2023 head-to-head · Subcompact Car

2023 BMW 8 Series vs Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.

Swap sides
✓ Cheaper to run
$2,469/ year to fuel
24 MPG
✓ Cheaper to run
$3,703/ year to fuel
16 MPG

The 2023 BMW 8 Series is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas, it costs about $2,469 a year to fuel (24 MPG), versus $3,703 for the 2023 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class (16 MPG). That's roughly $1,234 a year, or about $6,172 over five years.

Your numbers

Change these to match your driving and local prices. Every figure and chart on this page updates.

Fuel cost over 10 years

  • BMW 8 Series
  • Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

Side by side

BMW 8 SeriesMercedes-Benz SL-Class
$2,469 Your annual fuel cost $3,703
24 MPG Combined efficiency 16 MPG
21 MPG City 14 MPG
29 MPG Highway 22 MPG
81 cu ft Passenger volume 76 cu ft
15 cu ft Cargo volume 6 cu ft
373 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 544 g/mi
5/10 EPA fuel economy score 3/10
5/10 EPA greenhouse gas score 3/10
Gas Powertrain Gas
Premium gasoline Fuel Premium gasoline
3.0L 6-cyl turbo Engine / motor 4.0L 8-cyl turbo
8-speed automatic Transmission 9-speed automatic
RWD Drivetrain AWD

✓ marks the better value. EPA scores run 1–10 (10 is best). Volumes come from the EPA interior volume index and aren't published for every body style.

BMW 8 Series vs Mercedes-Benz SL-Class across model years

  • BMW 8 Series
  • Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

Annual fuel cost of the most efficient configuration of each model year, at your prices. Click a point to open that year.

How they differ

Per EPA interior volume figures, the BMW 8 Series has more passenger space (81 vs. 76 cu ft); the BMW 8 Series has more cargo space (15 vs. 6 cu ft).

Among 31 2023 subcompact cars, the BMW 8 Series ranks 19th and the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class 31st for lowest fuel cost.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2023 BMW 8 Series or the 2023 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class?

Measured by cost to drive, the BMW 8 Series. The BMW 8 Series is rated 24 MPG combined and the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class 16 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2023 BMW 8 Series vs. the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class per year?

At 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas, about $2,469 for the BMW 8 Series and $3,703 for the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class.

Which has more cargo space?

The BMW 8 Series, with 15 cu ft of luggage volume versus 6 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).

BMW 8 Series vs Mercedes-Benz SL-Class in other years

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