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Mercedes SL Class vs Lotus Emira - Differences and prices compared

Compare performance (816 HP vs 406 HP), boot space and price (112700 £ vs 83600 £ ) at a glance. Find out which car is the better choice for you – Mercedes SL Class or Lotus Emira?

Mercedes SL Class

Lotus Emira

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

SL Class

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.

Lotus Emira has a distinct advantage in terms of price – it starts at 83600 £ , while the Mercedes SL Class costs 112700 £ . That’s a price difference of around 29133 £.

Fuel consumption also shows a difference: Mercedes SL Class manages with 9 L and is therefore barely noticeable more efficient than the Lotus Emira with 9.20 L. The difference is about 0.20 L per 100 km.

Emira

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 has a clearly edge – offering 816 HP compared to 406 HP. That’s roughly 410 HP more horsepower.

In acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h, the Mercedes SL Class is noticeable quicker – completing the sprint in 2.90 s, while the Lotus Emira takes 4 s. That’s about 1.10 s faster.

In terms of top speed, the Mercedes SL Class performs barely noticeable better – reaching 317 km/h, while the Lotus Emira tops out at 291 km/h. The difference is around 26 km/h.

There’s also a difference in torque: Mercedes SL Class pulls significantly stronger with 1420 Nm compared to 480 Nm. That’s about 940 Nm difference.

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.

Seats: Mercedes SL Class offers significantly more seating capacity – 4 vs 2.

In curb weight, Lotus Emira is noticeable lighter – 1455 kg compared to 1810 kg. The difference is around 355 kg.

In terms of boot space, the Mercedes SL Class offers clearly perceptible more room – 240 L compared to 151 L. That’s a difference of about 89 L.

When it comes to payload, Mercedes SL Class noticeable takes the win – 375 kg compared to 290 kg. That’s a difference of about 85 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.

Mercedes SL Class
Lotus Emira

Costs and Consumption
View detailed analysis

Engine and Performance
View detailed analysis

Dimensions and Body
View detailed analysis
from about £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
  • Electric Range : 12 km
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
15C1119_012
15C1119_029
15C1119_120
15C1119_004

Lotus Emira

The Lotus Emira is a supremely alive sports coupe that blends razor‑sharp handling with enough everyday comfort to make it usable beyond the track. It looks gorgeous, sounds eager and delivers a focused, smile-inducing drive that will seduce enthusiasts and tempt sensible buyers alike.

details
_LOT-3872
_LOT-3901
_LOT-3802
_LOT-3584
Lotus_Emira-Full-on-Interior
Lotus_Emira_DeadRear_3

Reviews Mercedes SL Class

Reviews Lotus Emira

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Mercedes SL Class
Lotus Emira

Costs and Consumption
Price
112700 - 219300 £
Price
83600 - 106000 £
Consumption L/100km
9 - 13.6 L
Consumption L/100km
9.2 - 11.3 L
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Electric Range
12 km
Electric Range
-
Battery Capacity
-
Battery Capacity
-
co2
206 - 309 g/km
co2
208 - 245 g/km
Fuel tank capacity
70 L
Fuel tank capacity
58 L

Dimensions and Body
Body Type
Roadster
Body Type
Coupe
Seats
4
Seats
2
Doors
2
Doors
2
Curb weight
1810 - 2195 kg
Curb weight
1455 - 1533 kg
Trunk capacity
110 - 240 L
Trunk capacity
151 L
Length
4697 - 4705 mm
Length
4413 mm
Width
1915 mm
Width
1895 - 1896 mm
Height
1354 - 1359 mm
Height
1235 mm
Max trunk capacity
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Payload
145 - 375 kg
Payload
213 - 290 kg

Engine and Performance
Engine Type
Petrol MHEV, Petrol, Plugin Hybrid
Engine Type
Petrol
Transmission
Automatic
Transmission
Automatic, Manuel
Transmission Detail
Automatic Gearbox
Transmission Detail
Dual-Clutch Automatic, Manual Gearbox, Automatic Gearbox
Drive Type
Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Drive Type
Rear-Wheel Drive
Power HP
381 - 816 HP
Power HP
365 - 406 HP
Acceleration 0-100km/h
2.9 - 4.9 s
Acceleration 0-100km/h
4 - 4.8 s
Max Speed
260 - 317 km/h
Max Speed
290 - 291 km/h
Torque
480 - 1420 Nm
Torque
420 - 480 Nm
Number of Cylinders
4 - 8
Number of Cylinders
4 - 6
Power kW
280 - 600 kW
Power kW
268 - 298 kW
Engine capacity
1991 - 3982 cm3
Engine capacity
1991 - 3456 cm3

General
Model Year
2025
Model Year
2023 - 2025
CO2 Efficiency Class
G
CO2 Efficiency Class
G
Brand
Mercedes-Benz
Brand
Lotus

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What drive types are available for the Mercedes SL Class?

The Mercedes SL Class is available as Rear-Wheel Drive or All-Wheel Drive.

The prices shown are estimates based on German list prices, adjusted for local VAT. Local registration taxes (e.g. NoVA, BPM or CO2 malus) are not included. This information is not legally binding.