With the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class, we'd immediately thought of the Audi A4 and the BMW 3-series as direct competitors. However,
there's a fourth brand that's performing well in the premium D-segment, especially in the Netherlands. I'm talking about Volvo of course.
And it's a fun comparison, because Volvo usually is a very comfortable brand. Just like Mercedes aims to be. On the other hand, the S60 is one of the...
sportier Volvo's available nowadays. It's much more dynamic than its predecessor and the S90. So how does it hold up to the Mercedes?
This is a C180, powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine producing around 170 horsepower. This Volvo is an S60 B4, which means it has...
a mild-hybrid system aboard. The Mercedes has one as well, but the Volvo produces almost 200 horsepower.
You'd say it's an unfair comparison, but is that the case? You can drive one of these S60 B4's for less money than one of those C-Classes.
So which one is going to win today?
If we look at interior space in both cars, it ends in a tie. In the back, the head- and legroom are pretty much the same. The Volvo might be...
slightly more spacious, but the seating is better in the Mercedes because of the higher seat. If we move further back, you've got 442 litres of luggage...
space in the Volvo, and 455 litres in the Mercedes. That brings them to a tie.
Without a doubt, the current Volvo S60 is a very pleasant car to drive. I thought that the first time I got into one of these.
Compared to its predecessor, it's become incredibly dynamic. It looks very nice as well, both on the inside and outside.
It's a tad tighter than the S90 as well. That's a very comfortable car, but it was kind of weak sometimes. The S60 has a better balance.
It's pretty successful in the Netherlands, which is mostly because of the new engine range. All of the petrol engines in the Netherlands have been replaced...
by B-engines. The "B" doesn't stand for Better Electric Vehicle, but it indicates that it's a mild hybrid vehicle.
Petrol engines with some electrical support, which helps you with reducing fuel consumption.
And because of that, the added taxes will be lower as well.
Like I said, it produces almost 200 horsepower, which means it feels a tad faster than the Mercedes.
If you start sprinting with both, the difference becomes a lot smaller. I was able to test the Mercedes to be faster than the indicated sprint time.
Only 8,4 seconds from 0-100 km/h. So the difference isn't that big when you have sprint, but when you're driving around normally, the...
Volvo packs a little more punch. And that's very nice.
I already said that the C200 will truly have an added value compared to the C180 when it arrives.
What's important to note as well, is that the Volvo is front-wheel drive as opposed to the rear-wheel drive Mercedes.
You can clearly notice that. Not as such in the steering wheel, because these aren't hot hatches or anything, but a rear-wheel drive car feels smoother.
Even when the power outputs aren't that high, a car like the C180 drives really differently than a Volvo. The balance is different, and that's...
some sort of added comfort if you ask me. And it doesn't matter if it's a C180 or a BMW 3-series.
So there's a clear difference here. On the other hand, the Volvo drives really well for a front-wheel drive car.
Especially since this S60 is incredibly balanced.
This S60 has quite a lot of trim equipped. That makes it slightly more expensive than the C-Class. €60.000 versus €57.000 for the Mercedes.
However, this is the Inscription-version with all of the selectable options. That means it has everything Volvo has to offer.
Just look at this perforated Nappa-leather, the cooled seats, Volvo's autopilot, which is a lot better than when it was launched.
It's an improvement of the version that was introduced on the S60, which in turn was another improvement of the version on the S90.
It's incredibly nice to use on the motorway now. It'll keep you in the middle of the lane, it doesn't require you to grab the steering wheel...
within ten seconds and it follows the road really well. Volvo really is on par with the more premium brands like Tesla and Mercedes.
And that's quite the compliment.
Anyway, you get all of those features for €60.000. That means you get a lot more car for your money than with the C-Class.
And that will make a difference in the conclusion.
Anyway, like I said, it's a pretty dynamic car to begin with. This particular car has the sports chassis equipped, and I'm going to advise...
against it. It becomes too hard and you really have to understand the difference between a relatively dynamic car and a sporty car.
The steering isn't sharp or communicative enough to be sporty, and thus a sports chassis doesn't really add anything.
As if you're using very fancy cutlery for eating fish and chips, that doesn't really go together.
I think it's too hard now, and just like the Golf, I'd advise you not to get the sports chassis. That way, it will be more balanced.
