Mercedes-Benz SL-Class vs Lexus LM

The Mercedes-Benz SL-Class starts from $239,900 before on-road costs, while the Lexus LM opens at $160,888. 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 $263,890 and $176,977 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 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class features a 11.9-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the Lexus LM gets a 14-inch display and 12.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Mercedes-Benz SL-Class stands out with head-up display, panoramic roof and Burmester audio that you will not find on the Lexus LM. The Lexus LM counters with ventilated seats, power tailgate and Mark Levinson audio. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

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 Lexus LM responds with a 2.5L Petrol-Electric Hybrid (A25A-FXS) making 184kW and 239Nm, paired to a cvt driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 9.1 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 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class measures 4,705mm long on a 2,700mm wheelbase, 425mm shorter than the Lexus LM at 5,130mm (3,000mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Lexus LM generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 213L in the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class and 110L in the Lexus LM, 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 $2,565/year for the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class and $1,568/year for the Lexus LM. That is a $997 annual difference in favour of the Lexus LM.

Estimated annual total: $2,565 (Mercedes-Benz SL-Class) vs $1,568 (Lexus LM). 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 / 999,999km (Mercedes-Benz SL-Class) vs 5 years (Lexus LM). Both match on warranty length.