2017 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class: First Impressions
Few style icons can match the enduring cachet of the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class. It has the company’s top technology and its most powerful engines. It also has a laundry list of famous people who can be counted among its clientele. But until now, it wasn’t necessarily the prettiest ride in the Benz lineup.
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The changes wrought for 2017 swing the needle from “dramatic” to “attractive” for the flagship SL, which were unveiled at the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show. Influence from arguably the best-looking car in the Mercedes-Benz stable, the Mercedes-AMG GT, is noticeable in the lines of the updated SL roadster, especially up front. The new grille and headlights are similar to the GT. This is a good thing; it’s less “angry Kabuki theater” and sleeker, more stylish and just genuinely attractive.
The rear gets less of a dramatic makeover, but the minor changes to the taillight pattern serve to lower its appearance to positive effect.
Inside, things aren’t all that different, but they didn’t need to be. Top-quality wood, leather, metal and plastics are the norm, and the seats remain some of the most comfortable, highly adjustable chairs you can find in an automobile. The power hardtop mechanism now automatically raises and lowers a special cover in the trunk meant to protect any cargo that happens to be in there (and prevents the top from lowering if you’ve stuffed the trunk too full). The hardtop can now be operated at speeds up to about 25 mph.
Some minor changes to the vents inside and an update to the multimedia system round things out, but overall, this isn’t a major redo for the SL. But given that competitor vehicles are hard to match up with the pricey SL, it doesn’t have much in the way of competition vying for the same owners. The 2017 changes should keep owners bringing in leased models perfectly happy to plunk down some cash for a new one.
