TWINTEST: Volvo S60 vs Mercedes C220:THE NEW Volvo S60 has just arrived on the market and there hasn't been this much interest in a new Volvo for years. In fact most of the recent focus on the company of late has been over their protracted sale to Chinese firm Geeley and what this would mean for its future.
Things are certainly changing at Volvo. Long gone are the days when Volvos were designed using a ruler and with this new model the designers really appear to have been set free.
All this means that the new S60 promises to be the best Volvo in years. But, is it good enough to compete with one of the best of its German rivals? We pitch it against Mercedes-Benz’s utterly competent C-Class to find out.
STYLING
S60****
C220 CDi***
This whole business of the saloon that looks like a coupé has grown legs. Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen have executed it well with their CLS and Passat CC and Volvo tell us that they are doing the same thing with this new S60. The dramatic shoulder line is an eternity away from the car it replaces but to say that you would confuse this car with a coupé would be a step too far. It’s unquestionably pretty though. The front is particularly impressive with a bold grille that finally looks proud of its badge.
The C-Class is a handsome car too, looking much better proportioned than before. Depending on which model you choose you can have a traditional grille with the badge where it has always been or you can choose the Sport model with the larger badge in the middle of the grille.
It might be the effect of the Volvo being a newer car and the Mercedes-Benz being a rather more familiar shape but the Volvo seems that bit more eye catching, albeit wheels that seem a size too small to finish the coupe look and not quite filling the wheel arches, (although the same could be said of the Mercedes). Both look their best with wheels of 18 or above.
RELIABILITY and QUALITY
S60 ****
C220 CDi ***
Mercedes-Benz has had its share of reliability problems of late, but the C-Class has been spared of these proving it to be pretty trouble-free. The build quality, on the exterior at least, is first-class with most areas feeling very solid, if not as solid as Mercedes-Benz cars of decades ago. The boot lid is way too light, which feels like a let down, but with so many cars now aimed at being light on the exterior with a tough reinforced skeleton, this is likely to be a constant trait for most cars in the future.
The interior of the C-Class feels quite a let-down compared to what we have come to expect from their own standards and compared to this Volvo. The dash has too much black plastic and it doesn’t feel special enough. But, you know that it will probably work well 20 years from now.
Side by side as they sit here, the Volvo has the better interior. It is brighter, feels better, is more comfortable and is more generously adorned coming with much better seats. Build wise, it feels well put together. It is not as tank-like as Volvos of old, but you know that the really sturdy stuff is going on where you can’t see it.
DRIVING
S60 ****
C220 CDi ****
We knew what to expect from the Mercedes-Benz. We knew it would be comfortable, which it is, and the Elegance model is geared towards being cosy, as opposed to the Sport model, which has lower, stiffer springs and more direct steering.
Both have clever adaptive suspensions and the C-Class never really feels unsettled over a variety of surfaces. The steering isn’t super sharp in the Elegance but it is pretty direct and responsive.
We were promised better things from Volvo with the new S60 in that they would give us a car that was much more responsive, with sharper handing and that is just what they have given us. The previous S60 was cursed with vague steering but this car feels much tighter.
We also cannot stress how good the seats are in the S60. They are supportive and promote a superb driving position. In terms of comfort, the S60 rides well and although it felt like it got unsettled a little easier than the Mercedes-Benz, you get much more information about what is going on through the front wheels.
The test cars were matched on power but not quite in terms of transmissions. The manual in the Volvo isn’t the car’s best feature by some degree. Our C-Class had a five-speed automatic which, as usual, is the better choice in this car. Buyers of a manual C-Class need not feel too smug because the manual in a C-Class isn’t likely to be any better than what Volvo have fitted. In the cases of both cars with these engines, the automatic versions would seem to be the best option by some degrees.
ERGONOMICS and PRACTICALITY
S60 ****
C220 CDi ****
We have already touched on comfort in these cars and the Volvo is by far the more comfortable when it comes to the seats, which are brilliant. And it is really easy to get into an excellent driving position in the Volvo too.
The S60 has plenty of space for four adults with lots of head and legroom. Access to the rear is good but the centre seat in the rear isn’t too comfortable. Luggage size is okay in the Volvo, but it is quite a bit smaller than the Mercedes.
The C-Class, like the Volvo, is best considered a four-seater and the colour scheme of our test car made the car feel a little more claustrophobic. The boot in the C-Class is much bigger, 475-litres, compared to 339-litres in the S60.
ENGINES
S60 ****
C220 CDi ***
The engine line-up from Volvo is a powerful one, at least for now, with their entry-level engine boasting 163bhp, significantly more than the entry-point power of its key rivals.
The entry-level diesel C-Class has 136hp while the equivalent Audi A4 has just 120hp. Our car had a 2.0-litre five-cylinder engine and it sounds good and feels urgent. 0-100km/h takes 9.2 seconds in the Volvo and 8.4 seconds in the Mercedes with a manual gearbox.
