For decades, the Mercedes-Benz SL Class has been a shining example of personal luxury for the well-to-do with little to carry. This elegant 2+2 sports coupe has the legs to sprint and cargo space to haul a weekend getaway. Since it first debuted at the 1954 New York Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz has continuously tinkered with the car, with the seventh-gen beginning in 2022. One year short of its 70th anniversary, I held the key fob to a factory fresh Alpine Grey Mercedes-AMG SL 43 roadster to experience its posh performance.

The SL’s reputation for top-shelf status goes beyond the automotive community. A Mercedes Benz SL can often be seen in supporting roles for both hero and villain in film and television. Moreover, Mercedes-Benz spawned the SL’s conception to capitalize on its victory-hungry W198 race car and provide a road-legal version for the public – for a price. Early examples of the iconic 300SL “Gullwing” can reach holy grail numbers at auction houses. With seven decades of clout behind it, my expectations were higher than its MSRP.

The SL 43 is the entry level of the lineup with the smaller engine. However, these days, a smaller engine doesn’t mean puny power. The AMG 2.0L four-cylinder engine, handcrafted by Pascal Kurz, delivers a 375 horsepower and 354 pound-feet haymaker when you punch the throttle thanks to a turbocharger with an integrated electric motor to improve responsiveness and acceleration.

It features three drive modes, with Comfort being the default, followed by Sport and Sport +. In addition to a fourth drive mode to customize settings like exhaust, retractable rear spoiler, and traction control. If you opt for the optional AMG Dynamic Plus package, you gain a fifth, self-explanatory drive mode called Race. Each setting is color-coded, and the AMG steering wheels feature dial controls to cycle between the different performance settings as an alternative to using the center console screen.

The interior provides decent wiggle room and looks the part, but the 11.9-inch vertical center screen, while easy to navigate, does not compliment the rest of the SL’s interior cabin. Several people asked if it was an iPad. It may be asking too much considering the tight quarters of the roadster, but a big screen slapped on the dash looks lackluster in a vehicle famed for its elegance in styling. Then there’s the issue of the rear seats and whether they qualify as seats.

When in its default Comfort drive setting, the SL does have a noticeable throttle delay, but once it kicks in, the eruption of thrust is exhilarating.

Rear seats in most two-door sports cars are commonly seen and not used, but they are there and include seat belts, so it’s reasonable to assume that they are designed for humans to sit on. SL takes the cake as the worst I’ve ever experienced. After squeezing behind the front seats, you’re forced into a “V” shaped sitting position. 

Once seated, you notice that your chest is touching your knees, and grease from your forehead is staining the headrest in front as the feeling of cut circulation sets in. After a few miles, sitting in the back of a Mercedes-AMG SL felt like enhanced interrogation. Stick to one passenger with the SL, as the front seats feature standard massaging and heating with the plush support you want in a GT car.

When in its default Comfort drive setting, the SL does have a noticeable throttle delay, but once it kicks in, the eruption of thrust is exhilarating. Driving in the city, you manage the car’s plentiful power like trained soldiers operating a .50 caliber machine gun – short, controlled bursts. Need to merge or overtake someone? Squeeze the throttle and wait for the burst of acceleration, which comes in one lump sum. Once the car roars forward and you ease off the throttle, it returns to being a calm, cool, collected cruiser.

Navigating the SL 43 roadster on a demanding stretch of road full of bends, your confidence builds with each turn. Adrenaline begins to rush through the veils as the RPMs climb in a quest for speed.

But when the road resembles a snake slithering across the floor, switch to Sport or Sport +, and the SL digs deep to channel the spirit of its racing pedigree. In this drive mode setting, you can feel and appreciate AMG engineers effort in fitting an electric motor into a turbocharger. The throttle delay disappears and syncs with your input, as does the steering and braking.

Navigating the SL 43 roadster on a demanding stretch of road full of bends, your confidence builds with each turn. Adrenaline begins to rush through the veils as the RPMs climb in a quest for speed. The four-cylinder engine rumbles like an angry hornet through a megaphone as the nine-speed transmission shifts with surgical precision. In sections where the road straightens out, you can lean heavily on the throttle and propel yourself with a euphoric sense of control. The car performed so well that I made a U at the end of the road and went back for a second serving, followed by a third. 

Fun aside, the SL 43 is also practical. The trunk’s opening looks like a cut-out specifically designed to drop a golf bag into. I don’t play golf, but I discovered the car’s rear cargo space can fit two 50-pound bags of dog food with enough room for a backpack. The back seat can also double as space to throw your travel bag, sports jacket, or other miscellaneous items. Fuel economy is rated at 21 city, 27 highway, averaging 23, of which I achieved 24 mpg overall.The Mercedes-AMG SL 43 roadster met high expectations, being a comfortable cruiser with the power to snap your neck back into the headrest. It radiates luxury and reserves its AMG-derived performance for the right time and place.