2023 Mercedes-AMG SL43

Much has changed for the new R232 Mercedes-Benz SL relative to its R231 predecessor. A new 2+2 seating layout is one of those changes, but in the case of the Mercedes-AMG SL 43 you see here, the big talking point has been its use of a 2.0-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine with F1-derived turbocharger technology. It's one of the most extreme examples yet of downsizing at Mercedes, and our first drive of the 375-horsepower SL 43 demonstrated an absence of character that we haven't associated with older SLs, often regarded as the most desirable vehicles in Merc's lineup. That's a problem when you count the Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet as one of your rivals, a car that thrills regardless of how it's configured. But as an advanced, stylish roadster that may never see a race track, the new SL 43 has a lot to offer - and at over $40,000 less than the V8-powered SL 55.

The new Mercedes-AMG SL 43 convertible is a fresh arrival for the 2023 model year. Together with the SL 55 and SL 63 we review separately, this trio of SLs ushers in a new generation of the legendary nameplate. The SL 43 is the only one that has a four-cylinder 2.0-liter engine, but an electric exhaust gas turbocharger and 48-volt electrical system have been implemented to mitigate the lack of engine capacity. The 2+2 interior layout is more practical; it uses the latest MBUX infotainment tech, the wheelbase has been stretched over the outgoing SL, and the torsional rigidity of the body is improved to deliver better driving dynamics.

The price of the 2023 Mercedes-AMG SL 43 is $109,900 in the USA. This is the MSRP, so it excludes the destination charge of $1,150 and any options. It's possible to inflate the price by around $20k with all the options, but we don't think the SL 43 is worth it in that case - we'd rather get a standard SL 55 than a fully loaded SL 43.

We would, however, recommend the $1,950 Driver Assistance Package with its 13 driver aids, including adaptive cruise control.

We found the interior of the 2023 SL 43 to be fantastic, with a sportily low seating position and bright, well-placed digital displays. The quality is sublime, and the variety of leathers and trim inserts is generous, so it can be tailored to many different tastes. Although the tilted center touchscreen works well, the scarcity of physical controls will take some getting used to, especially in a sports car where you want your attention to be on the driving experience, not adjusting the heater. Straight out of the box, the SL 43 comes with features like front seats with heating, ventilation, and massaging. The removable wind deflector and Airscarf neck-level heating system make top-down driving more comfortable. Adding to the pizzazz is a 64-color LED ambient lighting system.

Our six-foot-two tester found the driving position in the new SL 43 excellent, with enough legroom and headroom to get comfortable. The low-set seating position makes you feel more closely connected to the car, while the standard heating and ventilation functions for the first row are greatly appreciated for all-season top-down motoring. Both front seats have power adjustability with a memory system; for the driver, this memory system can also recall your ideal steering column and side mirror positions.

The new 2+2 seating layout makes the latest SL more practical than before, but that's not saying much, as rear interior space is still tight. Even smaller adults will feel cramped in these seats, but they should be okay for smaller children. With the roof up, headroom in the back is also severely limited.

At 7.5 cubic feet, the SL 43 has limited cargo space so will battle with larger items. You can squeeze two or so carry-on suitcases in there, but taller items may need to be placed on one of the back seats. Still, this is a larger trunk than the frunk you get in the rear-engined Porsche 911 Cabriolet, and there is an optional cargo system with a movable load floor and adjustable trunk ceiling that can raise the total capacity to 8.5 cubes. An electronic trunk closer is standard.

Back inside, there is a center lidded armrest that opens to reveal space for your smartphone, wallet, or both. There are two front cupholders that can be covered when not in use, but the glovebox is tiny. Front door pockets can accommodate modestly sized bottles. If you think of the rear seats as extra storage space and not places for people to sit, this is a reasonably practical roadster.

There are a few harder, scratch-prone materials inside the SL 43, such as above the steering column and on the center console if you choose the Black Piano Lacquer. Fortunately, the overwhelming impression is one of quality. The topstitched dashboard, door, and console trim feel soft and luxurious, while the AMG Performance steering wheel has a lovely Nappa leather wrapping. Brushed stainless steel pedals are a sporty touch, and Nappa leather seating upholstery is standard in black. Other no-cost interior colors are Sienna Brown/black, Red Pepper/black, or Sage Grey/black. Style Exclusive Nappa leather with diamond-shaped stitching is a $1,900 option, but you have to add the $1,600 microfiber headliner to get it. This upholstery comes in Tartufo/black, Crystal White/black, or Macchiato Beige/Titanium Grey. Depending on the leather color, the headliner and/or seat belts will be in a matching color.

We mentioned that the Black Piano Lacquer inlays are prone to showing scratches quickly, so we recommend going for the AMG aluminum ($750), dark chrome ($750), or AMG carbon fiber ($2,850) alternatives. The standard steering wheel can be upgraded to a Nappa leather/microfiber wrapping for $500.

It may be the cheapest SL, but this is still a six-figure sports car. As such, it leaves the factory already equipped with a long list of comforts. Both front seats are power-adjustable and include heating, ventilation, massage, and a three-position memory system. The driver's memory system includes the side mirrors and the position of the powered steering column. The SL 43 additionally has dual-zone automatic climate control, a removable wind deflector, a power soft-top roof, a heated steering wheel, an Airscarf neck-level heating system, a 64-color LED ambient lighting system, illuminated door sills, remote start, keyless go, an electronic trunk closer, and a garage door opener.

