Mercedes SL 2006 vs SAAB 9-3 2006
| Gearbox: | Automatic | Manual | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine: | 3.5 Petrol | 1.9 Diesel | |
| Petrol engines (Mercedes SL) are generally quieter, smoother, and better suited for short trips due to quicker warm-up times. Diesel (SAAB 9-3) engines, on the other hand, offer superior fuel efficiency and torque, making them ideal for long-distance driving and heavy loads. Read more: Petrol vs. Diesel: Fuel Economy and Key Differences. | |||
| Camshaft drive: | Double-row timing chain | Timing belt | |
| Engine chain usually needs to be replaced less often than the timing belt, but the cost of replacing the chain is usually higher. Chain motors are considered to be more reliable, but noisier and more vibration generating. | |||
Performance | |||
| Power: | 272 HP | 150 HP | |
| Torque: | 350 NM | 320 NM | |
| Acceleration 0-100 km/h: | 6.6 seconds | 10 seconds | |
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Mercedes SL is more dynamic to drive. Mercedes SL engine produces 122 HP more power than SAAB 9-3, whereas torque is 30 NM more than SAAB 9-3. Thanks to more power Mercedes SL reaches 100 km/h speed 3.4 seconds faster. | |||
Fuel consumption | |||
| Fuel consumption (l/100km): | 10.3 | 5.9 | |
| Real fuel consumption: | 11.8 l/100km | 6.4 l/100km | |
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The SAAB 9-3 is a better choice when it comes to fuel economy. By specification Mercedes SL consumes 4.4 litres more fuel per 100 km than the SAAB 9-3, which means that if you drive 15,000 km in a year, the Mercedes SL could require 660 litres more fuel. By comparing actual fuel consumption based on user reports, Mercedes SL consumes 5.4 litres more fuel per 100 km than the SAAB 9-3. | |||
| Fuel tank capacity: | 80 litres | 63 litres | |
| Full fuel tank distance: | 770 km in combined cycle | 1060 km in combined cycle | |
| 670 km with real consumption | 980 km with real consumption | ||
| SAAB 9-3 gets more mileage on one fuel tank. | |||
| Read the article "Fuel Efficiency: How to Reduce Fuel Consumption" to learn more about fuel economy. | |||
Drive type | |||
| Wheel drive type: | Rear wheel drive (RWD) | Front wheel drive (FWD) | |
| Front-wheel drive cars (SAAB 9-3) have better traction on slippery roads and when climbing hills, better fuel economy, and are less expensive to purchase. On the disadvantage side, FWD cars usually have less towing capacity, poorer acceleration and harder handling. Rear-wheel drive cars (Mercedes SL) have better handling on dry roads, better acceleration, more even weight distribution and more fun to drive. RWD is also better for towing large loads. The cons of rear-wheel drive are less interior and trunk space and more difficulty maneuvering in wet and snowy conditions. | |||
Engines | |||
| Average engine lifespan: | 450'000 km | 420'000 km | |
| Engine resource depends largely on regular maintenance and the quality of the oils and fuels used. | |||
| Engine production duration: | 13 years | 6 years | |
| Engine spread: | Installed on at least 9 other car models, including Mercedes C klase, Mercedes E klase, Mercedes ML, Mercedes S klase | Used also on SAAB 9-5 | |
| In general, the longer and for more car models an engine is produced, the better its serviceability and availability of spare parts. Mercedes SL might be a better choice in this respect. | |||
Dimensions | |||
| Length: | 4.54 m | 4.64 m | |
| Width: | 1.82 m | 1.76 m | |
| Height: | 1.30 m | 1.43 m | |
| Mercedes SL is 10 cm shorter than the SAAB 9-3, 6 cm wider, while the height of Mercedes SL is 13 cm lower. | |||
| Trunk capacity: | 235 litres | 235 litres | |
| Trunk max capacity: with rear seats folded down |
339 litres | no data | |
| Turning diameter: | 11 meters | 11 meters | |
| Gross weight (kg): | 2`120 | 2`040 | |
| Safety: | no data | ||
| Quality: | above average | above average | |
| SAAB 9-3 has slightly fewer faults. Deffect rate in annual technical inspection is similar for both cars, it's slightly higher for Mercedes SL, so SAAB 9-3 quality could be a bit better. | |||
| Average price (€): | 13 400 | 5000 | |
| Pros and Cons: |
Mercedes SL has
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SAAB 9-3 has
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