The 2026 Mercedes-AMG SL Roadster. Photo: Mercedes-Benz USA.

2026 Mercedes-AMG SL: Brooklyn Buyers Guide

A nameplate that predates the interstate it drives on

The SL badge has been attached to Mercedes' open-top flagship since the 1950s, and the current car leans into that weight rather than away from it: a triple-layer power soft top that raises or lowers in about 15 seconds, a genuinely usable 2+2 cabin rather than the strict two-seater older SLs offered, and an 11.9-inch center touchscreen that electrically tilts to fight glare with the top down. What's new for 2026 is mostly refinement, not reinvention — a revised center console, more than 50 special-order MANUFAKTUR paint colors, and two additional Nappa leather choices. The one genuinely new model in the SL family this year, the ultra-limited Mercedes-Maybach SL 680, sits in its own separate category and is not part of this AMG lineup.

The dealership carrying it fits the car's temperament. Mercedes-Benz of Brooklyn sits off Belt Parkway Exit 5 near the Verrazzano Bridge, stocks more than 500 vehicles, and is known locally for carrying the rare end of the Mercedes-AMG catalog rather than just the volume models. A roadster that starts at six figures is exactly the kind of car that inventory strategy is built to land.

Four engines, one obsession

Every SL is built around AMG's "one man, one engine" tradition — a single technician assembles each powerplant start to finish. What differs is how much of it gets sent to the wheels. The SL 43 is the only rear-wheel-drive model in the range and the first four-cylinder SL since the 1960s, using an electric exhaust-gas turbo borrowed from AMG's Formula 1 program. Everything above it, the SL 55, SL 63 and SL 63 S E PERFORMANCE, runs AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive and a handcrafted 4.0-liter biturbo V8, culminating in a plug-in hybrid so quick it needed its own paragraph.

What Brooklyn's Mercedes owners say

The store carries a 4.41-star rating across more than 2,100 Google reviews, and AMG ownership specifically shows up in them. Marc Merola, who drives a GLE 63 AMG, put it plainly: "Kenny Singh, Karen Hubschmitt & MB of BK always care of my GLE 63 AMG & get it right back to me done right the first time!! Best service!!" It's not an SL review, since the model is new enough to this dealership's inventory mix that AMG-specific quotes still lean toward the brand's higher-volume performance SUVs, but it's an honest read on how the same service department treats every AMG that comes through the door — which is the more relevant question for a car this specialized.

Living with an SL in the five boroughs

Two companion guides handle ownership questions that apply across all four models. The SL service and repair guide covers the maintenance rhythm, soft-top care, and what carbon-ceramic brakes mean for upkeep on the 63 S E PERFORMANCE. The pricing and leasing guide walks the money: all four MSRPs, New York City's 8.875% combined sales tax, and why leasing is the default path for a car at this price point.

Frequently asked questions

What's new for the 2026 Mercedes-AMG SL?

It's a refinement year on the current-generation SL, which launched for 2022: a revised center console, an expanded palette of MANUFAKTUR special-order paints, and two new Nappa leather interior choices. All four powertrains — SL 43, SL 55, SL 63 and SL 63 S E PERFORMANCE — carry over unchanged mechanically.

How much does a 2026 SL cost?

MSRPs run from $112,550 for the SL 43 to $207,900 for the SL 63 S E PERFORMANCE, all before the $1,350 destination charge and New York taxes and fees. The pricing guide breaks down every model.

Is the SL a 2-seater?

No — the current-generation SL added a genuinely usable 2+2 layout, a change from the strict two-seat SLs of prior generations. It's still a snug back seat, but it exists.

Which SL is all-wheel drive?

The SL 55, SL 63 and SL 63 S E PERFORMANCE all get AMG Performance 4MATIC+ standard. The SL 43 is rear-wheel drive only.

Is the SL 63 S E PERFORMANCE a plug-in hybrid?

Yes, with a small battery designed for performance rather than long electric-only commuting; see the SL 63 S E PERFORMANCE guide for the range specifics and why Mercedes doesn't publish an official EPA electric-range figure for it yet.

Where can I see the SL lineup in Brooklyn?

At Mercedes-Benz of Brooklyn, 1800 Shore Parkway, off Belt Parkway Exit 5. Sales hours run Monday through Saturday, 9am to 6pm; given the SL's low production volume, calling ahead on a specific configuration is worth the two minutes.

One roadster, four temperaments

The spread here runs from a four-cylinder that still outguns most SLs of the last three decades to an 805-hp plug-in hybrid, and the honest answer to "which one" depends on how much of that ceiling you actually intend to use. Start with the model that matches your instinct, then let a top-down loop past the Verrazzano settle the rest.