heavy convertible with just a four-cylinder seems like a recipe for lethargic acceleration, but Mercedes says the SL 43 can actually scoot from 0 to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds. Credit partially goes to a small electric motor that spools up the turbocharger quicker than exhaust gas alone. The turbocharger is powered by a 48-volt electrical system; this system also powers the starter-generator unit, allowing the engine to turn off while coasting to a stop. That's right — the SL 43 has the only mild hybrid powertrain in the SL family. Though fuel economy numbers haven't been released yet, we expect it to be much more efficient than the AMG SL 55 and AMG SL 63.

Speaking of these eight-cylinder models, the SL 55 kicks things off with a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 with 469 hp and 516 lb-ft on tap. With a claimed 0-60 mph sprint time of 3.8 seconds, the SL 55 is a full second quicker than the SL 43. But it's also $30,000 pricier. You do get more features with the SL 55, of course — its standard air suspension is an optional extra for the SL 43, as are the SL 55's larger wheels — but the uptick is hard to swallow if you don't have a need for speed.

On the other hand, you could also go full-bore, money-is-no-object with the SL 63. Its starting price of around $180,000 is quite a bit higher than the SL 43's $111,050 MSRP, but one tap of the accelerator will silence most arguments. In this application, the V8 is tuned to provide 577 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. Mercedes says this decreases the 0-60 mph time to just 3.5 seconds, but we've clocked 3.4 seconds in Edmunds' testing.

How's the SL's interior?

The SL's cabin design is faultless, combining the high-tech feel of Mercedes' most recent products with peerless build quality and materials. Check out last year's SL review, where we break down the interior in detail and compare it against rivals like the Porsche 911.

Edmunds says

A new four-cylinder model opens the Mercedes SL lineup to more buyers. Don't feel like you aren't getting the full experience for this lower-priced model; it offers plenty of power and the same ultra-luxe interior as its siblings.

Cost to Drive

Monthly estimates based on costs in Florida

$198/mo

$156/mo

Avg. Midsize Car

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Reliability

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class has a 4 years / 50,000 miles basic warranty and 5 recalls. RepairPal gives it a reliability rating of 3 out of 5, ranks it #20 out of 48 among Luxury Fullsize Cars. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.

Reliability Rating by RepairPal

3 out of 5 stars3/5Above Average

#20 out of 48 among Luxury Fullsize Cars

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

$703/yr

vs. $729/yr
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car

Frequency

1.42x/yr

vs. 1.74x/yr
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car

Severity

17.8%

vs. 14.7%
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car

Recalls

5 recalls found

Checking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.

If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).

Recall Number:: 25V255000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: 2025050003
Manufactured from:: 2023-02-14 to 2023-10-03
Number of vehicles affected:: 443
Defect Description:: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2023-2024 C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, SL, GLC, EQE SUV, EQE, EQS SUV, and EQS vehicles that were incorrectly repaired under recall 24V-115. An incorrect fuse box that was not designed for the vehicle may have been installed.
Defect Consequence:: An incorrect fuse box can result in a sudden loss of drive power or a loss of critical safety functions such as the restraint systems or instrument cluster, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. Additionally, there could be an increased risk of a fire.
Corrective Action:: Dealers will inspect and replace the main fuse boxes, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 6, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2025050003/4.

Recall Number:: 24V115000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: 2024030008
Number of vehicles affected:: 31848
Defect Description:: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2023-2024 C300, AMG C43, S580e, S580, Maybach S580, Maybach S680, AMG SL43, AMGSL63, GLC300, EQE350, EQE500, EQS450, EQS580, AMG EQS, 2023 S500, AMG SL55, AMG EQE, 2024 E350, E450, AMG C63e S, CLE300 Coupe, CLE450 Coupe, and GLC300 Coupe vehicles. The 80-Amp fuses may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause the fuses to fail.
Defect Consequence:: An 80-Amp fuse that fails can result in a sudden loss of drive power or a loss of critical safety functions such as the restraint systems or instrument cluster, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. Additionally, there could be an increased risk of a fire.
Corrective Action:: Dealers will replace the main fuse boxes, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 5, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024030008.

Recall Number:: 23V880000
Number of vehicles affected:: 79676
Defect Description:: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021-2024 GLE, GLS, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, SL, GLC, CLS, AMG GT, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle details. The fuel pump may shutdown, causing a loss of drive power.
Defect Consequence:: A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
Corrective Action:: Dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 28, 2024. Owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, on February 23, 2024, April 19, 2024, June 28, 2024, August 9, 2024, October 1, 2024, and December 2, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 23V-445.

Recall Number:: 23V676000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: 2023100014
Number of vehicles affected:: 5326
Defect Description:: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2022-2023 AMG SL55 and AMG SL63 vehicles. The electrical wiring harness for the starter and alternator may not be secured properly, which can result in a short circuit and a loss of drive power or cause the harness to overheat.
Defect Consequence:: A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash, and an overheated electrical wiring harness can increase the risk of a fire.
Corrective Action:: Dealers will secure the electrical wiring harness for the starter and alternator, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 5, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2023100014.

Recall Number:: 23V445000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: 2023070012
Number of vehicles affected:: 143551
Defect Description:: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021-2023 C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, CLS, SL, GT, GLC, GLE, GLS, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle details. The fuel pump may shutdown, which can result in a loss of drive power.
Defect Consequence:: A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
Corrective Action:: Dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed August 18, 2023. Owner notification letters with a remedy were mailed September 29, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2023070012.

