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2009 Mercedes-Benz SL Class Quality Review

July 28, 2008

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 8 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

New refinements mostly push it even further up the desirability index
Motor Trend

The SL63 feels heavy...but in a good way.
Motive

Reviewers were almost unanimous in mentioning the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL’s feeling of solidity and its ability to absorb rough road surfaces without excess body motion. Car and Driver attributed the sophisticated air-spring system for absorbing “impacts that probably would have caused much more of a disturbance to lesser cars and their occupants.” Motive emphasized that the SL's on-the-road confidence and refined ride amount to a “satisfying paradox,” as “broken, choppy pavement — which we would encounter later — barely creeps into the cabin.”

Several critics described the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL’s exhaust note, which has been cranked up a bit. It’s still well suppressed, said Motive, but there’s an underlying “ripping, snarling, feral kind of tone,” and Motor Trend said, “Time and again we run up the revs and lift off the throttle just to revel in the exhaust's deep baritone burble on overrun.”

The sound may be raucous from the rear, but inside the SL promises to be one of the best convertibles for long road trips, as Motor Trend complimented an interior that, “with top down and rear wind deflector raised, stays conversation-quiet at 100 mph.”

Regarding materials used inside and out, there were few complaints or compliments. “One definite don't-like is the shiny plastic cover that reappears for 2009 inside the three-pointed star (at the front grille) if you order the radar-guided Adaptive Cruise Control,” said Motor Trend. “It looks cheap.”

In several experiences with the previous SL, TheCarConnection.com found the top arrangement incredibly tight to make an interior that was quieter and more refined than most coupes. However, interior materials were a little disappointing compared to rivals, as they have been in several other recent M-B models. Reviewers didn’t have much to say about the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL’s interior construction, so we’re assuming no news is good news.

Conclusion

An excellent body structure and standout powertrain refinement assure a high-quality driving experience in the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL.

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 8 out of 10Expert Quotes:New refinements mostly push it even further up the desirability indexMotor TrendThe SL63 feels heavy...but in a good way.Motive Reviewers were almost unanimous in mentioning the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL’s feeling of solidity and its ability to absorb rough road surfaces without excess body motion. Car and Driver attributed the sophisticated air-spring system for absorbing “impacts that probably would have caused much more of a disturbance to lesser cars and their occupants.” Motive emphasized that the SL's on-the-road confidence and refined ride amount to a “satisfying paradox,” as “broken, choppy pavement — which we would encounter later — barely creeps into the cabin.” Several critics described the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL’s exhaust note, which has been cranked up a bit. It’s still well suppressed, said Motive, but there’s an underlying “ripping, snarling, feral kind of tone,” and Motor Trend said, “Time and again we run up the revs and lift off the throttle just to revel in the exhaust's deep baritone burble on overrun.” The sound may be raucous from the rear, but inside the SL promises to be one of the best convertibles for long road trips, as Motor Trend complimented an interior that, “with top down and rear wind deflector raised, stays conversation-quiet at 100 mph.” Regarding materials used inside and out, there were few complaints or compliments. “One definite don't-like is the shiny plastic cover that reappears for 2009 inside the three-pointed star (at the front grille) if you order the radar-guided Adaptive Cruise Control,” said Motor Trend. “It looks cheap.” In several experiences with the previous SL, TheCarConnection.com found the top arrangement incredibly tight to make an interior that was quieter and more refined than most coupes. However, interior materials were a little disappointing compared to rivals, as they have been in several other recent M-B models. Reviewers didn’t have much to say about the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL’s interior construction, so we’re assuming no news is good news. ConclusionAn excellent body structure and standout powertrain refinement assure a high-quality driving experience in the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL.  2009 MERCEDES-BENZ SL STYLING | [7 out of 10] Car and Driver: “The SL’s midcycle enhancement, then, brings with it a few effective styling changes, headlined by a new single-bar grille that evokes most of its SL forebears, flanked by L-shaped headlamps that evoke none of them.“ Car and ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

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.

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See the Mercedes-Benz SL Class in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997

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