Compare the2025 Mercedes AMG SLVS 2024 Aston Martin Vantage

Safety
Warranty
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission and Drivetrain
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
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 Vantage 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 Vantage doesn’t offer knee airbags.

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 Vantage 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 Vantage 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 Vantage 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 Vantage doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

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

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The AMG SL has Car-to-X Communication, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The Vantage doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure or other vehicles.

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 Vantage doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

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 Vantage 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 Vantage doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

The AMG SL has standard Mercedes-Benz Emergency Call, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Vantage doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the AMG SL and the Vantage 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, blind spot warning systems and around view monitors.

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 Vantage’s 3-year basic warranty expires 1 year sooner.

There are almost 11 times as many Mercedes dealers as there are Aston Martin dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the AMG SL’s warranty.

Engine

The AMG SL has more powerful engines than the Vantage:

	Horsepower	Torque
AMG SL 55 4.0 turbo V8	469 HP	516 lbs.-ft.
AMG SL 63 4.0 turbo V8	577 HP	590 lbs.-ft.
AMG SL 63 S E Performance 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid	805 HP	1047 lbs.-ft.
Vantage 4.0 turbo V8	503 HP	505 lbs.-ft.
Vantage F1 4.0 turbo V8	527 HP	505 lbs.-ft.
Vantage 5.2 turbo V12	690 HP	542 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Motor Trend the AMG SL 55 4.0 turbo V8 is faster than the Aston Martin Vantage turbo V8:

	AMG SL	Vantage
Zero to 60 MPH	3.6 sec	3.8 sec
Quarter Mile	12 sec	12.1 sec

As tested in Car and Driver the AMG SL 63 4.0 turbo V8 is faster than the Vantage F1 4.0 turbo V8:

	AMG SL	Vantage
Zero to 60 MPH	3 sec	3.5 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	7.1 sec	7.9 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	3.9 sec	4.1 sec
Quarter Mile	11.2 sec	11.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	125 MPH	121 MPH
Top Speed	196 MPH	196 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the AMG SL running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Vantage:

			MPG
AMG SL
	RWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	19 city/27 hwy
Vantage
	RWD	4.0 turbo V8	18 city/24 hwy
		5.2 turbo V12	14 city/22 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the AMG SL 43/63 S E Performance’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Vantage doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

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 Vantage.

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 Vantage 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 Aston Martin Vantage 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 Vantage doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the AMG SL 63 S E Performance’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Vantage:

	AMG SL 63 S E Performance	Vantage	Vantage CCB
Front Rotors	16.5 inches	15.7 inches	16.1 inches
Rear Rotors	15 inches	14.2 inches	14.2 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the AMG SL’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Vantage (F:275/35R21 & R:305/30R21 vs. F:255/40R20 & R:295/35R20).

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. Aston Martin doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Vantage.

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 Vantage doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

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 Vantage doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The AMG SL has standard seating for 4 passengers; the Vantage can only carry 2.

The AMG SL has 29 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Vantage (76 vs. 47).

The AMG SL has .2 inches more front headroom and 3.3 inches more front shoulder room than the Vantage.

Cargo Capacity

The AMG SL has a larger trunk with its top down than the Vantage Roadster (7.5 vs. 7.1 cubic feet).

With its convertible body style, valet key and remote trunk release lockout, the AMG SL offers cargo security. The Vantage’s non-lockable remote release defeats cargo security.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the AMG SL. The Vantage doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the AMG SL has a standard power trunk, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button, or optionally by just kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The Vantage doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

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 Vantage doesn’t offer a remote starting 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 Vantage doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The AMG SL’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Vantage’s power windows’ switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

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 Vantage doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid. Its standard heated washer nozzles will defrost the washer fluid but not the windshield.

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 Vantage 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 Vantage 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 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 Vantage has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

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 Vantage.

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 Vantage.

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 Vantage doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

The Mercedes AMG SL has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the rear view mirror. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Aston Martin charges extra for Homelink® on the Vantage.

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) in the front center console. The Vantage 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 Vantage’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.