Compare the2023 Mercedes AMG SLVS 2022 Ford Shelby GT500

Safety
Warranty
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission and Drivetrain
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes AMG SL have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Ford Shelby GT500 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

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 Shelby GT500 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 Shelby GT500 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

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 Shelby GT500 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 Shelby GT500 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 Shelby GT500 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 Shelby GT500 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 Shelby GT500 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 Shelby GT500 only offers a rear monitor.

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. Ford charges extra for rear cross-path warning on the Shelby GT500.

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 Shelby GT500 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the AMG SL and the Shelby GT500 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights and rearview cameras.

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 Shelby GT500’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Engine

As tested in Car and Driver the AMG SL 63 is faster than the Ford Shelby GT500:

	AMG SL	Shelby GT500
Zero to 60 MPH	3 sec	3.6 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	3.9 sec	4.1 sec
Quarter Mile	11.2 sec	11.4 sec
Top Speed	196 MPH	180 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the AMG SL gets better mileage than the Shelby GT500:

			MPG
AMG SL
	AWD	63 4.0 turbo V8	14 city/22 hwy
		55 4.0 turbo V8	13 city/21 hwy
Shelby GT500
	RWD	5.2 supercharged V8	12 city/18 hwy

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the AMG SL’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Shelby GT500 doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The AMG SL has 2.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Shelby GT500 (18.5 vs. 16 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mercedes AMG SL higher (5 out of 10) than the Ford Shelby GT500 (3). This means the AMG SL produces up to 16.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Shelby GT500 every 15,000 miles.

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 a seven-speed automatic is available for the Shelby GT500.

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 Ford Shelby GT500 is not available with all wheel drive.

Brakes and Stopping

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 Shelby GT500 doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

Tires and Wheels

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the AMG SL offers optional 21-inch wheels. The Shelby GT500’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. Ford doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Shelby GT500.

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 Shelby GT500 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the AMG SL is 1.8 inches wider in the front than the average track on the Shelby GT500.

For better maneuverability, the AMG SL’s turning circle is 3.1 feet tighter than the Shelby GT500’s (40.7 feet vs. 43.8 feet). The AMG SL’s turning circle is 3.4 feet tighter than the Shelby GT500 Track Package’s (40.7 feet vs. 44.1 feet).

Chassis

The AMG SL is 4.3 inches shorter than the Shelby GT500, making the AMG SL easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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 Shelby GT500 uses conventional solid rubber engine mounts.

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 Shelby GT500 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Cargo Capacity

With its convertible body style, valet key and remote trunk release lockout, the AMG SL offers cargo security. The Shelby GT500’s non-lockable folding seat and non-lockable remote release defeat cargo security.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the AMG SL’s trunk can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Shelby GT500 doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors optional at extra cost in the Shelby GT500, 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’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Shelby GT500 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

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 Shelby GT500 doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

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 Shelby GT500 can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The AMG SL has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Shelby GT500 doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The AMG SL’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Shelby GT500’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

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 Shelby GT500 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid.

The AMG SL’s LED headlights produce a white, bright light using less electricity than the Shelby GT500’s xenon high intensity discharge (HID) headlights. HID headlights can be slow to reach full brightness or power cycle, causing issues when flashing them to signal other vehicles; LED headlights light instantly. LED lights also last about three to four times as long.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors standard on the AMG SL detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Shelby GT500 doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the AMG SL has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Shelby GT500 doesn’t offer cornering lights. The AMG SL also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The AMG SL’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Ford charges extra for heated mirrors on the Shelby GT500.

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 Shelby GT500’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

The AMG SL’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Shelby GT500 has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

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 Shelby GT500 doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The AMG SL has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Shelby GT500 doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

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 Shelby GT500.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the AMG SL offers an optional Active Distance Assist Distronic, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The Shelby GT500 doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

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 Shelby GT500 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 Shelby GT500 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.