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Audi A3 Sportback vs Mercedes SL Class comparison

Compare performance (400 HP vs 816 HP), boot space and price (27,000 £ vs 112,700 £ ) at a glance. Find out which car is the better choice for you – Audi A3 Sportback or Mercedes SL Class?

Audi A3 Sportback vs Mercedes SL Class: Key differences

Audi A3 Sportback

3.9 (1 Reviews)
rate
  • clearly cheaper
  • substantially more efficient
  • considerably more electric range
  • clearly lighter
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Mercedes SL Class

  • substantially more power
  • markedly quicker 0–100 km/h
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By Achim Sedelmaier

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

A3 Sportback

Costs and Efficiency:

Price and efficiency are key factors when choosing a car – and this is often where the real differences emerge.

Audi A3 Sportback is clearly cheaper – starting at 27,000 £ , while the Mercedes SL Class costs 112,700 £ . That’s a price difference of around 85,704 £.

Fuel consumption also shows a difference: the Audi A3 Sportback uses 1.1 L/100km and is substantially more efficient than the Mercedes SL Class with 9 L/100km. The difference is about 7.9 L/100km.

As for electric range, the Audi A3 Sportback offers considerably more range – reaching up to 141 km, about 129 km more than the Mercedes SL Class.

SL Class

Engine and Performance:

Under the bonnet, it becomes clear which model is tuned for sportiness and which one takes the lead when you hit the accelerator.

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 markedly quicker – completing the sprint in 2.9 s, while the Audi A3 Sportback takes 3.8 s. That’s about 0.9 s quicker.

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

A3 Sportback

Space and Everyday Use:

Whether family car or daily driver – which one offers more room, flexibility and comfort?

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

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

When it comes to payload, the Audi A3 Sportback carries visibly 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 Sportback stands well ahead of its rival 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 £27,000
A3 Sportback

Audi A3 Sportback

  • Engine Type : Petrol, Petrol MHEV, Diesel, Plugin Hybrid
  • Transmission : Manuel, Automatic
  • Drive Type : Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
  • Power HP : 116 - 400 HP
  • Consumption L/100km : 1.1 - 9.3 L/100km
  • Electric Range : 134 - 141 km
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Frequently compared as well

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Audi A3 Sportback
Mercedes SL Class

Costs and Consumption
View detailed analysis

Engine and Performance
View detailed analysis

Dimensions and Body
View detailed analysis

Audi A3 Sportback

The Audi A3 Sportback wraps premium materials and crisp German design into a practical hatchback package that makes daily driving feel smart rather than showy. It’s nimble in the city, composed on longer trips, and carries just enough swagger to satisfy buyers who want quality without shouting about it.

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Reviews Audi A3 Sportback

3.9 (1 Reviews)
rate

No reviews yet. Share your experience and help others decide.

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.

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Reviews Mercedes SL Class

No reviews yet. Share your experience and help others decide.

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Audi A3 Sportback
Mercedes SL Class

Costs and Consumption
Price
27,000 - 92,900 £
Price
112,700 - 219,300 £
Consumption L/100km
1.1 - 9.3 L/100km
Consumption L/100km
9 - 13.6 L/100km
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Electric Range
134 - 141 km
Electric Range
12 km
Battery Capacity
-
Battery Capacity
-
co2
25 - 211 g/km
co2
206 - 309 g/km
Fuel tank capacity
-
Fuel tank capacity
-

Dimensions and Body
Body Type
Hatchback
Body Type
Roadster
Seats
5
Seats
4
Doors
-
Doors
-
Curb weight
1,360 - 1,685 kg
Curb weight
1,810 - 2,195 kg
Trunk capacity
280 - 380 L
Trunk capacity
-
Length
-
Length
-
Width
1,816 - 1,851 mm
Width
1,915 mm
Height
-
Height
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Payload
410 - 480 kg
Payload
145 - 375 kg

Engine and Performance
Engine Type
Petrol, Petrol MHEV, Diesel, Plugin Hybrid
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, F, E, G, B
CO2 Efficiency Class
G
Brand
Audi
Brand
Mercedes-Benz
What drive types are available for the Audi A3 Sportback?

The Audi A3 Sportback is available as Front-Wheel Drive or All-Wheel Drive.

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.