Compare the2023 Mercedes AMG SLVS 2023 Lexus LC

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 LC doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The AMG SL’s standard pretensioning seatbelts also sense rear collisions and remove slack from the seatbelts to help protect the occupants from whiplash and other injuries. The LC doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

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 LC 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 LC doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The AMG SL has a standard Surround View Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The LC only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the AMG SL and LC have Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, but the AMG SL has Rear Cross Traffic Brake (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The LC’s Rear Cross-Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the AMG SL and the LC have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available lane departure warning systems.

There are over 57 percent more Mercedes dealers than there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the AMG SL’s warranty.

The AMG SL 55’s standard 4.0 turbo V8 produces 115 more horsepower (469 vs. 354) and 166 lbs.-ft. more torque (516 vs. 350) than the LC 500h’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid. The AMG SL 55’s 4.0 turbo V8 produces 118 lbs.-ft. more torque (516 vs. 398) than the LC 500’s standard 5.0 DOHC V8. The AMG SL 63’s standard 4.0 turbo V8 produces 106 more horsepower (577 vs. 471) and 192 lbs.-ft. more torque (590 vs. 398) than the LC 500’s standard 5.0 DOHC V8.

As tested in Car and Driver the AMG SL 63 is faster than the LC 500 5.0 DOHC V8:

Regardless of its engine, the AMG SL’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. Lexus only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the LC Hybrid, and doesn’t offer a disable button.

The AMG SL offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The LC doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

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 Lexus LC is not available with all wheel drive.

The AMG SL’s optional launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The LC doesn’t offer launch control.

The AMG SL offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The LC doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The AMG SL stops much shorter than the LC:

For better traction, the AMG SL has larger standard tires than the LC (F:265/40R20 & R:295/35R20 vs. F:245/45R20 & R:275/40R20). The AMG SL’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the LC (F:275/35R21 & R:305/30R21 vs. F:245/45R20 & R:275/40R20).

The AMG SL’s standard 265/40R20 front and 295/35R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the LC’s standard 45 series front and 40 series rear tires. The AMG SL’s optional 275/35R21 front and 305/30R21 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the LC’s optional 40 series front and 35 series rear tires.

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

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 LC doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the AMG SL is 1.3 inches wider in the front than the track on the LC.

The AMG SL 63 handles at 1.04 G’s, while the LC 500 Convertible pulls only .92 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

To almost totally eliminate engine vibration in the passenger area, the AMG SL 63 has an electronically controlled liquid-filled front engine mount and conventional liquid-filled engine mounts (standard liquid front mount on other versions of the AMG SL). A computer-controlled electric current in the liquid changes its viscosity, allowing the mount to dampen the engine completely at all RPMs. The LC uses conventional solid rubber engine mounts.

The design of the Mercedes AMG SL amounts to more than styling. The AMG SL has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .31 Cd. That is lower than the LC (.33 to .34) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the AMG SL get better fuel mileage.

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 LC doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The AMG SL has a much larger trunk with its top down than the LC Convertible (7.5 vs. 3.4 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 LC doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening trunk.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the LC, 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.

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 LC 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.

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 LC doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid.

The LC’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The AMG SL’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

When the AMG SL is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The LC’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

The AMG SL has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the car heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the LC.

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 LC.

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 LC 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 LC doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Mercedes SL outsold the Lexus LC by 46% during 2022.