SL-Class (R231) 2013 on: Discussion on the SL550

SL/R231: highway travel and range

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old Jun 18, 2026 | 10:53 AM
  #1  
lenobleb's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
15 Year Member
Liked
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28
Likes: 2
2021 GLS450
highway travel and range

Hello,

I'm taking my new to me 2013 SL550 on a weekend trip. One way distance is 340 miles. What range can I expect on a long highway trip? I've only had this car for a week so I have no idea what to expect for MPG. I'll expect to be going around 70-75 on the highways.

Thanks,
Barry
Reply
Old Jun 18, 2026 | 08:18 PM
  #2  
PotatoHeadII's Avatar
Member
Community Builder
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Mar 2026
Posts: 220
Likes: 78
Use your cruise control and keep the pace steady for the best mileage. I’m guessing somewhere in the 25-27 mpg range. If you’re on flat land, maybe 30 mpg. It’s really about letting the Distronic+ Cruise Control do its thing.
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2026 | 08:04 AM
  #3  
TinManMike's Avatar
Junior Member
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 54
Likes: 16
2014 SL 550 R231; 2019 GLC 43 AMG X253 ; 2013 CLS 550 C218
I drive my MY14 SL 550 on quite a few long range trips. I usually see around 22-24 MPG on average, but don't really check it. I bought the car to drive knowing that it wasn't purchased for an economic vehicle.
Trip from Atlanta to Pensacola, FL around 375 miles each way uses about 3/4 of a tank each way. Drove to Wichita, KS, around 1700 miles each way and got around 22 MPG if I remember right.
Just drive it and enjoy! It's worth it !
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2026 | 09:49 AM
  #4  
PotatoHeadII's Avatar
Member
Community Builder
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Mar 2026
Posts: 220
Likes: 78
I guess I was off a bit. But I’ve seen other claims in the range I posted. Maybe those folks were driving downhill only.
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2026 | 09:52 AM
  #5  
TinManMike's Avatar
Junior Member
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 54
Likes: 16
2014 SL 550 R231; 2019 GLC 43 AMG X253 ; 2013 CLS 550 C218
@PotatoHeadII Or maybe it is just my driving !
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2026 | 10:38 AM
  #6  
PotatoHeadII's Avatar
Member
Community Builder
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Mar 2026
Posts: 220
Likes: 78
Originally Posted by TinManMike
@PotatoHeadII Or maybe it is just my driving !
Around town, my mileage is Scheiße! And I have the 3.0 liter V6. But it’s tuned to almost the same hp as the stock SL550. So, there you go! I’ve always believed that fuel consumption is generally related to horsepower, everything else being the same. Fewer cylinders will use a little less gas overall, but if I’m getting 400+ hp, I’m using almost the same amount of gas.
Reply
Old Jun 20, 2026 | 07:54 AM
  #7  
Montreal300's Avatar
Member
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 112
Likes: 44
From: Bainsville, Ontario, Canada
SL 550 (2014) Kia Sorento (2016)
Mileage

Originally Posted by lenobleb
Hello,

I'm taking my new to me 2013 SL550 on a weekend trip. One way distance is 340 miles. What range can I expect on a long highway trip? I've only had this car for a week so I have no idea what to expect for MPG. I'll expect to be going around 70-75 on the highways.

Thanks,
Barry
Just did a 4hr trip and got 26 mpg. 50% highway 70 mph and 50% rural at 50 mph.
Reply
Old Jun 20, 2026 | 09:40 AM
  #8  
PotatoHeadII's Avatar
Member
Community Builder
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Mar 2026
Posts: 220
Likes: 78
Originally Posted by Montreal300
Just did a 4hr trip and got 26 mpg. 50% highway 70 mph and 50% rural at 50 mph.
OK. I estimated 25-27 mpg, so that was accurate.
Reply
MB World Stories

The Best of Mercedes & AMG

story-0

New Mercedes-AMG SUVs Arrive With NEW V8 Engine: 12 Things You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

8 Oddball Mercedes Ideas That Actually Made it to Production

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Dubai Tuner Gives the Mercedes G-Class An Entirely New Look

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Six Gift Ideas Your AMG Loving Dad or Grad Will Cherish

 
story-4

7 Craziest Things AMG Gas Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jun 20, 2026 | 11:06 AM
  #9  
Bitbytr's Avatar
Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 153
Likes: 29
From: Central Florida
'13 SL550 Mars Red, Designo White interior, B and O sound
I recently did an 80 mile run (in Florida, so pretty flat), transmission on 'E', ACC set to 70, roof up (Missus B doesn't like the heat and humidity in her hair), climate control at 78F and it returned 29.2. (Mine's the 4.7 biturbo ...)
Reply

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:51 AM.

story-0
New Mercedes-AMG SUVs Arrive With NEW V8 Engine: 12 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes-AMG's updated GLE 63 S and GLS 63 bring a new-generation V8, subtle design revisions, and familiar supercar-rivaling performance figures.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-17 12:52:51


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Oddball Mercedes Ideas That Actually Made it to Production

Slideshow: Mercedes has never been afraid to experiment, and some of its strangest ideas turned out to be surprisingly successful.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-10 17:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-2
Dubai Tuner Gives the Mercedes G-Class An Entirely New Look

Sideshow: A Middle Eastern tuner has transformed the Mercedes-AMG G 63 into an open-top special, replacing nearly every exterior panel in the process.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-10 15:29:50


VIEW MORE
story-3
Six Gift Ideas Your AMG Loving Dad or Grad Will Cherish

Slideshow: Six gift ideas your AMG loving dad or grad will cherish.

By | 2026-06-03 17:26:18


VIEW MORE
story-4
7 Craziest Things AMG Gas Ever Built

Slideshow: Sometimes AMG builds fast sedans. Other times, it builds twin-turbo V12 land missiles and six-wheeled off-road monsters.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-26 17:59:58


VIEW MORE
story-5
New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes-AMG's new electric GT 4-Door Coupe trades combustion for software, synthetic noise, and more than 1,100 horsepower.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 20:08:15


VIEW MORE
story-6
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

Slideshow: Not every Mercedes design becomes timeless, some feel stuck in the era they came from.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:09:07


VIEW MORE
story-7
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

Slideshow: Yes, Mercedes built manual cars, and some of them are far more interesting than you'd expect.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-02 12:36:58


VIEW MORE
story-8
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 11:19:28


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Slideshow: Before curves took over, Mercedes mastered the art of the straight line, and some of those shapes still look right today.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-25 12:05:49


VIEW MORE