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Mercedes SL Class vs Renault Rafale comparison

Compare performance (816 HP vs 300 HP), boot space and price (112,700 £ vs 37,700 £ ) at a glance. Find out which car is the better choice for you – Mercedes SL Class or Renault Rafale?

Mercedes SL Class vs Renault Rafale: Key differences

Mercedes SL Class

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

4.9 (10 Reviews)
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  • significantly cheaper
  • considerably more efficient
  • substantially more electric range
  • only slightly lighter
  • clearly more trunk space
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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.

By Achim Sedelmaier

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

SL Class

Costs and Efficiency:

Price and efficiency are key factors when choosing a car – and this is often where the real differences emerge.

Renault Rafale is significantly cheaper – starting at 37,700 £ , while the Mercedes SL Class costs 112,700 £ . That’s a price difference of around 74,990 £.

Fuel consumption also shows a difference: the Renault Rafale uses 2 L/100km and is considerably more efficient than the Mercedes SL Class with 9 L/100km. The difference is about 7 L/100km.

As for electric range, the Renault Rafale offers substantially more range – reaching up to 97 km, about 85 km more than the Mercedes SL Class.

Rafale

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 300 HP. That’s roughly 516 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 Renault Rafale takes 6.4 s. That’s about 3.5 s quicker.

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: Renault Rafale offers more seats – 5 vs 4.

In terms of curb weight, Renault Rafale is only slightly lighter – 1,734 kg compared to 1,810 kg. The difference is around 76 kg.

Looking at boot space, the Renault Rafale offers clearly more boot space – 627 L compared to 240 L. That’s a difference of about 387 L.

When it comes to payload, the Renault Rafale carries a bit more – 444 kg compared to 375 kg. That’s a difference of about 69 kg.

Who wins the race in the data check?

The Renault Rafale 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 £37,700
Rafale

Renault Rafale

  • Engine Type Full Hybrid, Plugin Hybrid
  • Transmission Automatic
  • Drive Type Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
  • Power HP 200 - 300 HP
  • Consumption L/100km 2 - 5 L/100km
  • Electric Range 97 km
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Mercedes SL Class
Renault Rafale

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

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

Renault Rafale

The Renault Rafale dresses bold coupé-inspired lines around a practical crossover body, turning heads without trying too hard. Inside it serves up a comfortable, well-equipped cabin and engaging driving manners, making it a clever choice for buyers who want a bit of panache with their daily commute.

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Reviews Renault Rafale

4.9 (10 Reviews)
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andy
19 Jun 2026, 12:58:24

Very good value for money for a well-equipped car.

How do you mainly use this car? (optional): Company car / Business
Efficiency / Consumption & Range
Comfort & Interior
Driving Fun / Performance
Technology & Infotainment
Safety
Practicality / Trunk & Everyday Use
Value for Money
Low Budget Urus
4 May 2026, 18:28:11

Resonably good, efficiant and very good looking family hyper Hybrid....

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
PILI
18 Feb 2026, 08:48:58

Very good car — responsive, supple, comfortable and reasonably economical. Not quite at the German premium level for noise insulation, but very close... Exceptional chassis.

How do you mainly use this car? (optional): Long-distance driver
Efficiency / Consumption & Range
Comfort & Interior
Driving Fun / Performance
Technology & Infotainment
Safety
Practicality / Trunk & Everyday Use
Value for Money
Martin
4 Dec 2025, 08:40:43

As a Rafale owner, I'm happy with my choice. The car is spacious, feels luxurious, quiet, robust and very efficient at the same time. I also feel more “up to date” compared to the RAV4.

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Mercedes SL Class
Renault Rafale

Costs and Consumption
Price
112,700 - 219,300 £
Price
37,700 - 49,700 £
Consumption L/100km
9 - 13.6 L/100km
Consumption L/100km
2 - 5 L/100km
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Electric Range
12 km
Electric Range
97 km
Battery Capacity
-
Battery Capacity
-
co2
206 - 309 g/km
co2
43 - 108 g/km
Fuel tank capacity
-
Fuel tank capacity
-

Dimensions and Body
Body Type
Roadster
Body Type
SUV
Seats
4
Seats
5
Doors
-
Doors
-
Curb weight
1,810 - 2,195 kg
Curb weight
1,734 - 2,025 kg
Trunk capacity
110 - 240 L
Trunk capacity
539 - 627 L
Length
-
Length
-
Width
1,915 mm
Width
1,886 mm
Height
-
Height
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Payload
145 - 375 kg
Payload
415 - 444 kg

Engine and Performance
Engine Type
Petrol MHEV, Petrol, Plugin Hybrid
Engine Type
Full Hybrid, Plugin 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, All-Wheel Drive
Power HP
435 - 816 HP
Power HP
200 - 300 HP
Acceleration 0-100km/h
2.9 - 4.7 s
Acceleration 0-100km/h
6.4 - 8.9 s
Max Speed
-
Max Speed
-
Torque
500 - 1,420 Nm
Torque
-
Number of Cylinders
4 - 8
Number of Cylinders
3
Power kW
320 - 600 kW
Power kW
147 - 221 kW
Engine capacity
1,991 - 3,982 cm3
Engine capacity
1,199 cm3

General
Model Year
2025
Model Year
2025
CO2 Efficiency Class
G
CO2 Efficiency Class
C, B
Brand
Mercedes-Benz
Brand
Renault
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.