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Audi A3 Limousine vs Mercedes SL Class comparison

Compare performance (400 HP vs 816 HP), boot space and price (27,700 £ vs 112,700 £ ) at a glance. Find out which car is the better choice for you – Audi A3 Limousine or Mercedes SL Class?

Audi A3 Limousine vs Mercedes SL Class: Key differences

Audi A3 Limousine

  • substantially cheaper
  • considerably more efficient
  • noticeably lighter
details

Mercedes SL Class

  • substantially more power
  • noticeably quicker 0–100 km/h
details

By Achim Sedelmaier

Here’s where it gets real: The technical differences in detail

A3 Limousine

Costs and Efficiency:

Price and efficiency are often the first things buyers look at. Here it becomes clear which model has the long-term edge – whether at the pump, the plug, or in purchase price.

Audi A3 Limousine is substantially cheaper – starting at 27,700 £ , while the Mercedes SL Class costs 112,700 £ . That’s a price difference of around 85,019 £.

Fuel consumption also shows a difference: the Audi A3 Limousine uses 4.4 L/100km and is considerably more efficient than the Mercedes SL Class with 9 L/100km. The difference is about 4.6 L/100km.

SL Class

Engine and Performance:

Power, torque and acceleration say a lot about how a car feels on the road. This is where you see which model delivers more driving dynamics.

When it comes to engine power, the Mercedes SL Class offers substantially more power – delivering 816 HP compared to 400 HP. That’s roughly 416 HP more horsepower.

When accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h, the Mercedes SL Class is noticeably quicker – completing the sprint in 2.9 s, while the Audi A3 Limousine takes 3.8 s. That’s about 0.9 s quicker.

There’s also a difference in torque: the Mercedes SL Class delivers significantly more torque with 1,420 Nm compared to 500 Nm. That’s about 920 Nm more.

A3 Limousine

Space and Everyday Use:

Beyond pure performance, interior space and usability matter most in daily life. This is where you see which car is more practical and versatile.

Seats: Audi A3 Limousine offers more seats – 5 vs 4.

In terms of curb weight, Audi A3 Limousine is noticeably lighter – 1,360 kg compared to 1,810 kg. The difference is around 450 kg.

When it comes to payload, the Audi A3 Limousine carries clearly more – 480 kg compared to 375 kg. That’s a difference of about 105 kg.

Who wins the race in the data check?

The Audi A3 Limousine is far ahead overall in the objective data comparison.
This result only shows which model scores more points on paper – not which of the two cars feels right for you.

from £27,700
A3 Limousine

Audi A3 Limousine

  • Engine Type : Petrol, Petrol MHEV, Diesel
  • Transmission : Manuel, Automatic
  • Drive Type : Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
  • Power HP : 116 - 400 HP
  • Consumption L/100km : 4.4 - 9.2 L/100km
Audi A3 Limousine
Mercedes SL Class

Costs and Consumption

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Engine and Performance

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Dimensions and Body

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Audi A3 Limousine

The Audi A3 sedan dresses up compact practicality in clean, premium lines, giving you the feel of an upscale small car with a proper boot. Inside it’s neat, driver-focused and nicely finished — a sensible, enjoyable daily companion that prefers poise over showy theatrics.

details

Mercedes SL Class

The Mercedes SL blends timeless elegance with a cheeky sense of occasion, its retractable roof turning any commute into a small celebratory parade. Behind the wheel it behaves like a grown-up sports car that prefers comfort and presence over headline-grabbing bravado, making it a tempting choice for buyers who want to arrive in style.

details
Audi A3 Limousine
Mercedes SL Class

Costs and Consumption

Price
27,700 - 94,300 £
Price
112,700 - 219,300 £
Consumption L/100km
4.4 - 9.2 L/100km
Consumption L/100km
9 - 13.6 L/100km
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Electric Range
-
Electric Range
12 km
Battery Capacity
-
Battery Capacity
-
co2
115 - 208 g/km
co2
206 - 309 g/km
Fuel tank capacity
-
Fuel tank capacity
-

Dimensions and Body

Body Type
Sedan
Body Type
Roadster
Seats
5
Seats
4
Doors
-
Doors
-
Curb weight
1,360 - 1,640 kg
Curb weight
1,810 - 2,195 kg
Trunk capacity
321 - 425 L
Trunk capacity
-
Length
-
Length
-
Width
1,816 - 1,851 mm
Width
1,915 mm
Height
-
Height
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Payload
415 - 480 kg
Payload
145 - 375 kg

Engine and Performance

Engine Type
Petrol, Petrol MHEV, Diesel
Engine Type
Petrol MHEV, Petrol, Plugin Hybrid
Transmission
Manuel, Automatic
Transmission
Automatic
Transmission Detail
Manual Gearbox, Dual-Clutch Automatic
Transmission Detail
Automatic Gearbox
Drive Type
Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Drive Type
Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Power HP
116 - 400 HP
Power HP
381 - 816 HP
Acceleration 0-100km/h
3.8 - 10.1 s
Acceleration 0-100km/h
2.9 - 4.9 s
Max Speed
-
Max Speed
-
Torque
220 - 500 Nm
Torque
480 - 1,420 Nm
Number of Cylinders
4 - 5
Number of Cylinders
4 - 8
Power kW
85 - 294 kW
Power kW
280 - 600 kW
Engine capacity
1,498 - 2,480 cm3
Engine capacity
1,991 - 3,982 cm3

General

Model Year
2,025 - 2,026
Model Year
2025
CO2 Efficiency Class
D, C, E, G
CO2 Efficiency Class
G
Brand
Audi
Brand
Mercedes-Benz
DriveDuel uses data analysis and artificial intelligence to evaluate vehicle data and create content. Content is regularly reviewed and improved. The displayed prices are estimates based on German list prices, adjusted to the respective country’s VAT. Country-specific registration taxes are not included. This information is not legally binding.