The Bennington 22SLi 2010 vs Bennington 257 L 2004 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Bennington 22SLi 2010 at 21,7 ft versus Bennington 257 L 2004 at 24,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Bennington 22SLi 2010 tips the scales at 1 745 lbs — 1 533 lbs more than the Bennington 257 L 2004 at 212 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 125 hp, the Bennington 257 L 2004 has a 102-hp advantage over the Bennington 22SLi 2010's 23-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 24 gal and 26 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Bennington 22SLi 2010 is rated for 23 passengers, while the Bennington 257 L 2004 caps at 12. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bennington 22SLi 2010 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Bennington 22SLi 2010 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 23 passengers and at 21,7 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bennington 257 L 2004 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 12 that costs less to run day-to-day.