For the better part of seven decades, the Mercedes SL-Class has remained a pinnacle grand tourer convertible that blended performance thrills with open-air cruising. The 300 SL “Gullwing” of the early 1950s remains one of the most sought-after collector cars to ever hit the road, and for all its generations since, the SL moniker has represented legitimate performance in a small package that, almost always, offered the option to fold the top away.

After going on a hiatus for two years, the SL-Class marked its return in 2022 and did so with some notable differences. The new SL has dismissed the snub-nose styling of the previous generation for a sleeker, more rounded look, and the models now feature 2+2 seating with the hard top replaced by a fabric roof. The top-tier AMG models are fitted with Mercedes’ 4Matic all-wheel drive and rear-axle steering for the first time, and the SL gets a major update in the tech and power departments.

The ultimate SL-Class, the AMG SL 63 version, packs nearly 600 horsepower from a sonorous V-8, serious handling prowess, and an eye-watering price. But more importantly than any figure, the SL being caught somewhere between a sports car and a grand tourer, is the pure driving pleasure of the SL 63. This is a car in which the spec sheet isn’t nearly as important as the way it makes you feel. And man, it makes you feel good.

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What’s New On The 2023 Mercedes-AMG SL?

With the R232 or seventh-generation SL debuting for the 2022 model year, there are a few notable updates for the 2023 SL 63. Mercedes-AMG has yet to formally announce the changes, but CarandDriver notes the SL 53 and SL 63 will now offer a gray fabric roof option and two-tone (black and white) leather upholstery.

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Serious Grunt And A Sonorous AMG V-8 Soundtrack

Mercedes-AMG is already developing a new hybrid SL dubbed the AMG E Performance that will partially electrify the SL. But until then, the top-tier SL 63 will continue to be powered by a series of small explosions that equal explosive power on the road. The SL 63 delivers 577 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque from a 4.0-liter, bi-turbo V-8, an increase of 108 horsepower over the less potent SL 55 version.

Mercedes may be on the precipice of electrifying its entire lineup, but the bi-turbo V-8 is a hell of a swan song before that transition takes place, even if the SL is far from the only AMG product to be motivated by it. Plant the noisy pedal down hard and the 63 will chirp its tires into fourth gear - maybe even higher, but by the time it reaches fourth, you’ll often find yourself out of the road with its 0-60 mph time of 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 193 mph. Power is readily available across the rev range, and it comes with a predictably smooth and neck-snapping grunt.

Though its speed is certain to make eyes as big as saucer plates, it's the soundtrack where the SL 63 truly shines. Put the adjustable exhaust in its loud mode and the V-8 rumbles, roars, and produces a throaty shout that, at least for male occupants, comes with a risk of a public indecency charge if the top is down.

To put it another way, the 63’s soundtrack is viscerally exciting. It is less prone to popping and crackling during downshifts than some of its competition, but that doesn’t equate to any less of an aural experience. Despite its bi-turbo setup, the V-8 has an unmistakable eight-cylinder roar that enters your ears and heads straight for your spine to deliver a double dose of tingles.

The turbo V-8 is paired with Mercedes-AMG’s practically ubiquitous Speedshift nine-speed automatic, which delivers lightning-fast changes at speed and, other than a few clunky shifts at lower speeds, silky smooth transitions while cruising. Paddle shifters are standard, but left to their own devices, the automatic does a good job of providing the appropriate gear in all driving situations.

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With Excellent Driving Dynamics The SL 63 Is A Supremely Athletic Cruiser

The SL 63 has all the makings of a corner carver with its potent engine, 4Matic all-wheel drive, rear-axle steering, adaptive suspension, Michelin Pilot 4S summer tires, electronically limited slip diff, and retractable rear spoiler. It absolutely thrills as a result. Its prodigious grip, quick and slightly weighty steering, supreme braking performance, and overall agility are notable. While the new SL has drawn some criticism for being somewhere between a sports car and a grand tourer, on public roads, you’ll be hard-pressed to find its performance shortcomings.

This should come as no surprise given the SL 63 rides on the same platform as the hardcore AMG GT, and the SL’s athleticism is made more impressive by the lack of a fixed roof. No matter how hard I tried, I could not induce a scuttle shake. But unlike the AMG GT, which seems gung-ho to keep chiropractors in business with its ridiculously stiff ride, the SL 63 is supple over most paved surfaces.

You won’t mistake the ride quality for that of an S-Class, but its road manners are certainly supple enough to earn it a relatively comfortable grand tourer status. Of course, when the mood strikes, you can also lower its top and let the smells of the world fill your nostrils, the sunshine bakes your face, and the V-8 serenades your ears.

