BMW X6 M vs Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

The BMW X6 M starts from $247,900 before on-road costs, while the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class opens at $239,900. That makes the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class the more affordable entry point by $8,000.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $272,690 and $263,890 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class by roughly $4,990 in fuel alone.

ANCAP safety ratings have not been published for both models yet. We will update this section when crash test results are available.

The BMW X6 M features a 14.9-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class gets a 11.9-inch display and 12.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The BMW X6 M stands out with ventilated seats, power tailgate and Harman Kardon audio that you will not find on the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class. The Mercedes-Benz SL-Class counters with Burmester audio and ambient lighting. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the BMW X6 M gets merino leather upholstery while the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class offers nappa leather. Climate control is 4-zone in the BMW X6 M and 2-zone in the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class.

The BMW X6 M uses a Petrol producing 460kW and 750Nm of torque, sent through a auto to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 3.9 seconds.

The Mercedes-Benz SL-Class responds with a Petrol making 280kW and 480Nm, paired to a automatic driving the rear wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 4.9 seconds.

The BMW X6 M has the clear power advantage at 460kW vs 280kW. In the real-world sprint, the BMW X6 M is 1.0s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The BMW X6 M measures 4,948mm long on a 2,972mm wheelbase, 243mm longer than the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class at 4,705mm (2,700mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the BMW X6 M generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 580L in the BMW X6 M and 213L in the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, giving the BMW X6 M a 367L advantage. The BMW X6 M seats 5 vs 2.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $3,563/year for the BMW X6 M and $2,565/year for the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class. That is a $998 annual difference in favour of the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class.

Estimated annual total: $3,563 (BMW X6 M) vs $2,565 (Mercedes-Benz SL-Class). The Mercedes-Benz SL-Class saves you roughly $998 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (BMW X6 M) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Mercedes-Benz SL-Class). Both match on warranty length.