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Ford Kuga vs Mercedes SL Class comparison

Compare performance (243 HP vs 816 HP), boot space and price (34,200 £ vs 112,700 £ ) at a glance. Find out which car is the better choice for you – Ford Kuga or Mercedes SL Class?

Ford Kuga vs Mercedes SL Class: Key differences

Ford Kuga

4.3 (7 Reviews)
rate
  • substantially cheaper
  • substantially more efficient
  • considerably more electric range
  • moderately lighter
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Mercedes SL Class

  • clearly more power
  • substantially quicker 0–100 km/h
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All details on performance, efficiency, range and trunk space can be found in the technical comparison below – including user reviews for both models.

By Achim Sedelmaier

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

Kuga

Costs and Efficiency:

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

Ford Kuga is substantially cheaper – starting at 34,200 £ , while the Mercedes SL Class costs 112,700 £ . That’s a price difference of around 78,462 £.

Fuel consumption also shows a difference: the Ford Kuga uses 2.8 L/100km and is substantially more efficient than the Mercedes SL Class with 9 L/100km. The difference is about 6.2 L/100km.

As for electric range, the Ford Kuga offers considerably more range – reaching up to 68 km, about 56 km more than the Mercedes SL Class.

SL Class

Engine and Performance:

Power, torque and acceleration are the classic benchmarks for car enthusiasts – and here, some clear differences start to show.

When it comes to engine power, the Mercedes SL Class offers clearly more power – delivering 816 HP compared to 243 HP. That’s roughly 573 HP more horsepower.

When accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h, the Mercedes SL Class is substantially quicker – completing the sprint in 2.9 s, while the Ford Kuga takes 7.3 s. That’s about 4.4 s quicker.

There’s also a difference in torque: the Mercedes SL Class delivers significantly more torque with 1,420 Nm compared to 240 Nm. That’s about 1,180 Nm more.

Kuga

Space and Everyday Use:

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

Seats: Ford Kuga offers more seats – 5 vs 4.

In terms of curb weight, Ford Kuga is moderately lighter – 1,526 kg compared to 1,810 kg. The difference is around 284 kg.

When it comes to payload, the Ford Kuga carries visibly more – 550 kg compared to 375 kg. That’s a difference of about 175 kg.

Who wins the race in the data check?

The Ford Kuga 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 £34,200
Kuga

Ford Kuga

  • Engine Type Petrol, Full Hybrid, Plugin Hybrid
  • Transmission Manuel, Automatic
  • Drive Type Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
  • Power HP 150 - 243 HP
  • Consumption L/100km 2.8 - 6.8 L/100km
  • Electric Range 68 km
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Frequently compared as well

Ford Kuga
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Ford Kuga
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Ford Kuga
Mercedes SL Class

Costs and Consumption
View detailed analysis

Engine and Performance
View detailed analysis

Dimensions and Body
View detailed analysis

Ford Kuga

The Ford Kuga is a practical and comfortable compact SUV that balances everyday usability with a composed ride and adaptable interior. It offers sensible tech and safety features, making it a solid choice for families or anyone seeking a versatile, easy-to-live-with crossover.

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Reviews Ford Kuga

4.3 (7 Reviews)
rate
Marek
15 Jun 2026, 07:10:36

A very sensible car — I like how it looks, it’s well put together, economical on fuel, the interior is comfortable and fairly traditional without any gimmicks, excellent handling, the performance is really good despite it being a large and heavy car; the trunk could be a bit bigger, but it’s still fine — roomy and generally sufficient for family trips, and above all, so far the car has been reliable.

How do you mainly use this car? (optional): Family car
Efficiency / Consumption & Range
Comfort & Interior
Driving Fun / Performance
Technology & Infotainment
Safety
Practicality / Trunk & Everyday Use
Value for Money
Richie Wid
3 Apr 2026, 13:13:55

PHEV model — very pleased with the car after 2.5 years. In the summer months it runs practically on electric power alone. The large 2.5‑litre engine is surprisingly frugal, about 0.5 l/mil. Downsides are the ventilation in winter, which causes fogged windows, and that we can now only charge the battery to 80%.

How do you mainly use this car? (optional): Commuter (short/medium distance)
Efficiency / Consumption & Range
Comfort & Interior
Driving Fun / Performance
Technology & Infotainment
Safety
Practicality / Trunk & Everyday Use
Value for Money
Miguel
19 Oct 2025, 05:54:42

It's a car that strikes an excellent balance between quality and price.

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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Ford Kuga
Mercedes SL Class

Costs and Consumption
Price
34,200 - 46,300 £
Price
112,700 - 219,300 £
Consumption L/100km
2.8 - 6.8 L/100km
Consumption L/100km
9 - 13.6 L/100km
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Electric Range
68 km
Electric Range
12 km
Battery Capacity
-
Battery Capacity
-
co2
55 - 154 g/km
co2
206 - 309 g/km
Fuel tank capacity
-
Fuel tank capacity
-

Dimensions and Body
Body Type
SUV
Body Type
Roadster
Seats
5
Seats
4
Doors
-
Doors
-
Curb weight
1,526 - 1,859 kg
Curb weight
1,810 - 2,195 kg
Trunk capacity
-
Trunk capacity
110 - 240 L
Length
-
Length
-
Width
1,882 mm
Width
1,915 mm
Height
-
Height
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Payload
541 - 550 kg
Payload
145 - 375 kg

Engine and Performance
Engine Type
Petrol, Full Hybrid, Plugin Hybrid
Engine Type
Petrol MHEV, Petrol, Plugin Hybrid
Transmission
Manuel, Automatic
Transmission
Automatic
Transmission Detail
Manual Gearbox, CVT, Automatic Gearbox
Transmission Detail
Automatic Gearbox
Drive Type
Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Drive Type
Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Power HP
150 - 243 HP
Power HP
435 - 816 HP
Acceleration 0-100km/h
7.3 - 9.9 s
Acceleration 0-100km/h
2.9 - 4.7 s
Max Speed
-
Max Speed
-
Torque
240 Nm
Torque
500 - 1,420 Nm
Number of Cylinders
3 - 4
Number of Cylinders
4 - 8
Power kW
111 - 178 kW
Power kW
320 - 600 kW
Engine capacity
1,496 - 2,488 cm3
Engine capacity
1,991 - 3,982 cm3

General
Model Year
2025
Model Year
2025
CO2 Efficiency Class
E, D, B
CO2 Efficiency Class
G
Brand
Ford
Brand
Mercedes-Benz
What drive types are available for the Ford Kuga?

The Ford Kuga is offered with 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.