Is Volvo or Mercedes Benz Better? (Best Models)
By
Vroomouk
In this article, we pitch Volvo and Mercedes against each other and find out which one is the best. We also take a brief look into the histories of both the companies and compare their flagship models.
Volvo Vs Mercedes Benz
The following table compares key parameters of Volvo and Mercedes Benz:
| Company – | Volvo | Mercedes Benz |
| Production output | 699,000 units | 2,164,187 units |
| Number of models | 8 | 25 |
| Founded | 1927 | 1926 |
| Parent company | Zhejiang Geely Holding Grou | Mercedes Benz AG |
Mercedes Benz manufactures passenger cars, vans and commercial vehicles. Volvo is a Swedish company, it is also one of the largest automotive groups and manufacturers of commercial vehicles like trucks and other industrial components. Volvo also supplies engines to some marine and industrial vehicles.
Although Mercedes Benz has higher sales figures when compared to Volvo cars, the models offered by Volvo cars are direct rivals of some passenger car models like Mercedes Benz E class, S class and GLE. Volvo cars sold more than 700,000 units in 2020.
Where are Volvo cars produced?
The majority of the production of Volvo happens at the factories in Torslanda and Skovde, Sweden. However, Volvo cars were sold to the Chinese group Geely Holdings. Volvo cars for Asian countries are manufactured across four major factories in China. Volvo cars also recently opened a new factory in southern California to produce S60 sedans for the American Market.
Volvo’s car line-up is not as extensive as Mercedes Benz but the technology and safety offered are on par with some of the best Mercedes Benz Models. Volvo cars also announced that they will go fully electric by 2030. A gigafactory will be established in Sweden to manufacture high voltage electric batteries.
Where are Mercedes Benz cars produced?
Mercedes Benz has production factories all over the world but the main manufacturing factories are located only in Germany. Another location does not manufacture cars but only assembles from knockdown kits. The company has factories in 17 countries across 4 continents.
The factory in Stuttgart, Germany is the mother factory, all the development, production and shipment of engines, transmissions and CKDs are shipped from this location. It is also the headquarters of Daimler AG, recently named Mercedes Benz group AG. The Stuttgart factory has a history extending back over 115 years and it is the highest tech location for the production of cars and hybrid drive systems.
The plant has six total facilities, Untertürkheim and Bad Cannstatt are responsible for the production of engines and the forge is also located there. The transmissions are manufactured in Hedelfingen. Mettingen has the foundry for axle production.
A Brief overview at Mercedes Benz history.
In 1886, Karl Benz invented the modern-day car with the petrol engine and during the same period, Gottlieb Daimler and his business partner William Maybach were in the business of converting stagecoaches by adding petrol engines.
A European automobile entrepreneur Emil Jellinek first marketed the automobile by naming it after his daughter Mercedes Jellinek. 1901 Mercedes powered by a 35 brake horsepower engine became known as 1901 Mercedes.
The production of the first Branded Mercedes Benz started in 1926 when the two companies of Karl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler merged and created the Daimler Benz company.
A brief look into Volvo and Volvo cars
Volvo is legally known as AB Volvo, AB is for Aktiebolaget. It is a Swedish multinational corporation based in Gothenburg. Since its foundation in 1927, the main objective of Volvo has been to increase the safety of modern Trucks and cars.
Volvo trucks and Volvo cars have the highest-rated passive and active safety systems. The first cars Volvo ÖV 4 and series 1 trucks were very successful and attracted the international market and sold more than 1000 units in the first few years of production.
As the car became more popular, Volvo achieved many milestones in the safety of automobiles. From the innovation of the roll cage in 1944 and the use of three-point safety belts for occupants to the development of advanced driver assistance systems which prevent collision, Volvo cars have always been at the forefront of technological innovations in safety systems.
Today, Volvo manufacturers cars across all platforms like sedans, coupe convertibles and SUVs. All the cars have 5 stars European NCAP readings, the letter in the model name indicates which body type the model belongs to. S90 is the flagship model produced by Volvo cars.
Volvo S90 VS Mercedes Benz S class.
The Volvo S90 is a luxury sedan manufactured by Valvo cars, it was first launched in 2016 and S90 has two variants S90 and S90 L. The S90 L has a slightly longer wheelbase and it was sold only in the Asian region.
There are plenty of engine options available in s90 right from inline 4 cylinder engines producing around 200 horsepower to turbo and supercharger inline 4 cylinder engines that produce up to 320 horsepower. An Additional 90 horsepower is available from the electric motor in the Plug-in hybrid models.
S90 sedan also has advanced driver assistance systems like steering support, lane-keeping aid, driver alert control and road sign information on the entertainment display.
All the engines can be mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission with an all-wheel-drive system, a 6-speed manual gearbox option is also available. Volvo S90 also features an Adaptive damping suspension system which changes the damping rate depending on the drive mode selected.
Air suspension is only present on the rear axle to compensate for the load capacity and maintain ride height even if the vehicle is fully occupied. Plug-in hybrid models can be charged from mode 2 and mode 3 chargers.
Mercedes Benz S Class on the other hand focuses on comfort and luxury. There are inline 6 and v8 petrol engines making around 600 horsepower. The S class is currently in its seventh generation and has the most advanced driver assistance systems on board.
The driver assistance systems are capable of driving the s class without any inputs from the driver. S class also sets a benchmark in safety by featuring a first-in-class rear passenger airbag located on the backside of the front seats.
The S class also uses a 9-speed automatic gearbox compared to the 8-speed gearbox in the S90, there is no manual transmission in the S class. The transfer case used in the S class is capable of 100 % torque distribution to any wheel. Thanks to its superior built quality and a long list of features the S class outsells the Volvo S90.
Other articles about Mercedes Benz you may be interested in
Why does Mercedes Depreciate so fast?
What are the types of compressors used in Mercedes Benz?
What are the modifications for a Mercedes Benz C Class?
Conclusion
Mercedes Benz comes out as the outright winner and thanks to its large after-service network of dealerships and availability of spare parts it is easier to live with a Mercedes Benz than a Volvo. However, Volvo is not far behind Mercedes Benz in reliability and safety.
References
- https://www.gunthervolvocarsdaytona.com/where-are-volvo-cars-made.htm
- https://www.volvocars.com/intl/cars/new-models/s90/specifications/features#
FAQs: Volvo Vs Mercedes Benz
Are Volvos safer than Mercedes?
Volvo is known for its safety systems and in the past few Volvo models were safer than Mercedes Benz. But the current product range of both companies provides equal safety to the occupants.
Has Volvo considered a luxury car?
Yes, Volvos are considered Luxury cars. The latest models are designed specifically for the premium luxury car market and compete against the brands like Mercedes Benz, BMW etc.
Which is better: Volvo XC60 or Mercedes GLC?
The Mercedes Benz GLC is better as it offers more space and a 4Matic all-wheel-drive system. GLC also has better towing capacities than the Volvo XC 60
