Mercedes-Benz SL-Class vs BMW X5 M

The Mercedes-Benz SL-Class starts from $239,900 before on-road costs, while the BMW X5 M opens at $247,800. That makes the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class the more affordable entry point by $7,900.

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 $263,890 and $272,580 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 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class features a 11.9-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the BMW X5 M gets a 14.9-inch display and 12.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Mercedes-Benz SL-Class stands out with Burmester audio and ambient lighting that you will not find on the BMW X5 M. The BMW X5 M counters with ventilated seats, power tailgate and Harman Kardon audio. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class gets nappa leather upholstery while the BMW X5 M offers merino leather. Climate control is 2-zone in the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class and 4-zone in the BMW X5 M.

The Mercedes-Benz SL-Class uses a Petrol producing 280kW and 480Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a RWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 4.9 seconds.

The BMW X5 M responds with a Petrol making 460kW and 750Nm, paired to a auto driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 3.9 seconds.

The BMW X5 M has the clear power advantage at 460kW vs 280kW. In the real-world sprint, the BMW X5 M is 1.0s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Mercedes-Benz SL-Class measures 4,705mm long on a 2,700mm wheelbase, 243mm shorter than the BMW X5 M at 4,948mm (2,972mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the BMW X5 M generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 213L in the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class and 650L in the BMW X5 M, giving the BMW X5 M a 437L advantage. The BMW X5 M seats 5 vs 2.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $2,565/year for the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class and $3,563/year for the BMW X5 M. That is a $998 annual difference in favour of the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class.

Estimated annual total: $2,565 (Mercedes-Benz SL-Class) vs $3,563 (BMW X5 M). 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 (Mercedes-Benz SL-Class) vs 5 years / 999,999km (BMW X5 M). Both match on warranty length.