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Walk Around

The Mercedes SL-Class is restyled for 2009, with a more aggressive V-shaped nose, new multi-element bi-xenon headlamps, new fender shapes, new fender gills and hood power domes, and larger side mirrors. The only parts carried over from 2008 are the door skins. The new grille is deeper, wider and taller, with sharper corners than previous grilles, with a big air intake underneath. The front fenders are longer. The new rear end features a diffuser-style rear bumper, new trapezoidal exhaust outlets, and new taillamps.

The platform, or basic structure, stays the same, however. The 2009 SL has the same aerodynamic performance and the same weight distribution front-to-rear as the outgoing car, namely a 0.29 drag coefficient and a 51/49 percent balance.

The restyled hood has a two raised ribs, each about a foot off center. Like the previous model, the hood on the 2009 model has twin air intakes at the back, just in front of each passenger, and these are decorated with three fins apiece. The hood leads into redesigned headlights that take on a cat's eye look and move away from the rounded, dual headlight theme Mercedes has used for years. The available Intelligent Lighting System automatically aims the lights into corners as the driver turns the steering wheel. The center grille opening on the 2009 models is slightly larger than on the 2008 models, with one chrome bar instead of three surrounding a large central Mercedes logo. Fog lights flank the reworked lower fascia, which features a shape that mirrors the grille opening.

Along the sides, the breathing ducts behind the front wheels change from two horizontal to three vertical gills on the 2009 SL550 and SL600, bisected by a chrome horizontal accent piece. The gill design now extends into the front of each door. The line that starts at the bottom of each gill extends into a rising character line that wraps around the car and gives the SL a forward-leaning rake. The SL600 has a V12 logo beneath the gill on each side. At the bottom, the rocker panel design is reworked as well.

The rear design is very similar to that of the previous model. The only notable change is a restyled rear fascia with a ribbed, diffuser-style lower portion.

The SL63 and SL65 come with a unique hood, front fascia with larger cooling intakes, and a black grille. The hood has a noticeable power bulge in the center that replaces the two raised ribs. The bi-xenon headlights have black surrounds and the fog lights have round instead of elliptical shape. On the sides, the AMG models have additional intake ducts just in front of the wheels and the side gills are replaced by E-shaped inserts in matte silver; the SL63 has lettering that says 6.3 AMG, and the SL65 has V12 BITURBO lettering. At the rear, AMG models have a lip spoiler, deeper side sills and a rear fascia that houses a pronounced black rear air diffuser and two pairs of chrome tailpipes.

All SL roadsters have a power retractable hardtop that opens or closes in 16 seconds. Unlike some convertible tops, the SL's does not open or close if the car is in motion, even at low speeds. The available panorama glass top gives an open-air feeling even with the top up. The SL is a beautiful car with the top down and the sleek roof makes it look even better with the top up.

Interior

2009 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

Inside, the SL is a picture of German luxury. Leather upholstery is standard and even the padded dash is covered in hand-stitched leather. The speedometer and tachometer have the appearance of fine watch faces, with black centers and numbers, white rims and red needles. They are shrouded and are always easy to see. The trip computer can be set so temperature, trip odometer, selected gear, and numerous other readouts can appear in those black centers. Water temperature and fuel gauges flank the two main gauges.

The COMAND operating system has a new look for 2009 and additional functions. It comes with a 6.5-inch color screen and an SD card slot, and it incorporates the radio, six-CD changer, and telephone controls. The radio preset buttons are arranged in a phone-like pattern on the right side of the screen. While the COMAND system has a lot of buttons, it is pretty easy to use after some acclimation. Comand now includes a universal media interface in the center console that accepts not only iPod but also USB sticks and most other popular portable music players, and can display the music information on the screen and speedometer face. Optional is COMAND APS, which adds a 40-gigabyte hard drive that holds navigation map information and music files. Mercedes says that only four gigabytes are devoted to music, which is enough for about 1000 songs. COMAND APS also has voice activation and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround. The Harman/Kardon surround-sound system uses 10 speakers and packs 510 watts of sound power. Mercedes trumpets the quality of this sound system. We found it to be good, but we've heard better in cars costing much less; great sound is hard to achieve in small, two-seat sports cars.

The SL has seating for two, but both occupants are sure to be comfortable thanks to 12-way standard adjustments. The view from the driver's seat is unobstructed with the top down and is good even with the top up, unlike with many convertibles. Getting in the SL requires a step down and getting out requires some torso strength to pull yourself up. You won't want to drive your grandmother around in the SL.

Airscarf is an optional neck-level heating system designed to expand the times you can drive with the top down. The system incorporates heating vents into the headrests. We could only feel a little warm air on our necks, and we didn't find Airscarf to be effective enough to allow driving with the top down in, say, 55-degree weather.

Like the last model, the 2009 SL has a pop-up roll bar and a wind blocker behind the seats. The wind blocker works well, redirecting air around the passengers and allowing for a quieter cockpit. The roll bar is covered in leather and the driver can opt to put it up whenever he/she wants.

Cargo room and small items storage is in short supply, though we know that's part of the deal with a sports car. Both the center console and the glove box are small. There are no convenient trays in which to drop a cell phone or the like. There are two cupholders and they are both over-engineered units that pop out beneath the COMAND screen. Unfortunately, the cupholders only accept soda can-sized containers, and when used your beverage blocks the COMAND controls.

The trunk offers 10.2 cubic feet of cargo room with the top up, but that shrinks to 7.2 cubic feet with the top down. That said, there is enough room for two small suitcases even with the top down. So pack light for that weekend in Vegas and you can drop the top for an evening drive through the desert.

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