Audi R8 vs Mercedes-Benz SL-Class: Specs Compared

Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class burns about $3,300 of fuel annually against $4,200 for the Audi R8. That $900 yearly gap compounds to roughly $4,500 over five years and $7,200 over eight — often more than the price difference between two trims of the same vehicle, and the single largest running-cost line item separating these two.

City and highway economy: the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class leads in both cycles — 21 mpg city and 28 mpg highway against 14 and 25 mpg — so its fuel-efficiency advantage holds whether you commute in traffic or cover long highway miles.

Powertrain choice: the Audi R8 is recorded with 2 distinct engine configurations (SIDI & PFI, SIDI), the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class with 4 (SIDI, SIDI; Mild Hybrid, SIDI; PHEV). Across 24 recorded Audi R8 configurations and 40 for the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, the wider the engine spread the more the real-world fuel efficiency depends on which version you actually buy, so check the specific model year and drivetrain rather than the headline number.

Drivetrain and class: the Audi R8 is offered with Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive, the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class with All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive. All-wheel drive typically costs one to two mpg combined against the same vehicle in front- or rear-wheel drive, which is worth remembering when the gap between these two is small. The EPA classes them as Two Seaters and Two Seaters respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.

Tailpipe emissions: at their cleanest configurations the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class emits 379 g/mile of CO2 versus 497 g/mile for the Audi R8. Emissions track fuel consumption almost exactly, so the cleaner vehicle here is also the cheaper one to fuel.