2009 Mercedes-Benz SL Class vs. Its Competition

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May 18, 2008

The 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL spans a vast price range, with the top-of-the-line, very exclusive SL65 AMG almost twice the price of the SL550.

At the bottom, the SL550 competes against the Cadillac XLR, a vehicle that, much like the SL, straddles the line between luxury car and true sportscar.

The XLR, with its Corvette sportscar roots, arguably feels a little more entertaining to drive than the SL550, though the Cadillac has more road and wind noise and isn't nearly as refined overall.

The Jaguar XK Convertible compares in appointments to the SL, but the new XK drives more like a sportscar, with more pep than the numbers might suggest and a light, agile feel on a curvy road that the SL sorely lacks.

Likewise, the top-performance Cadillac XLR-V and Jaguar XKR match up to the SL55 AMG.

The Porsche 911 Cabriolet is also a worthy alternative to the SL-Class, offering responsive handling and track-ready performance, but it has a bumpier ride, and like the Jaguar XK, it has a soft-top arrangement and a noisier cabin.

The Aston Martin V8 Vantage and Audi R8 are two other alternatives to the AMG cars that both have more overt--some would say exotic--styling inside and out, which makes them more attractive than the AMG cars if pure horsepower isn't what drives you.

2009 Mercedes-Benz SL Class Browse Used Listings	2009 Cadillac XLR Browse Used Listings	2008 Audi R8 Browse Used Listings	2008 Jaguar XK Browse Used Listings
Quick Specs
Meta Rating
8.4 The SL’s new look isn’t to everyone’s liking, but in AMG guise, it’s now more punch than paunch—and a worthy stealth Ferrari-chaser.	8.4 The eye-catching 2009 Cadillac XLR starts with the sharp-edged Corvette and makes some compromises for the sake of grand-touring luxury.	8.4 The 2008 Audi R8 looks and sounds like an exotic, but it has the day-to-day livability and comfort of a grand-touring coupe.	9.6 The 2008 Jaguar XK is the brand's best mainstream car ever, with performance equal to its German competitors and looks to beat them all.
MSRP From
$98,500	$86,215	$109,000	$74,835
Gas Mileage
11 MPG City / 21 MPG Hwy	15 MPG City / 24 MPG Hwy	13 MPG City / 20 MPG Hwy	15 MPG City / 25 MPG Hwy
Engine
Gas V8	Gas V8	Gas V8	Gas V8
EPA Class
2 Seater	Two-seater	Compact	Mini-Compact
Style Name
2dr Roadster 5.5L V8	2dr Convertible Platinum	2dr Coupe Man quattro Ltd Avail	2dr Coupe
Drivetrain
Rear Wheel Drive	Rear Wheel Drive	All-Wheel Drive	Rear Wheel Drive
Passenger Capacity
2	2	2	4
Passenger Doors
N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Body Style
2 Door Convertible	2 Door Conv	2 Door Coupe	2-Door Coupe
Transmission
Automatic w/OD	Automatic w/OD	Manual	Automatic w/OD