Compare the2023 Mercedes AMG SLVS 2023 Ferrari Portofino

Safety
Warranty
Engine
Transmission and Drivetrain
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics

Safety

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The AMG SL’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Portofino doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The Mercedes AMG SL has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Portofino doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The AMG SL offers an optional Post Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Portofino doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The AMG SL has a standard Maneuvering Brake that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Portofino doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The AMG SL has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Portofino doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The AMG SL has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Portofino’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the AMG SL has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Brake automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Ferrari charges extra for rear cross-path warning on the Portofino and the Portofino’s rear cross-path warning does not include automatic braking.

The AMG SL’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Portofino doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the AMG SL and the Portofino have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, front and rear parking sensors and available lane departure warning systems.

The Mercedes AMG SL weighs 636 pounds more than the Ferrari Portofino. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Warranty

The AMG SL comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Portofino’s 3-year basic warranty expires 1 year sooner.

The AMG SL’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Portofino’s (5 vs. 3 years).

There are over 8 times as many Mercedes dealers as there are Ferrari dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the AMG SL’s warranty.

Engine

The AMG SL 63’s standard 4.0 turbo V8 produces 29 lbs.-ft. more torque (590 vs. 561) than the Portofino’s 3.9 turbo V8.

Transmission and Drivetrain

A nine-speed automatic (SMG) is standard on the Mercedes AMG SL, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Portofino.

All wheel drive, available in the AMG SL, provides the best traction for acceleration in wet, dry, and icy conditions. In corners, all wheel drive allows both outside wheels to provide power, balancing the car. This allows for better handling. The Ferrari Portofino is not available with all wheel drive.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the AMG SL CCB’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Portofino:

	AMG SL CCB	Portofino
Front Rotors	15.8 inches	15.4 inches

In an emergency stopping situation, many drivers don’t press the brakes with enough force to stop the vehicle in the shortest distance. The AMG SL has standard Brake Assist to detect emergency braking situations (by how hard and how quickly the brake pedal is pressed) and then automatically apply maximum braking immediately in order to help prevent a collision. The Portofino doesn’t offer a brake assist feature.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the AMG SL has larger standard tires than the Portofino (F:265/40R20 & R:295/35R20 vs. F:245/35R20 & R:285/35R20). The AMG SL’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Portofino (F:275/35R21 & R:305/30R21 vs. F:245/35R20 & R:285/35R20).

The AMG SL’s optional 305/30R21 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Portofino’s 35 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the AMG SL offers optional 21-inch wheels. The Portofino’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

Suspension and Handling

The AMG SL offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Ferrari doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Portofino.

The AMG SL’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Portofino doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the AMG SL’s wheelbase is 1.2 inches longer than on the Portofino (106.3 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the AMG SL is 1.2 inches wider in the front than the track on the Portofino.

Chassis

The front grille of the AMG SL uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Portofino doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Cargo Capacity

The AMG SL has a much larger trunk with its top down than the Portofino with its top down (7.5 vs. 5 cubic feet).

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the AMG SL’s power trunk can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Portofino doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening trunk.

Ergonomics

The AMG SL has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Portofino doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the Portofino, the AMG SL has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The AMG SL offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Portofino doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The AMG SL’s standard power window controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The Portofino’s available power window controls are spread out on the center console where they can’t be seen without the driver completely removing his eyes from the road.

If the windows are left open on the AMG SL the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Portofino can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

In case of a sudden change of weather, the AMG SL has a standard remote convertible top that can be raised from a distance to protect the interior of the vehicle from damage. On a hot day the AMG SL has a standard remote opening feature, to lower the top from outside. The Portofino doesn’t offer a remote top, so the driver will have to run to the car, get in, turn the ignition on and raise the top to prevent the interior from being damaged.

Keyless-Go standard on the AMG SL allows you to unlock the driver’s door, trunk and start the engine all without removing a key from pocket or purse. This eliminates searching for keys before loading groceries, getting in the vehicle in bad weather or making a hurried start to your trip. The Ferrari Portofino’s Keyless Entry and Ignition doesn’t unlock the trunk.

Heated windshield washer fluid is standard on the AMG SL to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The Portofino doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid.

On extremely cold winter days, the AMG SL’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The Portofino doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The AMG SL has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Portofino.

The AMG SL’s standard steering wheel mounted cruise control on/off switch is conveniently located with the rest of the cruise controls. The Portofino’s standard cruise control must be turned on with a hard to find switch on the dashboard.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mercedes AMG SL has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) for the front seat. The Portofino doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The AMG SL’s Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Portofino doesn’t offer an automated parking system.