BMW Z4 vs. Mercedes-Benz SLC
iSeeCars' unbiased and data-driven comparison of the BMW Z4 and Mercedes-Benz SLC contrasts the two cars across a broad spectrum of vehicle specifications to determine which car is better. In addition to comparing pricing and specs, iSeeCars uses all the ratings, rankings, and insights from its comprehensive analyses of each vehicle model, including calculations of reliability, safety, depreciation, value retention, and the vehicle's projected lifetime recalls (based on analyzing over 25 billion data points). This in-depth evaluation is used to identify which vehicle represents a better overall choice for shoppers who are considering both the BMW Z4 and the Mercedes-Benz SLC.
When we compare the BMW Z4's and the Mercedes-Benz SLC's specifications and ratings, the BMW Z4 has the advantage in the area of base engine power. The Mercedes-Benz SLC has the advantage in the areas of typical lower range of pricing for one- to five-year-old used cars, and resale value. The BMW Z4 and Mercedes-Benz SLC have the same fuel efficiency. Based on this comparison of the BMW Z4's and the Mercedes-Benz SLC's specifications and ratings, the Mercedes-Benz SLC is a better car than the BMW Z4.
Pricing: A used 2020 BMW Z4 ranges from $34,478 to $49,993 while a used 2020 Mercedes-Benz SLC is priced between $33,950 to $49,942.
Resale/Retained Value: Looking at the 5-year depreciation rate for both models, the BMW Z4 loses 48.7 percent of its value and the Mercedes-Benz SLC loses 44.3 percent of its value. This means the Mercedes-Benz SLC retains 4.4 percentage points more of its value and has the advantage of higher resale value versus the BMW Z4.
Engine Power and Fuel Efficiency Comparison: For engine performance, the BMW Z4’s base engine makes 255 horsepower, and the Mercedes-Benz SLC base engine makes 241 horsepower. Both the Z4 and the SLC are rated to deliver an average of 27 miles per gallon, with highway ranges of 438 and 509 miles respectively. Both models use premium unleaded.
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
-
Starting MSRP:
$49,700
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Luxury Sports Cars)
$94,049
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Luxury Sports Cars)
$41,350 - $500,000
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
-
Starting MSRP:
$49,950
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Luxury Sports Cars)
$94,049
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Luxury Sports Cars)
$41,350 - $500,000
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
$42,552
Price Range:
$34,478 - $49,993
Category Avg Price:
(Luxury Sports Cars)
$80,113
Category Avg Price Range:
(Luxury Sports Cars)
$32,174 - $182,277
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
40
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
33,428
# Good or Great Deals:
15
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
$40,747
Price Range:
$33,950 - $49,942
Category Avg Price:
(Luxury Sports Cars)
$80,113
Category Avg Price Range:
(Luxury Sports Cars)
$32,174 - $182,277
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
23
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
28,870
# Good or Great Deals:
12
BMW Z4 Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
7.7 / 10
Reliability:
8.0 / 10
Retained Value:
7.5 / 10
Safety:
Not available
Mercedes-Benz SLC Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
Not available
Reliability:
Not available
Retained Value:
7.7 / 10
Safety:
Not available
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for BMW Z4
Remaining Life Expectancy (years):
7.1
Typical Category Remaining Life Expectancy:
(Luxury Sports Cars)
8.9
Category Remaining Life Expectancy Range:
(Luxury Sports Cars)
4.7 - 13.2
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
0%
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Mercedes-Benz SLC
Remaining Life Expectancy (years):
9.6
Typical Category Remaining Life Expectancy:
(Luxury Sports Cars)
8.9
Category Remaining Life Expectancy Range:
(Luxury Sports Cars)
4.7 - 13.2
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
0%
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
12.8
Typical Category Recalls:
(Luxury Sports Cars)
1.9
Category Range for Recalls:
(Luxury Sports Cars)
0.9 - 22.8
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
1.8
Typical Category Recalls:
(Luxury Sports Cars)
1.9
Category Range for Recalls:
(Luxury Sports Cars)
0.9 - 22.8
BMW Z4 Rankings
Ranking
1 out of / 19Ranking
2 out of / 32Ranking
2 out of / 5Ranking
2 out of / 3Ranking
3 out of / 27Ranking
3 out of / 7Ranking
4 out of / 27Ranking
4 out of / 27Ranking
4 out of / 6Ranking
6 out of / 41Ranking
6 out of / 27Ranking
7 out of / 41Ranking
7 out of / 41Ranking
15 out of / 41Ranking
20 out of / 27Ranking
20 out of / 27Ranking
34 out of / 41Ranking
35 out of / 41Mercedes-Benz SLC Rankings
Ranking
8 out of / 27Ranking
10 out of / 27Ranking
12 out of / 27Ranking
14 out of / 41Ranking
15 out of / 41Ranking
19 out of / 27Ranking
24 out of / 41Ranking
33 out of / 41Available Body Styles
Convertible
Available Body Styles
Convertible
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
BMW Z4 Trim Levels
sDrive 30i, sDrive M40i
Mercedes-Benz SLC Trim Levels
AMG SLC 43, AMG SLC 43 Final Edition, SLC 300, SLC 300 Final Edition
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
4 years
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
4 years / 50000 miles
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
Not yet available
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
Not yet available
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
255 hp @ 5000 rpm
Torque:
294 foot-lbs @ 1500 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.078 hp per pound
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
241 hp @ 5550 rpm
Torque:
