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Mercedes SL Class vs Honda Prelude comparison

Compare performance (816 HP vs 184 HP), boot space and price (112,700 £ vs 42,400 £ ) at a glance. Find out which car is the better choice for you – Mercedes SL Class or Honda Prelude?

Mercedes SL Class vs Honda Prelude: Key differences

Mercedes SL Class

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

Honda Prelude

4 (1 Reviews)
rate
  • significantly cheaper
  • clearly more efficient
  • slightly lighter
details

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

SL Class

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.

Honda Prelude is significantly cheaper – starting at 42,400 £ , while the Mercedes SL Class costs 112,700 £ . That’s a price difference of around 70,276 £.

Fuel consumption also shows a difference: the Honda Prelude uses 5.2 L/100km and is clearly more efficient than the Mercedes SL Class with 9 L/100km. The difference is about 3.8 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 184 HP. That’s roughly 632 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 Honda Prelude takes 8.2 s. That’s about 5.3 s quicker.

There’s also a difference in torque: the Mercedes SL Class delivers substantially more torque with 1,420 Nm compared to 315 Nm. That’s about 1,105 Nm more.

SL Class

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.

Both vehicles offer seating for 4 people.

In terms of curb weight, Honda Prelude is slightly lighter – 1,545 kg compared to 1,810 kg. The difference is around 265 kg.

When it comes to payload, the Mercedes SL Class carries somewhat more – 375 kg compared to 305 kg. That’s a difference of about 70 kg.

Who wins the race in the data check?

The Mercedes SL Class is clearly superior 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 £112,700
SL Class

Mercedes SL Class

  • Engine Type : Petrol MHEV, Petrol, Plugin Hybrid
  • Transmission : Automatic
  • Drive Type : Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
  • Power HP : 381 - 816 HP
  • Consumption L/100km : 9 - 13.6 L/100km
  • Electric Range : 12 km
details

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Mercedes SL Class
Honda Prelude

Costs and Consumption
View detailed analysis

Engine and Performance
View detailed analysis

Dimensions and Body
View detailed analysis

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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15C1119_012
15C1119_029
15C1119_120
15C1119_004

Reviews Mercedes SL Class

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

Honda Prelude

The Honda Prelude is the coupe that proves Honda can blend precision with a hint of romance, serving up crisp steering and a chassis that loves a flowing road. It’s practical enough for the commute and stylish enough to make parking-lot goodbyes last longer, with reliability that keeps your wallet calm and your right foot curious.

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Reviews Honda Prelude

4 (1 Reviews)
rate
TheRock
25 Apr 2026, 09:56:11

More beautiful design. Porsche is way behind Prelude.

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Mercedes SL Class
Honda Prelude

Costs and Consumption
Price
112,700 - 219,300 £
Price
42,400 £
Consumption L/100km
9 - 13.6 L/100km
Consumption L/100km
5.2 L/100km
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Electric Range
12 km
Electric Range
-
Battery Capacity
-
Battery Capacity
-
co2
206 - 309 g/km
co2
117 g/km
Fuel tank capacity
-
Fuel tank capacity
-

Dimensions and Body
Body Type
Roadster
Body Type
Coupe
Seats
4
Seats
4
Doors
-
Doors
-
Curb weight
1,810 - 2,195 kg
Curb weight
1,545 kg
Trunk capacity
-
Trunk capacity
264 L
Length
-
Length
-
Width
1,915 mm
Width
1,880 mm
Height
-
Height
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Payload
145 - 375 kg
Payload
305 kg

Engine and Performance
Engine Type
Petrol MHEV, Petrol, Plugin Hybrid
Engine Type
Full Hybrid
Transmission
Automatic
Transmission
Automatic
Transmission Detail
Automatic Gearbox
Transmission Detail
Automatic Gearbox
Drive Type
Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Drive Type
Front-Wheel Drive
Power HP
381 - 816 HP
Power HP
184 HP
Acceleration 0-100km/h
2.9 - 4.9 s
Acceleration 0-100km/h
8.2 s
Max Speed
-
Max Speed
-
Torque
480 - 1,420 Nm
Torque
315 Nm
Number of Cylinders
4 - 8
Number of Cylinders
4
Power kW
280 - 600 kW
Power kW
135 kW
Engine capacity
1,991 - 3,982 cm3
Engine capacity
1,993 cm3

General
Model Year
2025
Model Year
2026
CO2 Efficiency Class
G
CO2 Efficiency Class
D
Brand
Mercedes-Benz
Brand
Honda
What drive types are available for the Mercedes SL Class?

The Mercedes SL Class is offered with Rear-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.