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Mercedes SL Class vs VW Golf Variant comparison

Compare performance (816 HP vs 204 HP), boot space and price (112,700 £ vs 28,800 £ ) at a glance. Find out which car is the better choice for you – Mercedes SL Class or VW Golf Variant?

Mercedes SL Class vs VW Golf Variant: Key differences

Mercedes SL Class

  • considerably more power
  • substantially quicker 0–100 km/h
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VW Golf Variant

  • clearly cheaper
  • significantly more efficient
  • visibly lighter
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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.

VW Golf Variant is clearly cheaper – starting at 28,800 £ , while the Mercedes SL Class costs 112,700 £ . That’s a price difference of around 83,857 £.

Fuel consumption also shows a difference: the VW Golf Variant uses 4.3 L/100km and is significantly more efficient than the Mercedes SL Class with 9 L/100km. The difference is about 4.7 L/100km.

Golf Variant

Engine and Performance:

Power, torque and acceleration say a lot about how a car feels on the road. This is where you see which model delivers more driving dynamics.

When it comes to engine power, the Mercedes SL Class offers considerably more power – delivering 816 HP compared to 204 HP. That’s roughly 612 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 VW Golf Variant takes 6.5 s. That’s about 3.6 s quicker.

There’s also a difference in torque: the Mercedes SL Class delivers substantially more torque with 1,420 Nm compared to 360 Nm. That’s about 1,060 Nm more.

SL Class

Space and Everyday Use:

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

Seats: VW Golf Variant offers more seats – 5 vs 4.

In terms of curb weight, VW Golf Variant is visibly lighter – 1,366 kg compared to 1,810 kg. The difference is around 444 kg.

When it comes to payload, the VW Golf Variant carries noticeably more – 547 kg compared to 375 kg. That’s a difference of about 172 kg.

Who wins the race in the data check?

The VW Golf Variant is decisively ahead 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 £28,800
Golf Variant

VW Golf Variant

  • Engine Type : Petrol, Petrol MHEV, Diesel
  • Transmission : Manuel, Automatic
  • Drive Type : Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
  • Power HP : 116 - 204 HP
  • Consumption L/100km : 4.3 - 7 L/100km
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Mercedes SL Class
VW Golf Variant

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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15C1119_029
15C1119_120
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Reviews Mercedes SL Class

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

VW Golf Variant

The Golf Estate packs Volkswagen's familiar poise into a practical, grown-up estate that quietly makes everyday life easier without shouting for attention. It's clever, comfortable and roomy enough for weekend kit or family chaos, offering smart packaging and refined manners that make it a sensible and surprisingly stylish choice for buyers who need space but don't want a van.

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DB2021AU00624_medium
DB2021AU00625_medium
DB2021AU00816_medium
DB2021AU00818_medium
DB2021AU00641_medium
DB2021AU00910_medium

Reviews VW Golf Variant

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Mercedes SL Class
VW Golf Variant

Costs and Consumption
Price
112,700 - 219,300 £
Price
28,800 - 38,800 £
Consumption L/100km
9 - 13.6 L/100km
Consumption L/100km
4.3 - 7 L/100km
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Electric Range
12 km
Electric Range
-
Battery Capacity
-
Battery Capacity
-
co2
206 - 309 g/km
co2
114 - 159 g/km
Fuel tank capacity
-
Fuel tank capacity
-

Dimensions and Body
Body Type
Roadster
Body Type
Estate
Seats
4
Seats
5
Doors
-
Doors
-
Curb weight
1,810 - 2,195 kg
Curb weight
1,366 - 1,551 kg
Trunk capacity
-
Trunk capacity
611 L
Length
-
Length
-
Width
1,915 mm
Width
1,789 mm
Height
-
Height
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Payload
145 - 375 kg
Payload
509 - 547 kg

Engine and Performance
Engine Type
Petrol MHEV, Petrol, Plugin Hybrid
Engine Type
Petrol, Petrol MHEV, 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, All-Wheel Drive
Power HP
381 - 816 HP
Power HP
116 - 204 HP
Acceleration 0-100km/h
2.9 - 4.9 s
Acceleration 0-100km/h
6.5 - 10.5 s
Max Speed
-
Max Speed
-
Torque
480 - 1,420 Nm
Torque
220 - 360 Nm
Number of Cylinders
4 - 8
Number of Cylinders
4
Power kW
280 - 600 kW
Power kW
85 - 150 kW
Engine capacity
1,991 - 3,982 cm3
Engine capacity
1,498 - 1,984 cm3

General
Model Year
2025
Model Year
2025
CO2 Efficiency Class
G
CO2 Efficiency Class
D, F, C
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.