273 foot-lbs @ 1300 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.071 hp per pound
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
2 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
4
Transmission:
Automatic
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
RWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
24 / 32 / 27
Range (city/hwy):
329 / 438 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Premium Unleaded
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
2 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
4
Transmission:
Automatic
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
RWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
23 / 32 / 27
Range (city/hwy):
366 / 509 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Premium Unleaded
Standard/Optional Features
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Apple CarPlay:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Keyless Ignition:
Standard
Leather Upholstery:
Standard
Navigation System:
Standard
Paddle Shifters:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Roadside assistance:
Standard
Satellite radio:
Standard
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Available
Automatic Parking:
Available
Heated Seats
Available
Heated Steering Wheel:
Available
Parking Sensors:
Available
Wifi:
Available
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
Available
Air Suspension:
N/A
Android Auto:
N/A
Bench Seats:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Internet Radio:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Power Lift Gate:
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roof Rack:
N/A
Sunroof/Moonroof:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Standard/Optional Features
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Apple CarPlay:
Available
Bluetooth:
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Keyless Ignition:
Standard
Leather Upholstery:
Standard
Navigation System:
Available
Paddle Shifters:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Roadside assistance:
Standard
Satellite radio:
Available
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Available
Automatic Parking:
Available
Heated Seats
Available
Heated Steering Wheel:
N/A
Parking Sensors:
Available
Wifi:
Standard
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
N/A
Air Suspension:
N/A
Android Auto:
Available
Bench Seats:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Internet Radio:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
Standard
Power Lift Gate:
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roof Rack:
N/A
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Standard
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
Driver Attention Monitoring:
Standard
Forward Collision Warning:
Standard
Pedestrian Detection:
Standard
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Blind Spot Monitoring:
N/A
Lane Departure Warning:
N/A
Lane Keeping Assist:
N/A
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
N/A
Rear Seat Reminder:
N/A
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
Driver Attention Monitoring:
Standard
Forward Collision Warning:
Standard
Pedestrian Detection:
N/A
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Blind Spot Monitoring:
Available
Lane Departure Warning:
Available
Lane Keeping Assist:
Available
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
N/A
Rear Seat Reminder:
N/A
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
38.9 inches
Front Leg Room:
42.2 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
54.3 inches
Rear Head Room:
Not yet available
Rear Leg Room:
Not yet available
Rear Shoulder Room:
Not yet available
Cargo Space:
9.9 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
Not yet available
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
38 inches
Front Leg Room:
42.5 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
52.2 inches
Rear Head Room:
Not yet available
Rear Leg Room:
Not yet available
Rear Shoulder Room:
Not yet available
Cargo Space:
6.5 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
48.8 cubic feet
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
3287 lbs
Width:
79.7 inches
Height:
51.4 inches
Length:
170.7 inches
Wheelbase:
97.2 inches
Ground Clearance:
4.7 inches
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
3384 lbs
Width:
79 inches
Height:
51.3 inches
Length:
162.8 inches
Wheelbase:
95.7 inches
Ground Clearance:
4.4 inches
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
18.0 x 8.0 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
225/45R18
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
17.0 x 7.5 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
225/45R17
Exterior Colors
Black
Black Sapphire Metallic
Blue
Mediterranean Blue Metallic / Misano Blue Metallic
Red
San Francisco Red
Silver
Glacier Silver Metallic
White
Alpine White / Mineral White Metallic
Gray
Not available
Exterior Colors
Black
Black / Obsidian Black Metallic
Blue
Brilliant Blue Metallic
Red
Patagonia Red Metallic
Silver
Iridium Silver Metallic
White
designo Diamond White Metallic / Polar White
Gray
designo Shadow Grey Magno Matte / Graphite Grey Metallic / Indium Grey Metallic / Selenite Grey Metallic
Interior Colors
Black
Black / Black w/ Blue Contrast Stitching / Black w/ Contrast Stitching
Brown
Cognac w/ Contrast Stitching
Red
Magma Red w/ Black Contrast Stitching
White
Ivory White w/ Contrast Stitching
Beige
Not available
Yellow
Not available
Interior Colors
Black
Black / Black w/ Red Stitching / Deep Black
Brown
Auburn / Auburn/Black / Light Brown / Light Brown/Black / Saddle Brown
Red
Bengal Red/Black / Classic Red / Classic Red/Black
White
Deep White / Deep White/Black / Platinum White / Platinum White/Black / Porcelain / Porcelain/Black
Beige
Curcuma / Curcuma/Black / Sahara Beige / Sand / Sand/Black
Yellow
Pastel Yellow / Pastel Yellow/Black
