Compare the2025 Chevrolet CorvetteVS 2024 Mercedes AMG SL

The Corvette’s standard 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. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the AMG SL.

Both the Corvette and the AMG SL 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, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

Chevrolet’s powertrain warranty covers the Corvette 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the AMG SL. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the AMG SL ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The Corvette’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the AMG SL’s (6 vs. 5 years).

There are almost 8 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Corvette’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Corvette third among compact premium sporty cars in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The AMG SL isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 46 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 21st, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 44 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 21st.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Chevrolet 9 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The Corvette has more powerful engines than the AMG SL:

As tested in Motor Trend the Corvette Z51 6.2 V8 is faster than the AMG SL 55 4.0 turbo V8:

In a Car and Driver race course test, the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Z07 Coupe was clocked 14 seconds faster than the Mercedes AMG SL 63 (158.6 sec. vs. 172.6 sec.).

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

The Corvette can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for 5 miles. The AMG SL can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Corvette (except Z06/ZR1)’s fuel efficiency. The AMG SL doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the Corvette E-Ray’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The AMG SL doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The Corvette has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The AMG SL doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The Corvette stops much shorter than the AMG SL:

For better traction and acceleration, the Corvette has larger standard rear tires than the AMG SL (305/30R20 vs. 285/40R19). The Corvette Z06/E-Ray/ZR1’s rear tires are larger than the largest rear tires available on the AMG SL (345/25R21 vs. 305/30R21).

The Corvette’s standard 245/35R19 front and 305/30R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the AMG SL 43’s standard 45 series front and 40 series rear tires. The Corvette Z06/E-Ray/ZR1’s 275/30R20 front and 345/25R21 rear tires have a lower 30 series front and 25 series rear profile than the AMG SL’s optional 35 series front and 30 series rear tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Corvette has standard 20-inch rear wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the AMG SL 43.

The Corvette has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The AMG SL doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the Corvette can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The AMG SL doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The Corvette Z06 Z07 Convertible handles at 1.10 G’s, while the AMG SL 55 pulls only 1.04 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Corvette Z06 Z07 Convertible executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the AMG SL 55 (22.7 seconds @ .93 average G’s vs. 23.3 seconds @ .85 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Corvette with Magnetic Ride Control’s turning circle is 4.3 feet tighter than the AMG SL 55/63’s (36.4 feet vs. 40.7 feet). The Corvette’s turning circle is 4.6 feet tighter than the AMG SL 43’s (38.1 feet vs. 42.7 feet).

The Chevrolet Corvette may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 450 pounds less than the Mercedes AMG SL.

The Corvette’s standard power retractable hardtop allows a seamless transition from an open car, to a completely sealed coupe. The AMG SL doesn’t offer a retractable hardtop.

The Corvette uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The AMG SL doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Corvette Convertible has a much larger trunk with its top down than the AMG SL with its top down (12.6 vs. 7.5 cubic feet). The Corvette Convertible has a much larger trunk than the AMG SL with its top up (12.6 vs. 8.5 cubic feet).

The Corvette has a standard under hood light to help in making nighttime maintenance checks, adding fluids, etc. The AMG SL doesn’t offer an under hood light.

The Corvette’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The AMG SL does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Chevrolet Corvette comes in coupe and convertible bodystyles; the Mercedes AMG SL isn’t available as a coupe.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Chevrolet Corvette, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Corvette was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2024 and 24 more times in the last 40 years. The AMG SL has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

Motor Trend selected the Corvette as their 2020 Car of the Year. The AMG SL has never been chosen.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Corvette as the 2020 North American Car of the Year. The AMG SL has never been chosen.

The Chevrolet Corvette outsold the Mercedes SL by over 10 to one during 2023.