Performance is pretty equal in these versions and although the five-cylinder engine in the Volvo sounds excellent it can be a little raucous at times, while the Mercedes diesel feels a little more refined. Both in manual form have Band B emissions. A 115hp 1.6-litre version is due to come early next year which is also likely to be a big seller in the Volvo.
RUNNING COSTS
S60 ***
C220 CDi ****
Both of these cars in manual guise have Band B emissions so the annual road tax will be just €156. In both cars if you opt for automatic this only jumps to €302.
You are getting pretty much identical fuel economy too when you compare manual transmissions, with the Mercedes-Benz fairing slightly better. Although the S60 is very new to the market, we would be surprised on past evidence if it would hold its value as well as the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Although you are getting lots more for your money in the Volvo, Mercedes-Benz models are very strong at holding their value and larger Volvos, especially the S60, haven’t always been strong in this regard. Yet as this car is positioned slightly differently this could well change.
EQUIPMENT and SAFETY
S60 *****
C220 CDi ****
For what you are getting for your money, the Volvo is hard to fault. In the SE Lux model that we were driving, which costs €41,280 before some options are fitted, there is an amazing array of creature comforts.
You get cruise control, leather upholstery, 17 alloy wheels, 5 colour screen, bluetooth, city safety and electronic climate control. Our model was fitted with an optional Driver Support Pack which includes Pedestrian Detection with Adaptive Cruise Control with Distance Alert, Queue Assist and Collision Warning with Full Auto Brake, LDW (Lane Departure Warning) with DAC (Driver Alert Control) and BLIS (Blind Spot Information System) and this incredible list of acronyms serves to make sure that hitting a person or another car is less likely than in probably any other car, with the car grinding to a halt all on its own in slow traffic if it detects a pedestrian or object.
There is a sometimes irritating amount of lights and beeps and bongs as the system works, sometimes for no apparent reason but there is no doubt that in terms of safety kit this is cutting edge. However, as much of this safety equipment is an option it will be interesting to see how many people opt to pay for it. For us, it’s a no-brainer and a great investment.There is an iPod connection in the Volvo which works quite slowly, but it does display playlists and the phone connectivity is good too.
The Mercedes-Benz systems look much more basic, as is the car, with quite a few more euro required to get Volvo’s equipment levels and this is at an already increased price compared to the Volvo. The Elegance model we were driving gets 17 alloy wheels, fabric upholstery, leather steering wheel, climate control, cruise control and bluetooth phone connectivity before you start choosing options such as leather upholstery.
VERDICT
Volvo S60 D3 2.0 SE Lux
There is a note of caution here with the verdict and a big caveat. The Volvo is the better car here and a sign that there are some really good things coming from Volvo if their new owners carry the momentum that the firm has. The C-Class isn’t a bad car by any means but feels a little downgrade compared to the previous generation C-Class. However the same could be said of a reasonably priced Audi A4 or BMW 3-Series.
This Volvo is really very impressive but whether it has the badge prestige to persuade what in this case is a more than €40,000 outlay remains to be seen. The other point is – and this is relevant to both car –that this segment suffers from a price war that is underway in the larger executive segment.
Our Volvo is €42,673 and the Mercedes is €47,653. A new BMW 520d SE will cost from €41,750 with 184hp, with leather upholstery, Bluetooth phone preparation and automatic air conditioning – and €41,305 will get you a Mercedes-Benz E-Class E200 CDi saloon, an infinitely better car than the C-Class. The prospect of these larger cars which cost very little more is going to make life difficult for the S60 and its rivals, including the C-Class and BMW 3-Series– but, of these cars, the S60 is the better car here.
FACTFILE:
Volvo S60 D3 2.0D SE Lux
Engine:1984cc 4-cylinder diesel
Power:163bhp, 400Nm torque
Transmission:6-speed manual
Acceleration:0-100km/h 9.2 seconds
Top Speed:220km/h
Economy:Urban - 7.2 l/100km (39 mpg) Extra Urban - 4.2 l/100km (67 mpg)Combined - 5.3/100km (53 mpg)
CO2 Emissions:139 g/km
CO2 Tax Band:B (€156 p.a.)
Boot capacity:339 litres
Price:€42,673
Mercedes-Benz C220 CDi A/T
Engine:2,143cc 4-cylinder diesel
Power:167bhp, 400Nm torque
Transmission:5-speed automatic
Acceleration:0-100km/h 7.6 seconds
Top Speed:231 km/h
Economy:Urban - 7.8 l/100km (36.2 mpg) Extra Urban - 4.3 l/100km (65.9 mpg)Combined - 5.6 l/100km (50.4 mpg)
CO2 Emissions:153g/km
CO2 Tax Band:C (€302 p.a.)
Boot capacity:475 litres
Price:€43,270