1993 Mercedes-Benz 300SL: MPG and fuel economy
The 1993 Mercedes-Benz 300SL is rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 17 combined MPG, with 14 MPG in the city and 21 MPG on the highway. That is right around the average car in the Two Seaters class for the same model year.
This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 1993 Mercedes-Benz 300SL. Below you will find the headline combined, city, and highway MPG, the estimated annual fuel cost at three different driving levels, the tailpipe CO₂ emissions, and a full breakdown of the engine and drivetrain. The EPA rates 2 separate variants of this car (different engine, transmission, or drivetrain combinations), and you can compare them side by side in the trims table. If you want to know whether this generation got more or less efficient over the years, the year-over-year table further down covers every model year the EPA has rated.
Key takeaways
- The most efficient car in the Two Seaters class for the 1993 model year is the Geo Metro LSI Convertible at 30 MPG.
- EPA estimates this car costs around $9,500 more in fuel over five years than an average new vehicle of the same model year.
- Subject to the federal Gas Guzzler Tax, which applies to passenger cars rated below 22.5 combined MPG.
- Requires premium gasoline, which typically adds about 40 to 60 cents per gallon to the EPA's annual fuel cost estimate.
Fuel economy at a glance
These are the EPA's official ratings for the 1993 Mercedes-Benz 300SL. The numbers come from a standardised laboratory test cycle and are the same figures that appear on the window sticker of every new car. Real-world mileage varies with driving style, weather, fuel quality, and how heavily loaded the car is.
When the EPA tests several variants of the same nameplate (for example, a front-wheel-drive version and an all-wheel-drive version), each gets its own rating. The figures shown here are the headline variant, taken as the configuration with the best combined MPG. The trims table further down covers all 2 variants side by side.
Combined MPG is a 55/45 weighted blend of the city and highway test cycles. The EPA uses it as the single number you can compare across the entire dataset, including hybrids and EVs (which use the equivalent MPGe figure).
| Combined MPG | 17 MPG |
| City MPG | 14 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 21 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $4,050 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 523 g/mi |
| Fuel type | Premium |
How the 1993 Mercedes-Benz 300SL compares
The 1993 Mercedes-Benz 300SL returns 17 combined MPG. Cars in the Two Seaters class for the same model year average 16.9 MPG, which puts this car ahead of the class average by about 1%.
The most efficient car in the Two Seaters class for the 1993 model year is the Geo Metro LSI Convertible at 30 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Mercedes-Benz 300SL alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.
For broader context, the average new car of the 1993 model year (across all classes) returns 18.8 MPG. Larger vehicles pull the all-cars average down, so do not use that figure on its own to judge a small car or a hybrid. The full list of the most efficient cars of the 1993 model year is on its own page.
Trim variants rated for 1993
The EPA rates 2 separate variants of the 1993 Mercedes-Benz 300SL. The differences come from the engine size, transmission type, and drivetrain (front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, and so on). The same nameplate can land several MPG apart depending on the configuration you actually buy.
| Engine and transmission | Drive | Combined | City | Highway | Annual cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3L, 6-cyl, Automatic 5-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 17 MPG | 14 MPG | 21 MPG | $4,050 |
| 3L, 6-cyl, Manual 5-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 MPG | 14 MPG | 21 MPG | $4,300 |
Annual fuel cost across driving patterns
The headline annual fuel cost the EPA publishes assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year and a fuel mix of 55% city and 45% highway. The dollar figure is calculated using the EPA's current reference price for premium gasoline, which is $4.61/gallon. EPA updates that reference periodically rather than tracking live pump prices, so treat it as a window-sticker estimate rather than today's pump number.
The table below scales the EPA's number to three common driving patterns. The combined MPG and the reference fuel price stay constant, only the annual mileage changes. To get a current-prices estimate, take your local gas price and multiply by 882.4 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).
| Driving pattern | Estimated annual fuel cost |
|---|---|
| Light driver, 7,500 miles per year | $2,025 |
| Average driver, 15,000 miles per year | $4,050 |
| Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year | $6,750 |
Year-over-year MPG for the Mercedes-Benz 300SL
The EPA has rated the Mercedes-Benz 300SL across 4 model years, from 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300SL through 1993 Mercedes-Benz 300SL. The numbers below are the best combined MPG figure the EPA published for each year, which lets you see when the car was at its most efficient and how recent generations stack up.