The latest MBUX infotainment system features dual digital displays - a 12.3-inch one for the instrument cluster and an adjustable 11.9-inch center one that is a touchscreen. Various functions can also be controlled via voice or touch control buttons on the steering wheel, and the car has biometric authentication. Infotainment features comprise wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, MB navigation, wireless phone charging, in-car Wi-Fi, SiriusXM with a six-month Platinum Plan trial subscription, Bluetooth, multiple USB-C charging ports, and HD Radio. The standard 10-speaker Burmester surround sound system can be replaced by the Burmester high-end 3D sound system with 17 speakers, but this will cost $4,500. Other options include augmented video for navigation, a head-up display, the MBUX interior assistant, and the AMG Track Pace which logs and stores performance data.

It's here that the new SL 43 deviates most shockingly from the traditional SL formula. Gone is a large-capacity engine, and in its place is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder mill with an electric exhaust gas turbocharger run by a 48-volt electrical system. The electric motor is placed directly on the turbocharger shaft, directly driving the shaft. This tech comes from the Petronas AMG F1 Team and is claimed to improve responsiveness - but does it?

With 375 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque, the rear-wheel-drive SL 43 has decent outputs. Its nine-speed Speedshift MCT 9G automatic transmission is the only one on offer. The 0-60 mph time of the Mercedes-AMG SL 43 is 4.8 seconds - that's not slow, but neither is it remarkable. Although the car gathers pace at a decent rate, it isn't very exciting working your way up to the 170-mph top speed. The four-pot's soundtrack doesn't thrill, nor does it entice you to chase the upper reaches of the rev band. As for the transmission, it's smooth like most modern automatics, but the lightning-quick and exciting shifts from the dual-clutch 'box in the much cheaper CLA 45 are more in keeping with a performance car.

The fact that the chassis is so good merely exposes the engine as the weak link in the Mercedes-AMG SL 43 package. With a platform that underpins the new AMG GT, the SL is planted and composed through corners, even at high speeds. The steering isn't rippling with feedback, but the weighting is spot-on. Combined with solid brakes, this could've been a fabulous car to drive. As it stands, the SL 43 is merely average because of its underwhelming engine. We found the SL 55 far more enjoyable, the V8 transforming the car's persona. Both are decent daily drivers, though, with the SL 43 sufficiently comfortable in Comfort mode. The new five-link front axle is a first for series production AMG models, and helps to counter the effect of uneven surfaces.

Gas mileage ratings for the RWD Mercedes-AMG SL 43 are 21 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. In this aspect, it easily trumps the SL 55 and SL 63 - the 43 has the same consumption in the city that the SL 63 has on the highway.

With an 18.5-gallon fuel tank capacity, the SL 43 will have a range of around 500 miles on the highway cycle.

No safety review has been conducted for the Mercedes-AMG SL 43 by the NHTSA or IIHS. In light of this being a six-figure sports car, it's possible that it will never undergo a crashworthiness test, but that doesn't mean it's unsafe. Safety standards have evolved to such a degree that the majority of modern cars protect their occupants remarkably well in an accident, and that expectation is especially pertinent for a Mercedes.

The SL 43 ships with standard safety items like 10 airbags, including a head airbag for each seating position, something that's especially rare in a roadster. It also has a surround-view camera system, crosswind assist, blind-spot assist with exit warning, attention assist, front/rear parking sensors with automatic parking assistance, pre-safe and pre-safe sound, adaptive high beams, active LED headlights, tire pressure monitoring, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. Being a convertible, the dual pop-up roll bars are crucial in the event of a rollover.

For $1,950, the Driver Assistance Package contains adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, active lane-keeping assist, active blind-spot assist, and a host of other technologies that make driving safer and less taxing. A head-up display is $1,100.

At this early stage in its life, it's hard to accurately assess the expected reliability of the Mercedes-AMG SL 43. However, the 2023 SL range as a whole was implicated in a recall that affected numerous Mercs. It involved a loss of drive power that could be caused by a fuel pump shutdown. We'll have to see how the rather complex electrified powertrain holds up once the miles increase.

The warranty for the 2023 Mercedes-AMG SL 43 mirrors that of other models from the German automaker, with coverage for four years or 50,000 miles. However, this car does not have complimentary scheduled maintenance.

Most onlookers will agree that the exterior of the Mercedes-AMG SL 43 is a stunning piece of design. It has a much tauter look than the previous model, with sharply angled LED headlights surrounding the new Panamericana grille with its vertical bars. The 19-inch AMG 10-spoke wheels fill the arches nicely, but you can always pay extra for 20-inch wheels in various styles if you want. The curvy rear end has sleek taillight clusters set above a quartet of rounded tailpipes, one of the few signs that this is the base SL; V8 models have square tailpipes. The automatically deployable spoiler has five angle settings to either optimize handling or lower drag.

Being an SL, the power soft-top roof is one of the main talking points. This Z-top roof design saves 46 pounds over the previous model's roof, has three layers to shut out exterior noises, and can be lowered in 15 seconds at speeds of up to 37 mph. We appreciate that Mercedes-AMG has made vivid colors like Sun Yellow and Patagonia Red available, and there are three soft-top shades to choose from: black, red, and grey.

The AMG Night Package darkens various exterior elements, while the Exterior Chrome Package does the opposite, with various bits in polished chrome.

Even approaching the SL 43 as an open-minded enthusiast, one can't help but notice the elephant in the room: that four-cylinder engine. An issue of character rather than performance, the hybridized four-cylinder mill simply doesn't pander to the senses in the way we expect of an SL, let alone any six-figure sports car. It's the weak link in an otherwise fantastic package. From how it handles to its modernized cabin and stunning looks, the rest of the SL 43 is easy to love. Assuming that the SL 43 doesn't push your budget to its limits, we'd recommend spending more on a Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet or Merc's own SL 55 with its throaty V8. If you accept that it's a much older car, we'd even recommend the V8 Lexus LC Convertible. The SL 43 is by no means terrible, but a car of this kind is more about emotion than rationalities, and in that context, it doesn't deliver the goods as well as any of the other cars mentioned here.