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Mercedes SL Class vs VW Crafter comparison

Compare performance (816 HP vs 177 HP), boot space and price (112,700 £ vs 47,100 £ ) at a glance. Find out which car is the better choice for you – Mercedes SL Class or VW Crafter?

Mercedes SL Class vs VW Crafter: Key differences

Mercedes SL Class

  • substantially more power
  • somewhat lighter

VW Crafter

  • clearly cheaper
  • barely more efficient

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.

VW Crafter is clearly cheaper – starting at 47,100 £ , while the Mercedes SL Class costs 112,700 £ . That’s a price difference of around 65,580 £.

Fuel consumption also shows a difference: the VW Crafter uses 8.4 L/100km and is barely more efficient than the Mercedes SL Class with 9 L/100km. The difference is about 0.6 L/100km.

Crafter

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 substantially more power – delivering 816 HP compared to 177 HP. That’s roughly 639 HP more horsepower.

There’s also a difference in torque: the Mercedes SL Class delivers substantially more torque with 1,420 Nm compared to 410 Nm. That’s about 1,010 Nm more.

SL Class

Space and Everyday Use:

Whether family car or daily driver – which one offers more room, flexibility and comfort?

Seats: Mercedes SL Class offers more seats – 4 vs 2.

In terms of curb weight, Mercedes SL Class is somewhat lighter – 1,810 kg compared to 2,072 kg. The difference is around 262 kg.

When it comes to payload, the VW Crafter carries significantly more – 2,994 kg compared to 375 kg. That’s a difference of about 2,619 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
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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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VW Crafter

The VW Crafter is a no-nonsense workhorse that makes hauling and running a mobile business feel almost civilized, with a cabin built for long days and smart storage where you need it. It may not turn heads for glamour, but its sturdy build, straightforward tech and reliable manners mean fewer headaches for owners — a van that prefers to earn your trust rather than demand attention.

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Reviews VW Crafter

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Mercedes SL Class
VW Crafter

Costs and Consumption
Price
112,700 - 219,300 £
Price
47,100 - 68,800 £
Consumption L/100km
9 - 13.6 L/100km
Consumption L/100km
8.4 - 13.1 L/100km
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Electric Range
12 km
Electric Range
-
Battery Capacity
-
Battery Capacity
-
co2
206 - 309 g/km
co2
220 - 342 g/km
Fuel tank capacity
-
Fuel tank capacity
75 L

Dimensions and Body
Body Type
Roadster
Body Type
Cargo Van
Seats
4
Seats
2
Doors
-
Doors
4
Curb weight
1,810 - 2,195 kg
Curb weight
2,072 - 2,810 kg
Trunk capacity
-
Trunk capacity
-
Length
-
Length
5,986 - 7,391 mm
Width
1,915 mm
Width
2,040 - 2,069 mm
Height
-
Height
2,355 - 2,830 mm
Max trunk capacity
-
Max trunk capacity
9,300 - 18,400 L
Payload
145 - 375 kg
Payload
1,037 - 2,994 kg

Engine and Performance
Engine Type
Petrol MHEV, Petrol, Plugin Hybrid
Engine Type
Diesel
Transmission
Automatic
Transmission
Manuel, Automatic
Transmission Detail
Automatic Gearbox
Transmission Detail
Manual Gearbox, Automatic Gearbox
Drive Type
Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Drive Type
Rear-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Power HP
381 - 816 HP
Power HP
140 - 177 HP
Acceleration 0-100km/h
2.9 - 4.9 s
Acceleration 0-100km/h
-
Max Speed
-
Max Speed
90 - 165 km/h
Torque
480 - 1,420 Nm
Torque
360 - 410 Nm
Number of Cylinders
4 - 8
Number of Cylinders
4
Power kW
280 - 600 kW
Power kW
103 - 130 kW
Engine capacity
1,991 - 3,982 cm3
Engine capacity
1,968 cm3

General
Model Year
2,025
Model Year
2,017 - 2,023
CO2 Efficiency Class
G
CO2 Efficiency Class
G
Brand
Mercedes-Benz
Brand
VW
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.