Warranty

4 years / 50,000 miles Basic Warranty

Basic Warranty: 4 years / 50,000 miles
Drivetrain Warranty: 4 years / 50,000 miles
Hybrid component Warranty: 6 years / 62,000 miles
Rust Warranty: 4 years / 50,000 miles
Roadside assistance Warranty: 4 years / 50,000 miles

Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Owner Reviews

4.3

10 reviews

5(70%)

4(10%)

3(10%)

2(0%)

1(10%)

See all 10 reviews Write a vehicle review

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

My 2022 SL55 from hell.

Don Rodosta , 04/16/2023

2022 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class AMG SL 55 2dr Convertible AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 9A)

Things I didn't like about my SL55. Dashboard creeks and rattles. Brake pads squeezed. Transmission upshifted to 5th gear too quickly at low speed. Two months waiting for an appointment at Mercedes dealership. Traded it in on a EQE AMG after three months of ownership and took a big loss. Thanks Mercedes!

2022 SL55 AMG Not Safe To Drive

Bob, 12/31/2023

2022 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class AMG SL 55 2dr Convertible AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 9A)

Traded in a C7 Z06 for a new 2022 SL55 AMG. The issues with the car started within 1000 miles. First the top would stop half way. Next the trunk would open by itself at highway speed. The dash rattles. The monitor then went to just a fuzzy screen so none of the multitude of systems control within the multimedia system were able to be controlled. Next the 4 wheel steering faulted at …

Had Flaws - But a recall fixed my major issue

Mike, 10/01/2023

2022 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class AMG SL 55 2dr Convertible AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 9A)

Edit: the below still stands for my initial purchase, however, i bought the vehicle while there was a recall on my battery charging port (or something similarly worded). the dealership i bought it from must not have felt like fixing my issue and sold it to me knowing there was a problem with it and did not disclose this. Now, after getting the vehicle back from my local dealership (not … who i purchased it from), it has become an amazingly fun car to drive, with 100% battery reliability. gone 2+ weeks with no start, and the battery has not died. Just make sure when you go to purchase your vehicle it is up to date on at least this one recall issue with the battery. It is now a 5 star car, like my ending paragraph said it would be if the battery wasn't an issue. Please look up the problems on mbworld forums. if you google mbworld battery issues on amg sl 55 you will find many others experiece the same problems as me below for the 2022-2023 model year. Pro's Extremely fun to drive. Performance and comfort are perfect for me. At 31 and it being my first luxury sports car purchase, it is exactly what i expected. Amazing acceleration. The tech inside is insane. Way more functions than necessary but justifies the price tag and makes the car a lot of fun. Ride may be rough for some, but for me, it is still a great ride. BIG CON Battery drains exceptionally fast. Drove it off the lot on a tuesday. parked it in my garage. by thursday my mercedes app is telling me the battery is low. took my car to get ppf wrapped for paint protection the following week. dropped it off on a monday. they called me on wednesday and said the car died. googled this problem and turns out, this is a COMMON issue and many people are not finding solutions. In order to get my car to last 5 days without being driven, i need to turn off wifi, blue tooth, and all interior lights of the vehicle after parking it in the garage. i have to lock the vehicle at all times. i also need to store the key fob over 15 feet away (the fob and car search for eachother and if they are within a certain distance, the battery will drain). this helps a little. but today i just cleaned my car after driving it for 3 days in a row, and because i had the doors open for 30 minutes to clean the interior, guess what my mercedes app poped up with. battery in critically low condition. another minor issue that i can live with (but shouldnt have to) is the breaks squeal about 70% of the time you stop. unless you push the break hard, expect some noise. If the battery wasn't an issue, this car would easily be a 5 star car for me. i can deal with all the small annoyances because its performance and aesthetics are amazing. sound system is amazing as well. but for the cost of the vehicle, i expected better. i plan to set an appointment at a dealership to see if it can be resolved, but as mentioned, there are many people experiencing this problem and very very few have had success in resolving it. wish i would have gone with the BMW M8 or the Lexus LC500. Comparable in performance, are less expensive, and from what i can tell on forums, do not seem to have any battery issues.

Great car in every way

Captain Mike, 09/14/2024

2023 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class AMG SL 63 2dr Convertible AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 9A)

Looks gorgeous rides sublime. Advanced technology requires a little bit of getting used to but once mastered adds to the vehicle’s responsiveness and ride capabilities. Much more unique than a Porsche 911 and prettier too. Receives numerous thumbs up and favorable comments from other drivers on the road and from pedestrians on the street. Couldn’t be happier. UPDATE: Absolutely stunning …

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2023 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, so we've included reviews for other years of the SL-Class since its last redesign.

See all 10 reviews of the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

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2023 SL-Class Highlights

Trim:

AMG SL 43

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$109,900
Engine Type	Mild hybrid
Combined MPG	23 MPG
Cost to Drive	$198/month
Seating	4 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	7.5 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the SL-Class models:

Active Brake Assist: Warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios.
Evasive Steering Assist: Warns if an obstacle is in the path of the vehicle and automatically steers around it if there's adequate space.
Active Blind Spot Assist: Warns if a vehicle is in your blind spot and will attempt to prevent you from steering into that lane.

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2023 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Review

Selling or Trading-In?

Price & Payment

2023 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Review

What's new

What is the SL?

What's under the SL's hood?

How's the SL's interior?

Edmunds says

Cost to Drive

Reliability

Reliability Rating by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Recalls

Warranty

Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Owner Reviews

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Trending topics

My 2022 SL55 from hell.

2022 SL55 AMG Not Safe To Drive

Had Flaws - But a recall fixed my major issue

Great car in every way

2023 SL-Class Highlights

Safety

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