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Mercedes-Benz S-Class vs Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

What's the difference?

VS
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Mercedes-Benz S-Class

$169,800 - $189,800

2021 price

Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

$373,370 - $373,370

2024 price

Summary

2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
2024 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
Safety Rating

Engine Type
Twin Turbo V6, 3.0L

BI Turbo V8, 4.0L
Fuel Type
Premium Unleaded Petrol

-
Fuel Efficiency
8.4L/100km (combined)

13.9L/100km (combined)
Seating
5

4
Dislikes
  • Price of entry prohibitive for most
  • 3D instrumentation can make you woozy
  • A tad conservative in design

  • Thirsty
  • Big turning circle
  • Pricey servicing
2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Summary

It's only in the running for the title of world's best luxury car. No biggie here, then.

Like Rolex and Concorde, S-Class has become a byword for ultimate, and deserved or not, the Mercedes-Benz defines its segment despite the best efforts of the BMW 7 Series, Audi A8, Lexus LS and (sadly now-defunct) Jaguar XJ, as well as pointing the way forward with new technologies that eventually trickle down to more proletarian models.

Replacing the half-million selling W222 unveiled in 2013, the W223 is the latest in a long line since the first W187 Ponton debuted in 1951, and includes the famous ‘Finnies' and Stroke-8 models that followed immediately afterwards, but it is the 1972 W116 that really set the template.

Now, seven generations in, the 2021 S-Class is all-new again, with progressive safety and interior features that should help keep it Australia's bestselling full-sized upper-luxury sedan.

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2024 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Summary

An SL sports car has been part of the Mercedes-Benz line-up since the early 1950s, and when I think of this model I see that golden years of Hollywood star (with the great hairstyle) Yul Brynner, in the late 1950s cruising the French Riviera in his 300SL roadster. Or Sophia Loren regularly posing with her 300SL Gullwing coupe around the same time.

Over seven iterations and more than seven decades it has stood for performance, glamour and exclusivity. And after a two-year hiatus the Mercedes-AMG SL63 roadster has made a comeback to the Australian market.

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Deep dive comparison

2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2024 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

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