2009 Mercedes-Benz SL

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Exterior - What the Auto Press Says

Mercedes-Benz refreshed the SL for 2009 to make it look less feminine and more aggressive. Overall, critics believe the changes were a success. The '09 SL still features its trademark automatic retractable hard-top.

• "The revisions create a more purposeful look, although some of SL's distinctive style is ditched for a more mainstream design. Still, a great-looking machine that lets the world know you've arrived." -- Arizona Republic
• "There was something about the outgoing Mercedes-Benz SL-Class that was just a little too cute. The peanut headlights and the softly curving tail gave it a feminine quality that its long-living blocky predecessor lacked. Although the design was elegant, it didn't say 'drive me fast.' Some even dubbed the SL a 'trophy wife car' (but not us). When it came time to refresh the SL for 2009, Mercedes set out to make the car more aggressive and striking. Although the result appears a little jarring in pictures, in person, the new face's swept-back headlights and wide-mouth grille successfully convey a more sporting intent. Judging by the impressed looks on the faces of jaded bystanders along the boulevards of West Hollywood, Mercedes should be able to declare its mission accomplished." -- Edmunds
• "The process of sporting up the SL began with a revised exterior that trades the soft lines of the outgoing model for a crisply creased, more masculine presence. The front section is completely new, its pronounced V-shaped nose and larger radiator grille accentuating forward thrust and wide stance, arguably the most dynamic visual elements of a sports car." -- Motor Trend
• "The hood is domed and creased to carry the line from these new shapes. The lower front bumper flares outward and incorporates a larger grille, giving the car a broader, grounded look. Around back, the tailpipes are now trapezoidal, and the bumper has what Mercedes describes as a diffuser look, suggesting that it serves no real aerodynamic purpose." -- Cars.com
• "In all, we'd say the changes are successful in adding presence and a sportier overall look to the car. Whether it's more attractive is up to the beholder, we suppose. All we can say at this point is that, unlike the previous model, it now looks really good in red. More important, from Rodeo Drive to Indian Canyon Boulevard in Palm Springs, everyone seemed to notice that we were driving new Benzes." -- Car and Driver