MotorMouths

Fast, elegant, swimming in technical comforts and refinements, the SL is a world-class piece of machinery. It would be nice if the outside reflected the soulful beauties inside.

A sports car it most certainly is not, but if you need to cover huge amounts of ground quickly, comfortably, safely, and in grand style, the SL remains a remarkably comfortable and capable, if not rewarding, grand tourer in a class of one.

So even if you find the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL550 odd to look at, dull to drive hard and aggressively expensive, remember that it moves through long road trips with fantastic aplomb while keeping passengers in uncompromised comfort.

The 2012 SL Class is still every bit as lovely and talented as when it made its debut almost a decade ago. Yes, the SL has a timeless design that will likely ensure it turns heads even well into the next model’s run.

The 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL550 is quick — as is its signature retractable hardtop — yet it shines as a luxurious touring roadster. But it isn’t cheap, and the lack of basic standard features certainly annoys.

Constantly improving, the sporty Mercedes-Benz SL hardtop convertible offers the best of all worlds and feels at home anywhere from the office to the racetrack to the country club and back, sometimes all in the same day.

The 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class is more powerful and efficient, and the lighter weight makes it sportier. The SL550 isn’t a full-on sports car, though. It’s a more relaxed grand tourer that offers very capable handling, but is also tame in traffic.

For decades, each new Mercedes SL was a milestone. They were benchmarks, cars other luxury roadsters would target but fail to equal. The 2013 SL doesn’t reach those heights, but it’s a step in the right direction.

It’s hard to find fault with a solidly built, comprehensively equipped luxury convertible such as the SL. With plenty of space inside, the car provides a welcome sense of privilege along with a palpable impression of mechanical sophistication.

In the sports car world, the SL has always been a bit of an anomaly. You own an SL to project a sense of well-being and being well off. But as a true-blue sports car, it falls short. Don’t expect a supreme road carver — it would ruffle your coiffed hair.

The SL550 is a brilliant automobile. It costs a pretty penny, but cars like the SL550 Roadster are all about a feeling, not a value, and this Roadster feels like it’s worth it.

Extravagant in performance, appointments and price, the 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class is a worthy icon, even if it’s aging and about to be redesigned.