Combined MPG has stayed in roughly the same range across the run, hovering close to 17 MPG.
| Year | Combined MPG | Open year page |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 17 MPG | this page |
| 1992 | 17 MPG | 1992 Mercedes-Benz 300SL |
| 1991 | 17 MPG | 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300SL |
| 1990 | 17 MPG | 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300SL |
Compare against other Two Seaters for 1993
If you are cross-shopping the 1993 Mercedes-Benz 300SL, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Two Seaters class for the same model year. The list below shows the highest-MPG peers, ranked from most to least efficient. Click any of them to open its full page.
The Geo Metro LSI Convertible leads this group at 37 MPG, 20 MPG ahead of the 1993 Mercedes-Benz 300SL.
Specifications
The 1993 Mercedes-Benz 300SL runs a 3-liter 6-cylinder engine paired with a automatic 5-spd, sending power through rear-wheel drive.
Engine, transmission, and drivetrain together drive most of the variation in fuel economy across trims. A larger engine moves the car with less effort but burns more fuel. A turbo lets a small engine punch above its weight, often without much MPG penalty. All-wheel drive adds traction and weight, and usually costs a couple of MPG compared with two-wheel drive of the same engine.
- Vehicle class
- Two Seaters
- Engine
- 3L 6-cylinder
- Transmission
- Automatic 5-spd
- Drivetrain
- Rear-Wheel Drive
- Fuel type
- Premium
- Annual petroleum use
- 17.5 barrels per year
- Gas guzzler tax
- Applies (federal)
Common questions about the 1993 Mercedes-Benz 300SL
Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 1993 Mercedes-Benz 300SL.
-
Is the 1993 Mercedes-Benz 300SL fuel efficient?
It is in line with the rest of the class. The 1993 Mercedes-Benz 300SL returns 17 combined MPG, and the average car in the Two Seaters class for the same model year sits at 16.9 MPG. -
What MPG does the 1993 Mercedes-Benz 300SL get?
The EPA rates the 1993 Mercedes-Benz 300SL at 17 combined MPG, 14 MPG in city driving, and 21 MPG on the highway. Real-world numbers depend on your driving style, the weather, and how loaded the car is. -
How much does it cost to fuel a 1993 Mercedes-Benz 300SL per year?
The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $4,050 for the 1993 Mercedes-Benz 300SL. That figure assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year, a 55% city and 45% highway split, and the EPA's published average fuel price for the rated fuel grade. -
Does the 1993 Mercedes-Benz 300SL require premium gas?
Yes. The EPA lists the 1993 Mercedes-Benz 300SL as requiring premium gasoline. Running it on regular can reduce performance and may affect engine warranties, so it is not a recommended way to save at the pump. -
Has the Mercedes-Benz 300SL become more fuel efficient over time?
Combined MPG has stayed close to flat across the run. Both the earliest (1990 Mercedes-Benz 300SL, 17 MPG) and most recent (1993 Mercedes-Benz 300SL, 17 MPG) versions sit in the same range. -
How much CO₂ does the 1993 Mercedes-Benz 300SL emit?
Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 523 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 7,841 kilograms of CO₂. -
What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 1993 Mercedes-Benz 300SL?
City driving returns 14 MPG and highway driving returns 21 MPG, a gap of 7 MPG. A spread that wide is typical of cars with conventional automatic or manual transmissions, where stop-start city traffic eats more fuel than a steady highway cruise. -
What engine is in the 1993 Mercedes-Benz 300SL?
The 1993 Mercedes-Benz 300SL has a 3-liter 6-cylinder engine (EPA description: (GUZZLER) (FFS)). -
What transmission and drivetrain does the 1993 Mercedes-Benz 300SL have?
The 1993 Mercedes-Benz 300SL comes with a automatic 5-spd transmission and rear-wheel drive. -
How does the 1993 Mercedes-Benz 300SL compare to the best car in its class?
The most efficient car in the Two Seaters class for the 1993 model year is the Geo Metro LSI Convertible at 30 combined MPG. The Mercedes-Benz 300SL returns 17 MPG, a gap of 13 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look.
Source: U.S. EPA fuel economy dataset. Annual fuel cost figures assume 15,000 miles of driving per year and a 55% city, 45% highway split. Real-world mileage varies with driving conditions, vehicle maintenance, fuel quality, and driver behaviour.