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 Roma 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 Roma doesn’t offer knee airbags.
The AMG SL has standard head airbag curtains for front and rear seats which act as a forgiving barrier between the driver and outboard passenger's upper bodies and the window and pillars. Combined with high-strength steel door beams and lower side airbags this system increases head protection in broadside collisions. The Roma doesn't offer side airbag protection for the head and are only available for the front seats.
The AMG SL has standard Active Brake Assist, which use forward mounted sensors to warn the driver of a possible collision ahead. If the driver doesn’t react and the system determines a collision is imminent, it automatically applies the brakes at full-force in order to reduce the force of the crash or avoid it altogether. The Roma doesn't offer collision warning or crash mitigation brakes.
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 Roma 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 Roma 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 Roma doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.
The AMG SL’s optional lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. The Roma doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.
The AMG SL has a standard Surround View Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Roma only offers front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.
The AMG SL’s blind spot warning system uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. The Roma doesn’t offer a system to reveal objects in the driver’s blind spots.
To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the AMG SL’s standard Rear Cross-Traffic Alert uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side and Rear Cross Traffic Brake automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. The Roma doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.
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 Roma doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.
Both the AMG SL and the Roma have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding and front and rear parking sensors.
The Mercedes AMG SL weighs 844 pounds more than the Ferrari Roma. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.