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Cabin Refinement And Features

With its high waistline, passengers sit low in the 63’s cabin, which doesn’t aid outward visibility but does enhance its performance-forward pedigree. Getting in and out of the 63 is not as difficult for the portly as some other soft-top sports cars as the seats are well-bolstered but not overly so. Once inside, the front seats are spacious enough that anyone of average height won’t be cramped.

Complimenting the SL’s updated exterior looks is a wholly modern and upscale one would expect from a top-spec AMG offering, including a bevy of superlative standard creature comforts and driver’s aids that would be cumbersome to list. Essentially, if you want it, from massaging front seats to a Burmester 3D audio system, the SL 63 has it.

One of the most notable features of the new SL is its power-adjustable, 11.9-inch touchscreen. Essentially an iPad mounted to the dash, the screen can be electronically tilted more toward the driver or adjusted to stay mounted just on top of the dash with the push of a button on the small row of haptic controls at the bottom of the display.

This could be viewed as gimmicky, but I found it to be convenient, particularly when the top was down to prevent sunlight washout of the screen. The haptic feedback controls on the steering wheel in lieu of traditional buttons and knobs (aside from the sport settings) can be frustrating to use, especially adjusting radio volume. But it’s more motivation to turn the radio off, use the wheel to put the 63 into Sport+ mode, and thrash some corners.

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Complaints Of The SL 63

With limited space due to the transmission tunnel, the brake pedal is far more to the left than you expect. This isn’t so much a problem on a leisurely cruise, but during spirited drives, where foot movements are far quicker, there’s a bit of a learning curve to assure that your right foot properly moves over enough to properly mash the left pedal. The automatic transmission is also too eager to take over control when it figures you haven’t made a gear change soon enough.

And in a car that nears the $180,000 mark to start, you’d expect the flush door handles to pop out when you approach with the fob in your pocket. However, the SL isn’t always too keen on doing this. Sometimes the door handles would pop out willingly, and on other occasions, they stayed recessed until I broke out the fob and pressed the unlock button. Is this a first-world problem? Absolutely. But when asked to spend $200k on a car, you shouldn’t encounter this inconvenience.

Though the SL 63 may tout its rear seats, they can only accommodate children small enough that they should probably still be in a booster seat, which wouldn’t fit anyway, or perhaps adults who don’t happen to have legs. The AMG’s rear seats are effectively just added storage space that happens to be seat-shaped and, at least in the case of my tester, covered in red leather. That said, they are convenient in that role as I filled the trunk with a somewhat modest grocery haul. But perhaps the biggest complaint is the cost of enjoying the SL 63 for all its prowess (and downsides) it’s the price to play.

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2023 Mercedes-AMG SL 63 Price

For its soul-stirring capabilities, the SL 63 is certainly near the top of the class. But with an as-tested price of over $202,000, you can still put a price on pleasure. Pricing for the 2023 Mercedes SL 63 starts at $178,100 for the Touring trim and $179,900 for Performance versions without destination. My tester, with options like an upgraded Burmester sound system, the AMG Aerodynamics Package, Driver Assistance Package, and Performance Line (which includes a front axle lift system) rang in at over $202,000.

I tested the Jaguar F-Type R last year, and it provided nearly the same level of primal excitement as the SL 63. The pinnacle version of Jaguar’s most potent sports convertible isn’t quite as capable as the AMG in the bends, it’s even less practical, and not nearly as luxurious. However, it starts at a staggering $71,000 less than the SL 63 while still offering 575 horsepower from a thunderous V-8, knuckle-biting good looks, and legitimate athleticism.

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For All Its Flaws The SL63 Is Still Easy To Love

The SL 63 is too expensive. It’s a not completely harmonious blend of GT and sports car. It’s not practical, even for its segment. The SL 63 is far from perfect, but like a good romantic partner, it’s easy to overlook its flaws because, more important than its positives and negatives, is the way it makes you feel. The 63 is an industrial stand mixer, that plants its paddle directly on your soul to stir it with vigor and deliver the kind of automotive contentment all enthusiasts crave. Lower its top (even in January, as I did), plant your right foot deep into its firewall, and let its V-8 rocket you to the horizon with a noise that could reanimate the dead, and you won’t care about what it doesn’t get right.

You’ll just savor the moment. And you’ll smirk appreciatively every time you get a glimpse of its striking reflection in a shop window, and revel in the fact that something so potent could also be so civilized when simply going out for a cruise. It's not perfect, but more critically, the SL 63 is an absolute joy to drive. And I’ll gladly take that over a sports car that delivers big numbers with flawless execution with no joie de vivre any day.