Compare the2025 Mercedes AMG S-ClassVS 2024 Rolls-Royce Ghost

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes AMG S-Class are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Rolls-Royce Ghost doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The AMG S-Class has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Ghost doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

The rear seatbelts optional on the AMG S-Class inflate when a collision is detected, helping to spread crash forces over a much larger area of the body and limiting head and neck movement. This can help prevent spinal and internal injuries. The Ghost doesn’t offer inflatable seatbelts.

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

Both the AMG S-Class and Ghost have rear cross-traffic warning, but the AMG S-Class has Rear Cross Traffic Brake (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Ghost’s Cross Traffic Warning doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the AMG S-Class and the Ghost have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

The AMG S-Class’ corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Ghost’s (5 vs. 4 years).

There are over 10 times as many Mercedes dealers as there are Rolls-Royce dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the AMG S-Class’ warranty.

The AMG S-Class’ 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 228 more horsepower (791 vs. 563) and 428 lbs.-ft. more torque (1055 vs. 627) than the Ghost’s standard 6.6 turbo V12. The AMG S-Class’ 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 200 more horsepower (791 vs. 591) and 391 lbs.-ft. more torque (1055 vs. 664) than the Ghost Black Badge’s standard 6.6 turbo V12.

On the EPA test cycle the AMG S-Class running on electricity gets better mileage than the Ghost:

The AMG S 63 E can travel with zero emissions for 16 miles. The Ghost can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the AMG S-Class’ fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Ghost doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the AMG S-Class’ 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 Ghost doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

A nine-speed automatic (SMG) is standard on the Mercedes AMG S-Class, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Ghost.

The AMG S-Class 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 Ghost doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The AMG S-Class’ 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 Ghost doesn’t offer launch control.

The AMG S-Class 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 Ghost doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

For better traction and acceleration, the AMG S-Class has larger rear tires than the Ghost (285/40R20 vs. 255/50R19).

The AMG S-Class’ standard 255/45R20 front and 285/40R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series front and 40 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Ghost’s standard 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the AMG S-Class has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the Ghost.

The AMG S-Class’ 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 Ghost doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the AMG S-Class is 1.9 inches wider in the front than on the Ghost.

For better maneuverability, the AMG S-Class’ turning circle is 2.3 feet tighter than the Ghost’s (40.4 feet vs. 42.7 feet). The AMG S-Class’ turning circle is 5.5 feet tighter than the Ghost Extended’s (40.4 feet vs. 45.9 feet).

The AMG S-Class is 10.1 inches shorter than the Ghost, making the AMG S-Class easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

For excellent aerodynamics, the AMG S-Class has standard flush composite headlights. The Ghost has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

The AMG S-Class has 1.5 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom, 1.5 inches more rear legroom and 3.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Ghost.

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

The AMG S-Class 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 Ghost doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

Heated windshield washer fluid is standard on the AMG S-Class to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The Ghost doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid. Its standard heated washer nozzles will defrost the washer fluid but not the windshield.

To better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the AMG S-Class has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The Ghost doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

A power rear sunshade and rear side window sunshades are standard in the AMG S-Class to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Ghost doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

The Mercedes AMG S-Class 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. Rolls-Royce charges extra for Homelink® on the Ghost.

The AMG S-Class has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Ghost doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The AMG S-Class’ Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Ghost’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.