Verdict
The Mercedes-Benz AMG SL is the quicker, cheaper car here: RM999,888, 375 hp, 4.9 seconds to 100 km/h and 275 km/h. It is also the emotional choice, being a four-seat convertible with rear-wheel drive. The Porsche Panamera costs RM1,300,000 and trades some pace for real usability: five seats, a 494-litre boot, all-wheel drive, 500 Nm and eight airbags. For a Malaysian buyer, the AMG SL’s RM376 road tax also hurts far less than the Panamera’s RM1,865 bill.
Pick the Mercedes-Benz AMG SL if you want the open-top GT with the lower price, lower road tax and slightly sharper acceleration numbers.
Pick the Porsche Panamera if you need the bigger, five-seat GT with all-wheel drive, more boot space and more airbags.
Key differences
- Price: Mercedes-Benz AMG SL RM999,888; Porsche Panamera RM1,300,000
- Output: Mercedes-Benz AMG SL 375 hp and 480 Nm; Porsche Panamera 348 hp and 500 Nm
- Acceleration/top speed: Mercedes-Benz AMG SL 4.9 s and 275 km/h; Porsche Panamera 5.1 s and 272 km/h
- Seats/boot: Mercedes-Benz AMG SL 4 seats and 240 L; Porsche Panamera 5 seats and 494 L
- Driveline: Mercedes-Benz AMG SL rear-wheel drive; Porsche Panamera all-wheel drive
- Road tax: Mercedes-Benz AMG SL RM376 a year; Porsche Panamera RM1,865 a year
AMG SL
- Quicker 4.9 s 0-100 km/h time
- Higher 375 hp output
- Much lower RM376 road tax
- Only 240 L of boot space
- Five airbags versus eight in the Porsche Panamera
- Rear-wheel drive only
Panamera
- Five seats and a 494 L boot
- 500 Nm with all-wheel drive
- Eight airbags
- RM300,112 more expensive
- Slightly slower 5.1 s 0-100 km/h time
- Higher RM1,865 yearly road tax
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 999,888✓ | RM 1,300,000 |
| Body type | Convertible | Sedan |
| Segment | Grand Tourer | Grand Tourer |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 12-valve DOHC, Turbocharged with Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing with Mild Hybrid Assistance | 24-valve DOHC, direct fuel injection, twin-turbo with variable valve timing |
| Capacity | 1,991 cc | 2,894 cc |
| Horsepower | 375 hp✓ | 348 hp |
| Torque | 480 Nm | 500 Nm✓ |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline | V |
| Timing Type | Chain | Chain |
| Fuel | Petrol Hybrid/REV | Petrol |
| Bore | — | 84.5 mm |
| Number of Motors | 1 | — |
| Motor Horsepower | 13 hp | — |
| Battery Type | Lithium-ion | — |
| Battery Capacity | 1 kWh | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) |
| Transmission Name | AMG Speedshift MCT 9G | PDK |
| Gears | 9 | 8 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Daimler | Porsche |
| Driveline | Rear Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 4.9 seconds✓ | 5.1 seconds |
| Top Speed | 275 km/h✓ | 272 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,705 mm | 5,052 mm |
| Width | 1,915 mm | 1,937 mm |
| Height | 1,359 mm | 1,423 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,700 mm | 2,950 mm |
| Weight | 1,810 kg | 1,980 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 70 litres | 90 litres |
| Doors | 2 | 5 |
| Seats | 4 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 240 litres | 494 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 275/35R21 | 265/45R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 305/30R21 | 295/45R20 |
| Factory Tyres | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S | — |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Germany (CBU) | Germany (CBU) |
| Chassis | Unibody | Unibody |
| Front Suspension | Multi-Link | Double Wishbones with Air Suspension |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-Link | Multi-link with Air Suspension |
| Front Wheels | 21" AMG 10-Twin-Spoke Forged Alloys | 19" Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 21" AMG 10-Twin-Spoke Forged Alloys | 19" Alloys |
| Front Brakes | Ventilated and Cross Drilled Disc | Ventilated Discs |
| Rear Brakes | Ventilated and Cross Drilled Disc | Solid Discs |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Sports Suspension | Porsche Active Suspension Management with Adaptive two-chamber air suspension and two-valve dampers |
| Crash Safety Ratings | ||
| EuroNCAP | 5 stars | — |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Front Passenger, Curtain Airbags, Front Centre Airbag | Driver and Passenger, Driver and Front Passenger Knee, Front Side, Front Curtain |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | — | Electric for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 4 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on Front Passenger Seat | Two Outer Rear Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes, with Pedestrian Detection |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | Both Seats | For All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Digital Light LED Projector | Matrix LED Projectors |
| Taillamps | Full LED with Dynamic Light Design and Sequential Indicators | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Driver and Passenger Powered Seats with Memory Settings | Driver and Passenger Powered Seats with Memory Settings, Heating & Ventilation |
| Rear Seats | 50:50 Split-folding | 40:20:40 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 Glass Roof |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 2 Front USB, 2 Rear USB, 1 Wireless Charger | 1 Front, 1 Rear, 1 Boot; 2 USB-C Ports Rear |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | — | Side Window Sunshades, Panoramic Glass Roof Shade |
| Audio | 11.9" Touchscreen Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) with Voice Control, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 17-Speaker Burmester Sound System | 12.3-inch Touchscreen with Porsche Communications Module, Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Two Windows, Driver Side Auto Up & Down | Four Windows, Auto Up & Down with Anti-pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation with Pop-out Door Handles | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control with Steering Assist and Stop and Go | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered Boot | Powered Boot with Contactless Opening |
| Parking Sensor Front | 4 Sensors | 6 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✓ | 100,000 km |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 4 years | 4 years |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM 376✓ | RM 1,865 |
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 SL vs Panamera FAQ
Is the Mercedes-Benz AMG SL or Porsche Panamera better?
The Mercedes-Benz AMG SL is better for pace and cost, with 375 hp, 4.9 s to 100 km/h and lower road tax. The Porsche Panamera is better for carrying people and luggage, with five seats, 494 L of boot space and all-wheel drive.
What is the price difference?
The Porsche Panamera is RM300,112 more expensive than the Mercedes-Benz AMG SL.
Which one is more practical for daily use?
The Porsche Panamera is more practical. It has five seats, a 494 L boot and a 90 L fuel tank, compared with the Mercedes-Benz AMG SL’s four seats, 240 L boot and 70 L tank.