Compare the2023 Volvo S90VS 2022 Mercedes CLS

The Volvo S90 offers optional built in child booster seats. They’re more crash worthy than an added child seat because of their direct attachment to the seat. Mercedes doesn’t offer the convenience and security of a built-in child booster seat in the CLS. Their owners must carry a heavy booster seat in and out of the vehicle; S90 owners can just fold their built-in child seat up or down.

The S90 has a standard Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS), which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the WHIPS moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. At the same time the pretensioning seatbelts fire, removing slack from the belts. The CLS doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The S90 has standard Post-impact braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The CLS doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The S90 has standard CTA Auto Brake that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The CLS doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the S90. But it costs extra on the CLS.

The S90’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the CLS.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the S90 has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the CLS.

Both the S90 and the CLS have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and driver alert monitors.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the S90 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 95 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The CLS has not been tested, yet.

The S90’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the CLS’ (12 vs. 5 years).

Volvo pays for scheduled maintenance on the S90 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Volvo will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Mercedes doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the CLS.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Volvo vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Volvo 2 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The S90 T8’s standard 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder hybrid produces 93 more horsepower (455 vs. 362) and 154 lbs.-ft. more torque (523 vs. 369) than the CLS’ 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the S90 T8 running on electricity gets better mileage than the CLS 450 4MATIC (66 city/67 hwy MPGe vs. 22 city/30 hwy).

On the EPA test cycle the S90 running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the CLS:

The S90 T8 can travel with zero emissions for 38 miles. The CLS can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

The S90 has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The CLS doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The S90 stops much shorter than the CLS:

For better traction, the S90 has larger tires than the CLS (255/35R20 vs. 245/40R19).

The S90 B6 has a standard space-saver spare (not available on Recharge) so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the CLS; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

The S90 has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The CLS’ suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the S90’s wheelbase is 4.8 inches longer than on the CLS (120.5 inches vs. 115.7 inches).

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the S90 a Mid-size car, while the CLS is rated a Compact.

The S90 has 9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the CLS (102 vs. 93).

The S90 has .9 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more front legroom, 1.9 inches more rear headroom and 5.4 inches more rear legroom than the CLS.

The S90 has a much larger trunk than the CLS (13.5 vs. 11.9 cubic feet).

Pressing a button automatically lowers the S90’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The CLS doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The S90 has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The CLS doesn’t offer headlight washers.

A power rear sunshade and rear side window sunshades are standard in the S90 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The CLS doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

Both the S90 and the CLS have standard heated front seats. The S90 also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the CLS.

The S90 Ultimate has standard front air conditioned seats and offers them optionally in the rear. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The CLS doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

The S90 has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the car heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the CLS.

The S90 was chosen as one of Automobile Magazine’s “All Stars” in 2017. The CLS has never been an “All Star.”