2025 Mercedes-AMG SL 55: Three Quick Takes

“Do more with less.”

If you’ve spent any time in the corporate world—and chances are, if you’re curious about a Mercedes-AMG SL 55, you have—you’ve no doubt heard this saying. Seldom from folks who plan on practicing it themselves mind you, but more as a general directive, one to maximize synergies and move the needle. Don’t worry, we can circle back later.

The SL 55 is AMG’s own take on this particular form of corporate speak. Powered by the same twin-turbo V8 as the juggernaut SL 63 but dialed down to something approaching reasonable, the SL 55 promises 90-percent of the experience at 75-percent of the price. I got to spend one picturesque autumn day with Affalterbach’s droptop, and here were the three big takeaways:

This car is fractionally lighter (4,277 pounds against the SL 63’s 4,321) but also down 108 horsepower for a total of 469 hp. Not only that, the 55 makes do with just 516 pound-feet, and while it peaks earlier (2,250 rpm) it also fades earlier (4,500 rpm). Practically slumming it, right?

Unless your passengers break out the stopwatch, they’ll be none the wiser. The SL55 rips, clearing the dash to 62 mph in 3.9 seconds, or just 0.3 shy of its big brother. With standard all-wheel drive there’s no slip, just relentless forward motion, the nine-speed automatic only briefly punctuating the assault on the horizon. The whole time, there’s the same dramatic soundtrack emanating from the four polished exhaust tips, three parts thunder and one part ripping velvet. Advantage? SL 55.

Forget that the SL has (re)gained a second row this generation. It is broadly useless unless you’re intent on having the flashiest ride at the kindergarten drop-off. The important part is that the driver and front passenger are positively pampered. Nappa leather is dang near everywhere, the seats manage the feat of being sink-in comfortable yet plenty supportive, and the roof whirs open and shut in near-silence. Okay, the touchscreen slide controls are still silly, but this is an SL, Merc’s open-air icon: of course some theater needs to be baked in.

The temperatures are dropping by this point, but the SL’s Air Scarf system and a maxed-out air-con system keep me nice and toasty even on the highway. While there’s some buffeting, it’s still a pleasant enough space and the powerful audio system remains clear.

In the typical German way, Mercedes offers SL buyers plenty of options to fine-tune their car to their liking. This means that from inside the cabin, there is nothing that separates the 55 from the 63.

The challenge facing the SL 63 is that it treads awfully close to the GT, and thus walks a thin line between grand tourer and sports car while never feeling entirely comfortable with the latter. The SL 55 dials everything down a notch. The ride is still firm, but with a fraction more compliance. Embrace the softer side and the SL 55 breathes with the road while maintaining good body composure. It’s never going to feel as pin-sharp accurate as a 911, but that’s not the point when you look this good cruising along.

This Canadian-spec tester would ring in at $192,550 CAD including destination, still some $36k CAD shy of the starting point for an SL 63. Options and specs are different for the US, but a broadly equivalent model would be around $166,000; the SL 63 starts at $189,100 in America.

The four-cylinder SL 43 is rightsizing gone too far, trading away one of the droptop’s most emotive aspects. The 55 keeps AMG’s glorious eight-cylinder and the sense of occasion that is an SL trademark. It might have only been a day, but it was enough to convince me: the SL 55 is peak current SL.

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