Mercedes-Benz AMG SL-Class 2025 Review

In recent years, the luxury sports car market in Malaysia has continued to segment, and consumers' demands for performance and luxury have been steadily increasing. The 2025 Mercedes-Benz AMG SL-Class 63S E Performance, as the flagship model of the brand's plug-in hybrid sports car lineup, has attracted a lot of attention since its official launch on June 5. Combining a 4.0T V8 engine with an electric motor, it achieves an astonishing combined torque of 1420 N·m, with an acceleration from 0-100 km/h in just 2.9 seconds. At the same time, it retains the classic convertible design of the SL series. Is this "performance + luxury" combination really suitable for the local market? This time, through a test drive, we focus on evaluating its dynamic performance, practicality, and suitability for daily driving.

In terms of appearance, the new car continues the aggressive design of the AMG family, with a large vertical grille on the front, complemented by sharp LED daytime running lights on both sides, offering high recognizability. The body features smooth lines, with a waistline running from the hood to the rear, enhancing the muscular look. The 21-inch multi-spoke wheels, paired with 275/35 R21 tires on the front and 305/30 R21 tires on the rear, further emphasize its sporty attributes. The rear adopts smoked LED tail lights with a quad-exhaust setup and diffuser design, highlighting its identity as a performance sports car. Notably, the soft-top convertible structure can be opened or closed within 15 seconds and supports operation at speeds of up to 50 km/h, allowing users to switch to a convertible state while driving conveniently.

Stepping inside, the interior materials are solid, with large areas wrapped in Nappa leather and accented with metal trims, elevating the luxury feel. The 11.9-inch touchscreen on the center console supports adaptive angle adjustment, which allows the tilt to be modified according to sunlight intensity to prevent glare. Its operational logic is consistent with Mercedes-Benz's latest MBUX system, ensuring smooth performance. The 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster provides rich information and supports multiple themes, especially in AMG performance mode, where data such as RPM and torque are prominently displayed. The front seats feature electric adjustment and heating functions, with strong lateral support. They can hold the body firmly during intense driving but still offer comfort during daily use. However, as a 2+2 layout sports car, the rear space is quite cramped, only accommodating children or short-term emergency passengers, making it more suitable for storage. The number of interior storage compartments is limited, but the capacity of the center armrest box and door storage slots are sufficient for placing small daily items. Features like the 360-degree panoramic camera and automatic parking further reduce the difficulty of parking.

In terms of power, the combination of the 4.0T V8 twin-turbo engine and rear-mounted electric motor delivers a combined output of 600 kW and an official 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 2.9 seconds. During actual driving, the instant torque output from the motor at startup provides a noticeable push-back sensation. Even in normal mode, pressing the accelerator deeply allows the strong power reserve to be felt. When switched to Sport+ mode, the transmission shifts faster, the exhaust sound becomes deeper, and the power response becomes more aggressive, almost eliminating the need for pre-judging during overtakes. The 9-speed automatic transmission performs smoothly, with shifts nearly imperceptible during everyday driving, while also executing downshift commands with precision during spirited driving.

The handling and chassis performance are the highlights of this car. The front and rear multi-link independent suspension combined with the adaptive damping system can filter out most of the road bumps in normal mode, maintaining decent comfort. When switched to sport mode, the suspension becomes stiffer, the support is enhanced, and the body rolls very little during cornering. Coupled with the support of the all-wheel drive system, the car remains stable even on slippery roads. The ceramic ventilated brake discs deliver excellent braking performance, providing linear feedback when the brake pedal is pressed, and the braking force is evenly released, giving strong confidence during high-speed braking. However, due to the wider tires, road noise during daily driving is slightly louder than that of regular sedans. But when the convertible top is closed, the interior sound insulation is well-controlled, and the sound quality of the Burmester audio system can offset most of the noise.

As a plug-in hybrid model, it has an electric-only range of only 13km with a battery capacity of 6.1kWh, primarily used for low-speed commuting or driving in congested traffic conditions. In actual tests, the maximum speed in pure electric mode can reach 140km/h, but the range is basically consistent with the official data, making it suitable for short-distance commutes. Regarding overall fuel consumption, we drove 100km in hybrid mode, including both urban traffic and highway sections, and the actual fuel consumption was about 8.2L/100km. This is significantly lower compared to the same class of purely fuel-powered sports cars, achieving a balance between performance and fuel economy. The energy recovery system is adjustable in three levels; at the highest level, the drag feeling when taking the foot off the accelerator is noticeable and can replace part of the braking function. For daily driving, it is recommended to set it to the lowest level to maintain a smoother driving experience.

In summary, the core advantages of the 2025 AMG SL 63S E Performance are clear: exaggerated power output, precise handling, luxurious interior configuration, and unique convertible design. Compared to its class competitor, the Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet, it offers stronger power performance while being approximately 300,000 Malaysian Ringgit cheaper, making it outstanding in terms of cost-performance ratio. However, its rear space is limited, and the electric-only range is short. It is more suitable for individual users who pursue performance and luxury rather than family users.

If you have high performance requirements, enjoy the convertible driving experience, and need a car for daily commuting, this car would be a great choice. It can ignite your passion on the racetrack and provide comfort on city roads, making it a versatile sports car that combines performance and luxury.