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Kia Niro vs Mercedes SL Class comparison

Compare performance (138 HP vs 816 HP), boot space and price (29,100 £ vs 112,700 £ ) at a glance. Find out which car is the better choice for you – Kia Niro or Mercedes SL Class?

Kia Niro vs Mercedes SL Class: Key differences

Kia Niro

4.6 (4 Reviews)
rate
  • clearly cheaper
  • substantially more efficient
  • noticeably lighter
  • clearly more trunk space
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Mercedes SL Class

  • clearly more power
  • significantly 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.

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

Niro

Costs and Efficiency:

When it comes to price and running costs, the biggest differences usually appear. This is often where you see which car fits your budget better in the long run.

Kia Niro is clearly cheaper – starting at 29,100 £ , while the Mercedes SL Class costs 112,700 £ . That’s a price difference of around 83,570 £.

Fuel consumption also shows a difference: the Kia Niro uses 4.5 L/100km and is substantially more efficient than the Mercedes SL Class with 9 L/100km. The difference is about 4.5 L/100km.

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 clearly more power – delivering 816 HP compared to 138 HP. That’s roughly 678 HP more horsepower.

When accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h, the Mercedes SL Class is significantly quicker – completing the sprint in 2.9 s, while the Kia Niro takes 11.1 s. That’s about 8.2 s quicker.

There’s also a difference in torque: the Mercedes SL Class delivers clearly more torque with 1,420 Nm compared to 265 Nm. That’s about 1,155 Nm more.

Niro

Space and Everyday Use:

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

Seats: Kia Niro offers more seats – 5 vs 4.

In terms of curb weight, Kia Niro is noticeably lighter – 1,474 kg compared to 1,810 kg. The difference is around 336 kg.

Looking at boot space, the Kia Niro offers clearly more boot space – 451 L compared to 240 L. That’s a difference of about 211 L.

When it comes to payload, the Kia Niro carries somewhat more – 466 kg compared to 375 kg. That’s a difference of about 91 kg.

Who wins the race in the data check?

The Mercedes SL Class holds a solid overall lead 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 £112,700
SL Class

Mercedes SL Class

  • Engine Type Petrol MHEV, Petrol, Plug-in Hybrid
  • Transmission Automatic
  • Drive Type Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
  • Power HP 435 - 816 HP
  • Consumption L/100km 9 - 13.6 L/100km
  • Electric Range 12 km
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Frequently compared as well

Kia Niro
Toyota Yaris Cross
VS
The Kia Niro feels like the sensible crossover hero — roomy, composed and blessed with a polished hybrid system that trims fuel bills without stripping comfort. The Toyota Yaris Cross is smaller and cheekier, nailing city agility and frugal running costs, so pick the Niro for family practicality …
Kia Niro
Kia XCeed
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Kia Niro
Mercedes SL Class

Costs and Consumption
View detailed analysis

Engine and Performance
View detailed analysis

Dimensions and Body
View detailed analysis

Kia Niro

The Kia Niro is a practical crossover that blends economy and everyday versatility without sacrificing comfort. With a roomy, well-laid-out cabin and calm, composed handling, it’s an easy-to-live-with choice for commuters and families.

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Reviews Kia Niro

4.6 (4 Reviews)
rate
pip
11 Jul 2026, 08:42:12

nice size, roomy for passengers, lots of bells and whistles as standard, magnificent fuel economy,well made , 7 year warranty

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
Archi
25 Mar 2026, 13:11:41

Efficient, functional, understated, spacious and comfortable. No surprises: it delivers what it promises and does its job without fanfare. Good buy.

How do you mainly use this car? (optional): Leisure / Weekend driver
Efficiency / Consumption & Range
Comfort & Interior
Driving Fun / Performance
Technology & Infotainment
Safety
Practicality / Trunk & Everyday Use
Value for Money
Wolfgang Schäfer
21 Oct 2025, 14:01:32

I've been driving the Kia Niro since 2019 and am still very happy with this car.

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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Mercedes SL Class

Costs and Consumption
Price
29,100 - 33,800 £
Price
112,700 - 219,300 £
Consumption L/100km
4.5 - 4.9 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
102 - 111 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
1,474 kg
Curb weight
1,810 - 2,195 kg
Trunk capacity
451 L
Trunk capacity
110 - 240 L
Length
-
Length
-
Width
1,825 mm
Width
1,915 mm
Height
-
Height
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Payload
466 kg
Payload
145 - 375 kg

Engine and Performance
Engine Type
Full Hybrid
Engine Type
Petrol MHEV, Petrol, Plug-in Hybrid
Transmission
Automatic
Transmission
Automatic
Transmission Detail
Dual-Clutch Automatic
Transmission Detail
Automatic Gearbox
Drive Type
Front-Wheel Drive
Drive Type
Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Power HP
138 HP
Power HP
435 - 816 HP
Acceleration 0-100km/h
11.1 - 11.4 s
Acceleration 0-100km/h
2.9 - 4.7 s
Max Speed
-
Max Speed
-
Torque
265 Nm
Torque
500 - 1,420 Nm
Number of Cylinders
4
Number of Cylinders
4 - 8
Power kW
102 kW
Power kW
320 - 600 kW
Engine capacity
1,580 cm3
Engine capacity
1,991 - 3,982 cm3

General
Model Year
2025
Model Year
2025
CO2 Efficiency Class
C
CO2 Efficiency Class
G
Brand
Kia
Brand
Mercedes-Benz
What drive types are available for the Kia Niro?

The Kia Niro is offered with Front-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.