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Mercedes SL Class vs SEAT Leon comparison

Compare performance (816 HP vs 272 HP), boot space and price (112700 £ vs 24500 £ ) at a glance. Find out which car is the better choice for you – Mercedes SL Class or SEAT Leon?

Mercedes SL Class vs SEAT Leon: Key differences

Mercedes SL Class

  • decisively more power
  • decisively quicker from 0–100 km/h

SEAT Leon

4.4 (2 Reviews)
rate
  • convincingly cheaper
  • significantly more efficient
  • significantly more electric range
  • clearly perceptible lighter

All details on performance, efficiency, range and trunk space can be found in the technical comparison below – including user reviews for both models.

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.

SEAT Leon has a convincingly advantage in terms of price – it starts at 24500 £ , while the Mercedes SL Class costs 112700 £ . That’s a price difference of around 88250 £.

Fuel consumption also shows a difference: SEAT Leon manages with 1.20 L and is therefore significantly more efficient than the Mercedes SL Class with 9 L. The difference is about 7.80 L per 100 km.

As for electric range, the SEAT Leon performs significantly better – achieving up to 133 km, about 121 km more than the Mercedes SL Class.

Leon

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 decisively edge – offering 816 HP compared to 272 HP. That’s roughly 544 HP more horsepower.

In acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h, the Mercedes SL Class is decisively quicker – completing the sprint in 2.90 s, while the SEAT Leon takes 7.70 s. That’s about 4.80 s faster.

There’s also a difference in torque: Mercedes SL Class pulls convincingly stronger with 1420 Nm compared to 360 Nm. That’s about 1060 Nm difference.

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.

Seats: SEAT Leon offers to a small extent more seating capacity – 5 vs 4.

In curb weight, SEAT Leon is clearly perceptible lighter – 1344 kg compared to 1810 kg. The difference is around 466 kg.

When it comes to payload, SEAT Leon evident takes the win – 521 kg compared to 375 kg. That’s a difference of about 146 kg.

Who wins the race in the data check?

The SEAT Leon 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.

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Mercedes SL Class
SEAT Leon

Costs and Consumption
View detailed analysis

Engine and Performance
View detailed analysis

Dimensions and Body
View detailed analysis
from about £24,500
Leon

SEAT Leon

  • Engine Type : Petrol, Petrol MHEV, Plugin Hybrid, Diesel
  • Transmission : Manuel, Automatic
  • Drive Type : Front-Wheel Drive
  • Power HP : 116 - 272 HP
  • Consumption L/100km : 1.2 - 5.5 L
  • Electric Range : 133 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
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SEAT Leon

4.4 (2 Reviews)
rate

SEAT Leon pairs sharp, modern styling with a cabin that's sensible and slightly sporty, making it an appealing choice for buyers who want flair without fuss. It drives with eager composure and offers a neat balance of comfort and agility, so you get everyday usability with a wink of fun.

details
Small-33980-LeonSEDynamic-MysteryBlue
Small-33989-LeonSEDynamic-MysteryBlue
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Small-35510-SEATLeonkeepsWhatCarAwardinthefamily

Reviews Mercedes SL Class

Reviews SEAT Leon

4.4 (2 Reviews)
rate
FaBio
4 Jan 2026, 21:30:20

Mechanically the car is fairly well built, apart from the rear axle.
The air conditioning is effective and visibility is good, while the FR setup paired with the 18" wheels, in my view, hurts comfort — getting in and out can be awkward. Once on board, though, the seats are very comfortable. The infotainment is comprehensive, with a generously sized screen and full-link smartphone connectivity; the factory sat-nav does what it can, but obviously Maps is superior in every way.
All in all, a fun/sporty car that also winks at family life thanks to a roomy boot and modest fuel consumption.

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
Mercedes SL Class
SEAT Leon

Costs and Consumption
Price
112700 - 219300 £
Price
24500 - 36400 £
Consumption L/100km
9 - 13.6 L
Consumption L/100km
1.2 - 5.5 L
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Electric Range
12 km
Electric Range
133 km
Battery Capacity
-
Battery Capacity
19.70 kWh
co2
206 - 309 g/km
co2
27 - 126 g/km
Fuel tank capacity
-
Fuel tank capacity
40 - 45 L

Dimensions and Body
Body Type
Roadster
Body Type
Hatchback
Seats
4
Seats
5
Doors
-
Doors
5
Curb weight
1810 - 2195 kg
Curb weight
1344 - 1657 kg
Trunk capacity
-
Trunk capacity
270 - 380 L
Length
-
Length
4368 mm
Width
1915 mm
Width
1799 mm
Height
-
Height
1442 - 1460 mm
Max trunk capacity
-
Max trunk capacity
1187 - 1301 L
Payload
145 - 375 kg
Payload
473 - 521 kg

Engine and Performance
Engine Type
Petrol MHEV, Petrol, Plugin Hybrid
Engine Type
Petrol, Petrol MHEV, Plugin Hybrid, Diesel
Transmission
Automatic
Transmission
Manuel, Automatic
Transmission Detail
Automatic Gearbox
Transmission Detail
Manual Gearbox, Dual-Clutch Automatic
Drive Type
Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Drive Type
Front-Wheel Drive
Power HP
381 - 816 HP
Power HP
116 - 272 HP
Acceleration 0-100km/h
2.9 - 4.9 s
Acceleration 0-100km/h
7.7 - 10.5 s
Max Speed
-
Max Speed
197 - 220 km/h
Torque
480 - 1420 Nm
Torque
220 - 360 Nm
Number of Cylinders
4 - 8
Number of Cylinders
4
Power kW
280 - 600 kW
Power kW
85 - 200 kW
Engine capacity
1991 - 3982 cm3
Engine capacity
1498 - 1968 cm3

General
Model Year
2025
Model Year
2024 - 2026
CO2 Efficiency Class
G
CO2 Efficiency Class
D, B
Brand
Mercedes-Benz
Brand
SEAT

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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.