Mercedes-Benz SL-Class vs Porsche 911

The Mercedes-Benz SL-Class starts from $386,500 before on-road costs, while the Porsche 911 opens at $296,700. That makes the Porsche 911 the more affordable entry point by $89,800.

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 $425,150 and $326,370 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Porsche 911 by roughly $6,415 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 Porsche 911 gets a 10.9-inch display and 12.6-inch instruments.

The Mercedes-Benz SL-Class stands out with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, head-up display, wireless charging, panoramic roof, heated front seats, Burmester audio and ambient lighting that you will not find on the Porsche 911. 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 Porsche 911 offers leather.

The Mercedes-Benz SL-Class uses a Petrol producing 430kW and 800Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 3.9 seconds.

The Porsche 911 responds with a Petrol making 290kW and 450Nm, paired to a 8-speed pdk driving the rear wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 4.1 seconds.

The Mercedes-Benz SL-Class has the clear power advantage at 430kW vs 290kW. In the real-world sprint, the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class is 0.2s 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, 172mm longer than the Porsche 911 at 4,533mm (2,450mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 213L in the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class and 132L in the Porsche 911, giving the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class a 81L advantage. The Porsche 911 seats 4 vs 2.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $3,962/year for the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class and $2,679/year for the Porsche 911. That is a $1,283 annual difference in favour of the Porsche 911.

Estimated annual total: $3,962 (Mercedes-Benz SL-Class) vs $2,679 (Porsche 911). The Porsche 911 saves you roughly $1,283 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 3 years / 999,999km (Porsche 911). The Mercedes-Benz SL-Class has longer coverage.