Verdict
The Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE is the bruiser at RM1,191,888: 603 hp, 850 Nm and all-wheel drive get a five-seat SUV to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds, with a 630-litre boot behind it. The Mercedes-Benz AMG SL costs RM999,888 and is less practical, but its 275 km/h top speed beats the GLE’s 250 km/h. In Malaysia, the running-cost sting is clear too: RM3,211 road tax for the GLE against just RM376 for the SL.
AMG GLE
Pick the Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE if you want five seats, a 630-litre boot and the stronger 603 hp/850 Nm output.
AMG SL
Pick the Mercedes-Benz AMG SL if you want a convertible grand tourer with a higher 275 km/h top speed and much lower RM376 annual road tax.
Key differences
- Body and seating: Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE is an SUV with 5 seats; Mercedes-Benz AMG SL is a convertible with 4 seats
- Output: Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE has 603 hp and 850 Nm; Mercedes-Benz AMG SL has 375 hp and 480 Nm
- Driven wheels: Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE is all-wheel drive; Mercedes-Benz AMG SL is rear-wheel drive
- Acceleration and top speed: Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE does 0-100 km/h in 3.9 s and 250 km/h; Mercedes-Benz AMG SL does 4.9 s and 275 km/h
- Boot space: Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE has 630 L; Mercedes-Benz AMG SL has 240 L
- Road tax: Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE is RM3,211 a year; Mercedes-Benz AMG SL is RM376 a year
AMG GLE
- 603 hp and 850 Nm are far stronger than the SL’s numbers
- Five seats and 630 L boot space
- All-wheel drive and 3.9 s 0-100 km/h
- RM3,211 annual road tax is steep
- Lower 250 km/h top speed than the SL
- Much larger body at 4,924 mm long and 2,156 mm wide
AMG SL
- 275 km/h top speed beats the GLE
- RM376 annual road tax is much lower
- Convertible body gives it a different brief from the SUV
- Four seats and only 240 L of boot space
- 375 hp and 480 Nm trail the GLE by a large margin
- Rear-wheel drive only, while the GLE gets all-wheel drive
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 1,191,888 | RM 999,888✓ |
| Body type | SUV | Convertible |
| Segment | Executive | Grand Tourer |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 48-Valve DOHC, Twin-Turbocharged with Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Mild Hybrid Assistance | 12-valve DOHC, Turbocharged with Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing with Mild Hybrid Assistance |
| Capacity | 3,982 cc | 1,991 cc |
| Horsepower | 603 hp✓ | 375 hp |
| Torque | 850 Nm✓ | 480 Nm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | V | Inline |
| Timing Type | Chain | Chain |
| Fuel | Petrol Hybrid/REV | Petrol Hybrid/REV |
| Bore | 83 mm | — |
| Compression Ratio | 10.5 | — |
| Number of Motors | 1 | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | 21 hp✓ | 13 hp |
| Motor Torque | 250 Nm | — |
| Battery Type | Lithium-ion | Lithium-ion |
| Battery Capacity | 1 kWh | 1 kWh |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) |
| Transmission Name | AMG Speedshift TCT 9G-Tronic | AMG Speedshift MCT 9G |
| Gears | 9 | 9 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Daimler | Daimler |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 3.9 seconds✓ | 4.9 seconds |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h | 275 km/h✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,924 mm | 4,705 mm |
| Width | 2,156 mm | 1,915 mm |
| Height | 1,772 mm | 1,359 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,995 mm | 2,700 mm |
| Weight | 2,450 kg | 1,810 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 85 litres | 70 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 2 |
| Seats | 5 | 4 |
| Boot Space | 630 litres✓ | 240 litres |
| Front Tyre | 285/40R22 | 275/35R21 |
| Rear Tyre | 325/35R22 | 305/30R21 |
| Factory Tyres | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | United States (CBU) | Germany (CBU) |
| Chassis | Unibody | Unibody |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones with Air Suspension | Multi-Link |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link with Air Suspension | Multi-Link |
| Front Wheels | 22" Alloys | 21" AMG 10-Twin-Spoke Forged Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 22" Alloys | 21" AMG 10-Twin-Spoke Forged Alloys |
| Front Brakes | Ventilated, Cross-drilled Disc | Ventilated and Cross Drilled Disc |
| Rear Brakes | Ventilated, Cross-drilled Disc | Ventilated and Cross Drilled Disc |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | AMG Active Ride Control+ | Sports Suspension |
| Crash Safety Ratings | ||
| EuroNCAP | — | 5 stars |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Driver Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain | Driver and Front Passenger, Curtain Airbags, Front Centre Airbag |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | — |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 4 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available for 2 Outer Rear Seats | Available on Front Passenger Seat |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | Both Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Multibeam LED Projectors | Digital Light LED Projector |
| Taillamps | Full LED | Full LED with Dynamic Light Design and Sequential Indicators |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Powered Front Seats, Driver Side Memory with Heating and Ventilation | Driver and Passenger Powered Seats with Memory Settings |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-folding | 50:50 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | — |
| Sunroof | Panoramic Sliding Glass Roof | — |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB-C Front, 2 USB-C Rear | 1 Front, 2 Front USB, 2 Rear USB, 1 Wireless Charger |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front |
| Sun Shade | Rear Windows, Sunroof Shade | — |
| Audio | 12.3-inch Touchscreen MBUX Infotainment System with Voice Control, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, USB-C and Burmester Sound System | 11.9" Touchscreen Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) with Voice Control, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 17-Speaker Burmester Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti Pinch | Two Windows, Driver Side Auto Up & Down |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation with Pop-out Door Handles |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control with Steering Assist and Stop and Go |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered Boot with Contactless Opening | Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor |
| Auto Parking | Yes | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | ✓ |
| Power Door | Yes | — |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 4 years | 4 years |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM 3,211 | RM 376✓ |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
AMG GLE vs AMG SL FAQ
Is the Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE or Mercedes-Benz AMG SL better?
For daily use and family space, the Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE is better: five seats, 630 L boot space and all-wheel drive. For open-top grand touring and top speed, the Mercedes-Benz AMG SL makes more sense.
What is the price difference?
The Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE is RM192,000 more expensive than the Mercedes-Benz AMG SL. The gap buys a bigger SUV body, five seats, more power, more torque and all-wheel drive.
Which is faster, the Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE or Mercedes-Benz AMG SL?
The Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE accelerates harder, doing 0-100 km/h in 3.9 seconds versus 4.9 seconds. The Mercedes-Benz AMG SL has the higher top speed at 275 km/h versus 250 km/h.