Compare the2023 Mercedes E-Class SedanVS 2023 Volvo S90

Both the E-Class Sedan and the S90 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, driver alert monitors, available lane departure warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

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 front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the E-Class Sedan its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 134 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The S90 is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.

There are over 36 percent more Mercedes dealers than there are Volvo dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the E-Class Sedan’s warranty.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the E-Class Sedan has a standard 850-amp battery. The S90’s 800-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the E-Class Sedan third among midsize premium cars in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The S90 isn’t in the top three.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. With 67 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mercedes higher than Volvo.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are more reliable than Volvo With 61 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Mercedes higher than Volvo.

The E 450 4MATIC Sedan’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 67 more horsepower (362 vs. 295) and 59 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 310) than the S90 B6’s standard 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the E 450 4MATIC Sedan 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid is faster than the S90 B6:

Both the E-Class Sedan and the S90 have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All E-Class Sedans have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The S90 T8 doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

The E-Class Sedan 350’s standard fuel tank has 1.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the S90 (17.4 vs. 15.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The E-Class Sedan 450’s standard fuel tank has 5.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the S90 (21.1 vs. 15.9 gallons).

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Mercedes E-Class Sedan, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the S90.

For better stopping power the E 450 4MATIC Sedan’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the S90:

The E-Class Sedan stops much shorter than the S90:

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the E-Class Sedan can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The S90 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The front and rear suspension of the E-Class Sedan uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the S90, which uses transverse leafs springs in the rear. Coil springs compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out.

The E-Class Sedan has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The E-Class Sedan’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The S90 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The E-Class Sedan’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The S90 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The E-Class Sedan 4MATIC handles at .93 G’s, while the S90 pulls only .88 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The E-Class Sedan 4MATIC executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the S90 (25.1 seconds @ .77 average G’s vs. 26.3 seconds @ .68 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the E 350 Sedan’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the S90’s (38.1 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

The Mercedes E-Class Sedan may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 500 pounds less than the Volvo S90.

The E-Class Sedan is 5.8 inches shorter than the S90, making the E-Class Sedan easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The E-Class Sedan has .3 inches more front shoulder room and 1.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the S90.

The E-Class Sedan’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The S90 Luxury Package doesn’t offer folding rear seats.

The engine in the E-Class Sedan is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the S90. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

An ASSYST PLUS is standard on the E-Class Sedan to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for oil changes, tire rotation and brake pad replacement based on odometer mileage. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Volvo doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the S90.

The E-Class Sedan’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The S90 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

Heated windshield washer fluid is standard on the E-Class Sedan to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The S90 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid. Its standard heated washer nozzles will defrost the washer fluid but not the windshield.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The E-Class Sedan’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the S90’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

To better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the E-Class Sedan has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The S90 doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the E-Class Sedan has standard extendable sun visors. The S90 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The E-Class Sedan’s optional Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The S90 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Mercedes E-Class comes in coupe, convertible, sedan and station wagon bodystyles; the Volvo S90 isn’t available as a coupe, convertible or station wagon.

The E-Class Sedan is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The S90 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Consumer Reports performed a comparison test in its February 2017 issue and the Mercedes E 350 Sedan 4MATIC won out over the Volvo S90.

Motor Trend selected the E-Class as their 2021 Car of the Year. The S90 has never been chosen.

The Mercedes E-Class/CLS outsold the Volvo 90 Series by almost 10 to one during 2022.