High-end, two-door cars are extremely rare on the US auto market, but a few stunning examples remain. The 2024 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class sits near the top of the pile, offering strong performance, attractive styling, and a price tag that reflects its German luxury branding. Interestingly, despite its performance, Mercedes offers the car with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, but it’s focused solely on increasing the speed, only offering eight miles of range per charge.
2024 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Pricing, Specs, and Release Date
- What’s New for the 2024 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
- Design
- Powertrain
- Interior
- Technology
- Safety
- Pricing and Release Date
- Further Research
What’s New for the 2024 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
The 2024 Mercedes SL-Class gained a new powertrain option for 2024 in the range-topping AMG SL 63 S E Performance. It employs a twin-turbocharged V8 engine and an electric motor that give it brutal launch power and staggering acceleration. The car is otherwise unchanged for the 2024 model year.
Design
The Mercedes SL takes the big, sweeping styling from roadsters of the past and combines it with modern lines and technology. The front end features a large grille and sharp LED daytime running lights (DRLs), while the sides have an almost teardrop shape, sweeping up from the front before tapering downward toward the rear.
Powertrain
Mercedes offers four powertrain choices for 2024. The entry-level setup includes a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 375 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque. The AMG SL 55 gets a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 making 469 horsepower and 516 pounds of torque, while the SL 63 sees a power boost to 577 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. The AMG SL 63 S E Performance pairs that V8 with an electric motor and a 6.1-kWh battery to produce a combined 805 horsepower and 1,047 pound-feet of torque. The top AMG model delivers a staggering zero-60-mph time of just 2.8 seconds.
Interior
The SL is advertised as a four-seater, but the back seats are best reserved as a package shelf or small storage space. Nappa leather comes standard, and the front seats are spacious and comfortable. A neck warmer, heated seats, and a heated steering wheel are also standard, making the open-top car much more comfortable to drive in cooler weather.
Technology
Mercedes equips the 2024 SL with an 11.9-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster as standard. Other default tech features include wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charging, SiriusXM radio, HD radio, voice commands, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and more. Mercedes offers gesture controls, a Burmester audio system, and an augmented reality navigation system.
Safety
The new SL hasn’t been crash-tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), which is not unusual for vehicles in its class and price range. The 2024 SL-Class gets a decent number of standard safety features, including blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, driver-attention monitoring, a rearview camera, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, parking sensors, automatic wipers, adaptive headlights, automatic high beams, safe-exit warning, pedestrian detection, and more. Adaptive cruise control, front cross-traffic alerts, and evasive steering assist are available.
Pricing and Release Date
Pricing for the 2024 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class starts at $111,950 for the SL 43 Roadster. The SL 55 starts at $144,650, and the top two SL 63 models have yet to receive an official price tag as of this writing.