Porsche Panamera vs Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

The Porsche Panamera starts from $227,000 before on-road costs, while the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class opens at $239,900. That makes the Porsche Panamera the more affordable entry point by $12,900.

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 $249,700 and $263,890 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs are nearly identical since both have similar efficiency.

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

The Porsche Panamera features a 12.3-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.6-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 Porsche Panamera stands out with power tailgate that you will not find on the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class. The Mercedes-Benz SL-Class counters with head-up display, wireless charging, panoramic roof and Burmester audio. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the Porsche Panamera gets leather upholstery while the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class offers nappa leather.

The Porsche Panamera uses a Petrol producing 260kW and 500Nm of torque, sent through a 8-speed pdk to a RWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 5.3 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 260kW. In the real-world sprint, the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class is 0.4s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Porsche Panamera measures 5,052mm long on a 2,950mm wheelbase, 347mm longer than the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class at 4,705mm (2,700mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Porsche Panamera generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 494L in the Porsche Panamera and 213L in the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, giving the Porsche Panamera a 281L advantage. The Porsche Panamera seats 4 vs 2.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $2,708/year for the Porsche Panamera and $2,565/year for the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class. That is a $143 annual difference in favour of the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class.

Estimated annual total: $2,708 (Porsche Panamera) vs $2,565 (Mercedes-Benz SL-Class). The Mercedes-Benz SL-Class saves you roughly $143 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 3 years / 999,999km (Porsche Panamera) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Mercedes-Benz SL-Class). The Mercedes-Benz SL-Class has longer coverage.