Compare the2024 Volvo S60VS 2023 Mercedes E-Class Sedan

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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Both the S60 and E-Class Sedan have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The S60 Plus/Ultimate has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The E-Class Sedan’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The S60’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 E-Class Sedan.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the S60 has standard Cross Traffic Alert and Braking Intervention automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Mercedes charges extra for Rear Cross-Traffic Alert on the E-Class Sedan.

Both the S60 and the E-Class Sedan 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 all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Volvo S60 is safer than the Mercedes E-Class Sedan:

	S60	E-Class Sedan
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	25.7%	30%

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Volvo S60 is safer than the Mercedes E-Class Sedan:

	S60	E-Class Sedan
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	103	132
Chest Movement	.9 inches	1.1 inches
Hip Force	212 lbs.	223 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	575 lbs.	594 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	319	326
Spine Acceleration	29 G’s	43 G’s
Hip Force	490 lbs.	836 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

The S60’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the E-Class Sedan’s (12 vs. 5 years).

Volvo pays for scheduled maintenance on the S60 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Volvo will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Mercedes doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the E-Class Sedan.

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the S60 has a standard 210-amp alternator. The E-Class Sedan’s 180-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the S60’s reliability 29 points higher than the E-Class Sedan.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Volvo vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Volvo 10 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

Engine

The S60 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 E 450 4MATIC Sedan’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the S60 running on electricity gets better mileage than the E-Class Sedan:

			MPGe
S60
	AWD	T8 Electric Motor	74 city/73 hwy
E-Class Sedan
			MPG
	RWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/31 hwy
	AWD	3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	23 city/31 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/30 hwy

On the EPA test cycle the S60 running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the E-Class Sedan:

			MPG
S60
	FWD	B5 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	26 city/35 hwy
	AWD	B5 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	25 city/33 hwy
		T8 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cyl. Hybrid	28 city/33 hwy
E-Class Sedan
	RWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/31 hwy
	AWD	3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	23 city/31 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/30 hwy

The S60 T8 can travel with zero emissions for 41 miles. The E-Class Sedan can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

The S60 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 E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the S60’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the E-Class Sedan:

	S60	E-Class Sedan
Front Rotors	13.6 inches	12.7 inches
Rear Rotors	12.6 inches	11.8 inches

The S60 stops much shorter than the E-Class Sedan:

	S60	E-Class Sedan
70 to 0 MPH	166 feet	195 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	114 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

The S60 has a standard space-saver spare (not available on T8) so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the E-Class Sedan; 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.

Suspension and Handling

The S60 Plus AWD handles at .94 G’s, while the E 450 4MATIC Sedan pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The S60 AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the E 450 4MATIC Sedan (25.4 seconds @ .75 average G’s vs. 26.2 seconds @ .69 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the S60’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the E 350 Sedan’s (37.1 feet vs. 38.1 feet). The S60’s turning circle is 1.9 feet tighter than the E 450 4MATIC Sedan’s (37.1 feet vs. 39 feet).

Chassis

The S60 is 6.9 inches shorter than the E-Class Sedan, making the S60 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The S60 has .1 inches more front headroom and .6 inches more front legroom than the E-Class Sedan.

Cargo Capacity

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the S60 easier. The S60’s trunk lift-over height is 26 inches, while the E-Class Sedan’s liftover is 27.7 inches.

Pressing a button automatically lowers the S60’s optional rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Towing

The S60 has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The E-Class Sedan has no towing capacity.

Optional Trailer Stability Assist on the S60 uses the Dynamic Stability and Traction Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

Consumer Reports rated the S60’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the E-Class Sedan’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The S60 offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer headlight washers.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the S60 is less expensive to operate than the E-Class Sedan because it costs $109 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the S60 than the E-Class Sedan, including $283 less for a water pump, $478 less for a muffler, $343 less for a starter, $118 less for fuel injection, $85 less for front struts, $660 less for a timing belt/chain and $671 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Volvo S60, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Mercedes E-Class Sedan isn't recommended.

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