petrol
base stats
Bars compare against all cars: 600 hp, 0 g CO₂, 400k registrations, €150k.
what the fuel types mean
- petrol Cheapest to buy, simple, but fuel is expensive in NL.
spec sheet
- built
- 1980–1997
- body
- convertible, sedan
- engine
- 4.9 L–5.6 L
- cylinders
- 8
- turbo
- no
- power
- 220–322 hp
- drive
- rear-wheel drive
- gearbox
- automatic
- seats
- 4
- doors
- 3
- weight
- 1,784 kg
- fuel use
- —
- CO₂
- —
- US rating
- 11–16 mpg
- EV range
- —
- US size class
- Compact Cars, Large Cars, Midsize Cars, Minicompact Cars, Two Seaters
- avg new price NL
- —
Ranges cover every version ever sold. Blank means the sources don't say.
🇳🇱 on Dutch roads
971 are registered in the Netherlands today, #601 of all models. Most common build year: 1992 (160 cars).
19801997
Cars still registered, by year of first registration (RDW).
names it's registered under (8)
- 500 SL U9 305
- 500 Se 252
- 500 SL 252
- 500 E U9 70
- 500 28
- 500 Se K6 27
- 500 Se U9 23
- 500 E 14
🇺🇸 US versions (28)
Every version the EPA tested, model years 1984–1993. mpg is combined; L/100 km converted.
| year | version | engine | gearbox | drive | fuel | mpg | L/100 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 500E | 5.0 L 8 cyl | Automatic 4-spd | RWD | Premium | 16 | 14.7 |
| 1993 | 500SEC | 5.0 L 8 cyl | Automatic 4-spd | RWD | Premium | 13 | 18.1 |
| 1993 | 500SEL | 5.0 L 8 cyl | Automatic 4-spd | RWD | Premium | 13 | 18.1 |
| 1993 | 500SL | 5.0 L 8 cyl | Automatic 4-spd | RWD | Premium | 16 | 14.7 |
| 1992 | 500E | 5.0 L 8 cyl | Automatic 4-spd | RWD | Premium | 14 | 16.8 |
| 1992 | 500SE | 5.6 L 8 cyl | Automatic 4-spd | RWD | Premium | 11 | 21.4 |
| 1992 | 500SEC | 5.6 L 8 cyl | Automatic 4-spd | RWD | Premium | 11 | 21.4 |
| 1992 | 500SEL 5.0L | 5.0 L 8 cyl | Automatic 4-spd | RWD | Premium | 13 | 18.1 |
| 1992 | 500SEL 5.6L | 5.6 L 8 cyl | Automatic 4-spd | RWD | Premium | 11 | 21.4 |
| 1992 | 500SL | 5.0 L 8 cyl | Automatic 4-spd | RWD | Premium | 14 | 16.8 |
| 1992 | 500SL | 5.6 L 8 cyl | Automatic 4-spd | RWD | Premium | 11 | 21.4 |
| 1991 | 500SL | 5.0 L 8 cyl | Automatic 4-spd | RWD | Regular | 13 | 18.1 |
| 1991 | 500SL | 5.0 L 8 cyl | Automatic 4-spd | RWD | Premium | 14 | 16.8 |
| 1990 | 500SL | 5.0 L 8 cyl | Automatic 4-spd | RWD | Premium | 14 | 16.8 |
| 1985 | 500SE | 5.0 L 8 cyl | Automatic 4-spd | RWD | Regular | 14 | 16.8 |
| 1985 | 500SE | 5.0 L 8 cyl | Automatic 4-spd | RWD | Regular | 14 | 16.8 |
| 1985 | 500SEC | 5.0 L 8 cyl | Automatic 4-spd | RWD | Regular | 14 | 16.8 |
| 1985 | 500SEC | 5.0 L 8 cyl | Automatic 4-spd | RWD | Regular | 13 | 18.1 |
| 1985 | 500SEC | 5.0 L 8 cyl | Automatic 4-spd | RWD | Regular | 14 | 16.8 |
| 1985 | 500SEL | 5.0 L 8 cyl | Automatic 4-spd | RWD | Regular | 14 | 16.8 |
| 1985 | 500SEL | 5.0 L 8 cyl | Automatic 4-spd | RWD | Regular | 14 | 16.8 |
| 1985 | 500SEL | 5.0 L 8 cyl | Automatic 4-spd | RWD | Regular | 13 | 18.1 |
| 1985 | 500SL | 5.0 L 8 cyl | Automatic 4-spd | RWD | Regular | 14 | 16.8 |
| 1985 | 500SL | 5.0 L 8 cyl | Automatic 4-spd | RWD | Regular | 14 | 16.8 |
| 1984 | 500SEC | 5.0 L 8 cyl | Automatic 4-spd | — | Regular | 13 | 18.1 |
Sources: RDW open data, fueleconomy.gov.Updated 2026-10-24.
