If the SL65 is the Michael Jordan of the Mercedes-Benz performance line of SL’s, then the SL63 is the rest of the Chicago Bulls. While not as prolific as its more powerful bigger brother, the SL63 has style, class, luxury and power where it counts.
What's New for 2016
The new SL is getting a bit of a facelift for the new model year. Buyers will notice changes to the exterior of the car, but nothing too groundbreaking. The aesthetic updates this year and last are an attempt to set it apart from not only other models in the SL family, but also its competitors. Otherwise the engine and other features are carryovers from last year.
Choosing Your Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG
The SL63 AMG is one of the top tier offerings in the sixth generation of the SL line. Now, while Mercedes-Benz has always been known for engineering and style, it also delivers heavily on the power front with the SL63.
Along with that power comes a solid aesthetic that echoes luxury and style to all who see it running down the street. Going from a blockier look in the previous year to a stylistically smoother presentation in 2016, the SL63 looks like power.
The SL65 sports a handcrafted 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8 that makes 577 horsepower and a thumping 644 pound-feet of torque. Each AMG engine is crafted by a small team of specially trained builders and stamped with its builder's signature. With 0 to 60 mph acceleration of 4.1 seconds, the SL63 is only fractionally slower than the V12-powered SL65, which takes 3.9 seconds to reach 60 mph. Considering the price difference between the two cars, the slower car (if you can call it that) looks especially appealing.
Power and style aside, SL63 AMG also comes with lots of standard features. Its Eco start/stop system automatically shuts off the engine when the driver is at a stoplight or other idling situation, and restarts when the driver lifts her foot off the brake pedal. This does help with the economy of the vehicle (not bad for a V8 at 16 mpg city and 25 mpg highway) but it is a feature that can be shut off by the driver at any time.
Another solid feature, the AMG Calibrated Active Body Control System (ABC), is perhaps the most advanced suspension on the market. ABC is further developed by AMG for the demands of high-performance driving. A vast network of highly-advance sensors and electronically controlled hydraulics is engineered to allay the effects of roll, pitch, vibration, dive and squat. The technology of the system also helps to negate the effects of crosswinds while driving. A selectable sport mode suppresses body roll in quick handling maneuvers.
With an MSRP of $149,700 the decision to upgrade to the AMG High-Contrast Styling Package along with the driver assistance package will tack on about $10,000 to your purchase. With what both packages offer, we suggest going all in. While it does bump up your price point, it's well worth the investment.