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Mercedes SL Class vs Lexus RC comparison

Compare performance (816 HP vs 464 HP), boot space and price (112,700 £ vs 82,300 £ ) at a glance. Find out which car is the better choice for you – Mercedes SL Class or Lexus RC?

Mercedes SL Class vs Lexus RC: Key differences

Mercedes SL Class

  • significantly more power
  • visibly more efficient
  • substantially quicker 0–100 km/h
details

Lexus RC

  • noticeably cheaper
  • very slightly lighter
  • noticeably more trunk space
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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.

Lexus RC is noticeably cheaper – starting at 82,300 £ , while the Mercedes SL Class costs 112,700 £ . That’s a price difference of around 30,376 £.

Fuel consumption also shows a difference: the Mercedes SL Class uses 9 L/100km and is visibly more efficient than the Lexus RC with 11.8 L/100km. The difference is about 2.8 L/100km.

RC

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 significantly more power – delivering 816 HP compared to 464 HP. That’s roughly 352 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 Lexus RC takes 4.3 s. That’s about 1.4 s quicker.

There’s also a difference in torque: the Mercedes SL Class delivers significantly more torque with 1,420 Nm compared to 520 Nm. That’s about 900 Nm more.

SL Class

Space and Everyday Use:

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

Both vehicles offer seating for 4 people.

In terms of curb weight, Lexus RC is very slightly lighter – 1,715 kg compared to 1,810 kg. The difference is around 95 kg.

Looking at boot space, the Lexus RC offers noticeably more boot space – 366 L compared to 240 L. That’s a difference of about 126 L.

When it comes to payload, the Lexus RC carries markedly more – 535 kg compared to 375 kg. That’s a difference of about 160 kg.

Who wins the race in the data check?

The Mercedes SL Class is far ahead 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 435 - 816 HP
  • Consumption L/100km 9 - 13.6 L/100km
  • Electric Range 12 km
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Mercedes SL Class
Lexus RC

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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Reviews Mercedes SL Class

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Lexus RC

The Lexus RC cuts a dramatic figure on the road with its bold grille and sculpted coupe silhouette, blending Japanese refinement with a dash of show-off flair. Inside it favors comfort and clever detailing over racetrack theatrics, so if you want a luxurious, dependable coupe that rewards everyday driving with poise and a grin, the RC is hard to ignore.

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Reviews Lexus RC

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

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Mercedes SL Class
Lexus RC

Costs and Consumption
Price
112,700 - 219,300 £
Price
82,300 - 101,500 £
Consumption L/100km
9 - 13.6 L/100km
Consumption L/100km
11.8 L/100km
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Electric Range
12 km
Electric Range
-
Battery Capacity
-
Battery Capacity
-
co2
206 - 309 g/km
co2
268 g/km
Fuel tank capacity
-
Fuel tank capacity
66 L

Dimensions and Body
Body Type
Roadster
Body Type
Coupe
Seats
4
Seats
4
Doors
-
Doors
3
Curb weight
1,810 - 2,195 kg
Curb weight
1,715 kg
Trunk capacity
110 - 240 L
Trunk capacity
366 L
Length
-
Length
4,710 mm
Width
1,915 mm
Width
1,845 mm
Height
-
Height
1,390 mm
Max trunk capacity
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Payload
145 - 375 kg
Payload
535 kg

Engine and Performance
Engine Type
Petrol MHEV, Petrol, Plugin Hybrid
Engine Type
Petrol
Transmission
Automatic
Transmission
Automatic
Transmission Detail
Automatic Gearbox
Transmission Detail
Automatic Gearbox
Drive Type
Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Drive Type
Rear-Wheel Drive
Power HP
435 - 816 HP
Power HP
464 HP
Acceleration 0-100km/h
2.9 - 4.7 s
Acceleration 0-100km/h
4.3 - 4.5 s
Max Speed
-
Max Speed
270 km/h
Torque
500 - 1,420 Nm
Torque
520 Nm
Number of Cylinders
4 - 8
Number of Cylinders
8
Power kW
320 - 600 kW
Power kW
341 kW
Engine capacity
1,991 - 3,982 cm3
Engine capacity
4,969 cm3

General
Model Year
2025
Model Year
2,021 - 2,024
CO2 Efficiency Class
G
CO2 Efficiency Class
G
Brand
Mercedes-Benz
Brand
Lexus
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.