Note: This review was created when the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class was new.
Auto writers agree the Mercedes Benz SL550 and SL600 hard-top roadsters are all-around great cars. Not only are they sexy and luxurious, they perform remarkably well too. However, many also note the SL is not so much a sports car as it is a car with sporty pretensions. Still, many assert that it's worth every bit of its expensive price tag.
For 2009, Mercedes-Benz refreshed the SL550 and SL600's exterior design to look more aggressive. Combined with its powerful V8 and V12 engines and luxurious interior accommodations, the '09 SL is a real winner. In fact, New Car Test Drive writes: "The Mercedes-Benz SL-Class has matured in every way over its six generations, quicker and faster on the one hand, more beautiful and more luxurious on the other, to the point where it lacks absolutely nothing, from its array of powerful V8 and V12 engines to its powerful stereo to its active suspension system to those all-day bucket seats. It is a marvel of automotive technology, featuring a folding steel convertible top."
And though some test drivers note that it can't match the performance dynamics of sportier competitors like the Porsche 911 Carrera, it does come close. Even so, performance isn't what the SL is all about. Instead, the SL favors comfortable sports cruising and sheer exclusivity over mind-numbing performance.
This review covers the SL550 and SL600. Mercedes-Benz, however, also offers two high-performance trims -- the SL63 AMG and SL65 AMG.
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