Lexus LM vs Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

The Lexus LM starts from $160,888 before on-road costs, while the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class opens at $239,900. That makes the Lexus LM the more affordable entry point by $79,012.

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 $176,977 and $263,890 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Lexus LM by roughly $4,985 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 Lexus LM features a 14-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 Lexus LM stands out with ventilated seats, power tailgate and Mark Levinson audio that you will not find on the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class. The Mercedes-Benz SL-Class counters with head-up display, panoramic roof and Burmester audio. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The Lexus LM uses a 2.5L Petrol-Electric Hybrid (A25A-FXS) producing 184kW and 239Nm of torque, sent through a cvt to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 9.1 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 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class has the clear power advantage at 280kW vs 184kW. In the real-world sprint, the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class is 4.2s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Lexus LM measures 5,130mm long on a 3,000mm wheelbase, 425mm longer than the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class at 4,705mm (2,700mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Lexus LM generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 110L in the Lexus LM and 213L in the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, giving the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class a 103L advantage. The Lexus LM seats 7 vs 2.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $1,568/year for the Lexus LM and $2,565/year for the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class. That is a $997 annual difference in favour of the Lexus LM.

Estimated annual total: $1,568 (Lexus LM) vs $2,565 (Mercedes-Benz SL-Class). The Lexus LM saves you roughly $997 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

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