And as a whole, the Volvo remains more dynamic than the Mercedes whilst retaining its own personality. And that's great.
Since it was launched, there have been several changes. For example, it now has the new gear lever, which you find in electric Volvo's.
Like in the XC40 for example. And it's now more difficult to change driving direction. With the previous lever, you could clearly see in which...
gear you was, but now you have to click two times for D, and only once for R. That means you'll be fooling around with it if you want...
to do a three-point turn. That makes this a change in which shape went before function, and we don't really like that.
As a whole, the S60 offers a very good total package. I get why it's successful in the Netherlands, because it's a lot of value for money.
A lot of people use it as company cars, which are always limited to certain budgets. So you get the choice between a fully equipped Volvo S60,
or the less powerful C180, which also has less options. And that brings us to the following question; how much points can the C180...
claw back just on quality.
Right, the Mercedes. Some of you might think it's a familiar face, and you'd be right. I did the introduction of the C-Class in this particular C180.
It's powered by a turbocharged 1.5-litre 4-cylinder, with additional electric support. The total system output is 170 horsepower...
but it takes less than eight seconds to get from 0 to 100 km/h. So if you take up the revs, it's pretty rapid. In the lower revs, not as much.
So that's when the electric boost kicks in, which really helps you out. It means you don't have to rev as much so it reduces the fuel consumption.
In the meantime, all new C-Classes come with a new 9-speed automatic gearbox as standard. And it changes up very quickly.
When you're doing 100 km/h, you're already in ninth gear and it'll be doing 1.250 RPM. That's nice and quite, and very comfortable.
It could also go into coasting-mode, which uses no fuel at all. That's great as well.
Like I said, it's a very comfortable car. More comfortable than the S60, especially because that has a sports chassis.
And I've been driving this car for some time now, and it really fits the car. The previous C-Class was slightly more dynamic, and I liked...
that myself, but in here... I mean, you're not driving any slower or anything, but you're really destressing in here.
And that's the power of a Benz like this. If you're doing 60.000 km a year, this will be a very good travel companion.
I'd personally prefer the C200 because of the additional power, but that's not really necessary for the Netherlands.
I'm never bothered by the fact that it'd be too slow or anything, but I would've liked it if the acceleration was faster.
Like I said, it's more expensive than the Volvo. However, this particular car is cheaper than the Volvo, only costing €57.000.
That does mean it doesn't have Distronic, nor a form of Autopilot, it doesn't have very nice leather, it doesn't have cooled seats, or...
a heated steering wheel. And I can keep going. Despite that however, the Mercedes still feels incredibly luxurious.
It doesn't feel barebones, despite the fact it doesn't have as many nice options as the Volvo.
But if you ask me, if you're in the market for a C-Class, you have to have those options. Cooled seats, Distronic, Autopilot, those things...
really have added value. So if you're buying the C-Class, get those options. However, they do raise the price, which might prove to be difficult...
for lease drivers.
When you're driving around, the Mercedes proves to be more comfortable. Both in the suspension as in the exterior noises.
Especially the engine is quieter in the Mercedes. It's quite raw and noisy in the Volvo really.
That doesn't stand out really, until you get in the Mercedes. That's one of the things why the Mercedes is more expensive, it offers more class.
The interior is a matter of taste, but I think the finishing in the Mercedes is better. On the other hand, the design as a whole in the S60 still looks...
amazing, so it's a tie again. Maybe your personal taste can decide on a winner. So now it's up to me to choose a winner.
I really like both cars. If they were to have the same amount of trim and the same amount of power, the Mercedes will be a lot more expensive.
But I also think you can notice the additional price in the car itself. It's still in a higher class than the Volvo, especially if you look at...
luxury and refinement. They really do a good job. Having said that, they absolutely deliver on the statement of 'Das beste oder nichts'.
Sure, it's more expensive, but they make it worth the money. Even as a C180.
The multimedia is slightly better than in the Volvo and it offers even more connectivity, which scores points as well.
But if you've got only €60.000 to spend, would you go for a barebones C180 or a faster, fully loaded S60?
And that makes it a whole different question, and that will be my conclusion. The Mercedes is clearly the better car, without a doubt,
but if you have to choose a car for five years and €60.000, the Volvo absolutely offers you the most amount of car for your money.
If you're able to pay more, just get the C-Class.