Mercedes-AMG GT coupe - Interior & comfort
Breathtaking interior design is tempered by an expensive options list for the Mercedes-AMG GT
The Mercedes-AMG GT has raised the bar for interior quality in upmarket sports cars. There’s plenty of equipment fitted as standard, but the quality feel, coupled with the wonderfully stylish dashboard, befits a £100,000 car.
Mercedes-AMG GT dashboard
There are some who find the Porsche 911 a bit bland inside and others who think the controls in an Audi R8 should be more exclusive. The interior of the AMG GT isn’t the most ergonomic or well packaged, but it's certainly plush.
The stylish dashboard uses controls you won’t find in any other Mercedes, but their positioning isn’t perfect. The steering wheel is great, though, with a thick rim, allowing you to really take the car by the scruff of its neck when the mood takes you.
The driving position is low, and the centre console rises up to cocoon you in the driver’s seat. Despite this, it doesn’t feel claustrophobic inside, even when specified with dark materials for the seats – although we think the cabin looks better in lighter hues.
There’s a choice of chrome, matt carbon, high-gloss carbon, black diamond or matt silver finishes for various dashboard panels.
The buttons in the centre console have been arranged to mimic the cylinder layout of a V8 engine – a nice feature that doesn’t feel too contrived. These buttons are joined by the latest version of Mercedes’ COMAND infotainment system, which uses a single controller to operate many of the car’s functions through a screen. It’s easy to use, and has allowed Mercedes’ designers to reduce the number of buttons, dials and switches in the car.
Equipment
The AMG GT features most of the equipment you’d hope for on a £100,000 sports car. Both the GT and GT S boast cruise control, LED lights, an power-adjustable steering column and heated seats with memory function, plus Bluetooth, USB and SD card connectivity.
Both versions use Mercedes’ COMAND system, which combines online features, Apple CarPlay and digital radio, as well as allowing you to connect MP3 devices. It also features sat nav with three years of free map updates and voice control.
Options
Despite the range of standard equipment, there’s still a list of options to choose from, although they're mostly bundled into expensive packages. Notable inclusions are metallic paint – you don't get this as standard – which, depending on the shade, costs between £945 and £7,500. In comparison, the various leather upholstery options look cheap, starting at £2,300, although they can cost more than £5,000.
There are several interior and interior styling packages, which range in price from £800 to nearly £4,000.
The Premium Package is a worthwhile if pricey addition. You get power-folding door mirrors, parking sensors, a rear parking camera, a panoramic sunroof and a powerful Burmester stereo.
We’d also recommend the £1,000 Driving Assistance package, as it includes a device to stop you drifting out of your lane and a system that can anticipate a crash and prepare the car to best protect you and your passenger from injury.
Other notable options include extremely powerful ceramic brakes – £5,995 well spent if you plan to drive the car on track – and AMG Ride Control, which can improve the ride comfort of the standard AMG GT.
The £1,800 AMG Dynamic Plus pack is a must for GT S owners looking for the last few percent of handling. It offers firmer suspension settings and a race mode for ultimate grip and responsiveness.
