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Mazda 3 Hatchback vs Mercedes SL Class comparison

Compare performance (186 HP vs 816 HP), boot space and price (24,500 £ vs 112,700 £ ) at a glance. Find out which car is the better choice for you – Mazda 3 Hatchback or Mercedes SL Class?

Mazda 3 Hatchback vs Mercedes SL Class: Key differences

Mazda 3 Hatchback

  • substantially cheaper
  • significantly more efficient
  • clearly lighter
details

Mercedes SL Class

  • clearly more power
  • considerably quicker 0–100 km/h
details

By Achim Sedelmaier

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

3 Hatchback

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.

Mazda 3 Hatchback is substantially cheaper – starting at 24,500 £ , while the Mercedes SL Class costs 112,700 £ . That’s a price difference of around 88,156 £.

Fuel consumption also shows a difference: the Mazda 3 Hatchback uses 5.6 L/100km and is significantly more efficient than the Mercedes SL Class with 9 L/100km. The difference is about 3.4 L/100km.

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 186 HP. That’s roughly 630 HP more horsepower.

When accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h, the Mercedes SL Class is considerably quicker – completing the sprint in 2.9 s, while the Mazda 3 Hatchback takes 8 s. That’s about 5.1 s quicker.

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

3 Hatchback

Space and Everyday Use:

Cabin size, boot volume and payload all play a role in everyday practicality. Here, comfort and flexibility make the difference.

Seats: Mazda 3 Hatchback offers more seats – 5 vs 4.

In terms of curb weight, Mazda 3 Hatchback is clearly lighter – 1,419 kg compared to 1,810 kg. The difference is around 391 kg.

When it comes to payload, the Mazda 3 Hatchback carries clearly more – 485 kg compared to 375 kg. That’s a difference of about 110 kg.

Who wins the race in the data check?

The Mazda 3 Hatchback comes out clearly ahead 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 £24,500
3 Hatchback

Mazda 3 Hatchback

  • Engine Type : Petrol MHEV
  • Transmission : Manuel, Automatic
  • Drive Type : Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
  • Power HP : 140 - 186 HP
  • Consumption L/100km : 5.6 - 6.5 L/100km
Mazda 3 Hatchback
Mercedes SL Class

Costs and Consumption

View detailed analysis

Engine and Performance

View detailed analysis

Dimensions and Body

View detailed analysis

Mazda 3 Hatchback

The Mazda 3 hatchback blends elegant design with a surprisingly sporty drive, giving a cabin that feels more upscale than you’d expect for the segment. Practical enough for everyday life yet eager to entertain behind the wheel, it’s a smart, good-humored choice that makes even grocery runs feel like a mini escape.

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
Mazda 3 Hatchback
Mercedes SL Class

Costs and Consumption

Price
24,500 - 35,500 £
Price
112,700 - 219,300 £
Consumption L/100km
5.6 - 6.5 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
126 - 146 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
1,419 - 1,549 kg
Curb weight
1,810 - 2,195 kg
Trunk capacity
351 L
Trunk capacity
-
Length
-
Length
-
Width
1,795 mm
Width
1,915 mm
Height
-
Height
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Payload
470 - 485 kg
Payload
145 - 375 kg

Engine and Performance

Engine Type
Petrol MHEV
Engine Type
Petrol MHEV, Petrol, Plugin Hybrid
Transmission
Manuel, Automatic
Transmission
Automatic
Transmission Detail
Manual Gearbox, Automatic Gearbox
Transmission Detail
Automatic Gearbox
Drive Type
Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Drive Type
Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Power HP
140 - 186 HP
Power HP
381 - 816 HP
Acceleration 0-100km/h
8 - 9.8 s
Acceleration 0-100km/h
2.9 - 4.9 s
Max Speed
-
Max Speed
-
Torque
238 - 240 Nm
Torque
480 - 1,420 Nm
Number of Cylinders
4
Number of Cylinders
4 - 8
Power kW
103 - 137 kW
Power kW
280 - 600 kW
Engine capacity
1,998 - 2,488 cm3
Engine capacity
1,991 - 3,982 cm3

General

Model Year
2025
Model Year
2025
CO2 Efficiency Class
D, E
CO2 Efficiency Class
G
Brand
Mazda
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.