Compare the2026 Mercedes E-Class SedanVS 2025 Volvo S90

The E-Class Sedan has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The S90 doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Mercedes E-Class Sedan achieved a “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Volvo S90 has not been tested.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The E-Class Sedan has Car-to-X Communication, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The S90 doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure or other vehicles.

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, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and lane departure warning systems.

There are over 38 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.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the E-Class Sedan second among upper midsize premium cars in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The S90 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 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 48 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mercedes higher than Volvo.

The E 450 Sedan’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 80 more horsepower (375 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 350 Sedan 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the S90 B6:

On the EPA test cycle the E-Class Sedan gets better mileage than the S90 running its gasoline engine:

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 has 1.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the S90 (17.4 vs. 15.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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.

The E-Class Sedan’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The S90 doesn’t offer launch control.

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

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

The E-Class Sedan’s 275/30R21 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the S90’s optional 35 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the E-Class Sedan has standard 21-inch wheels. The S90’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available 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 350 Sedan 4MATIC handles at .93 G’s, while the S90 pulls only .90 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The E 450 Sedan executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the S90 (25.8 seconds @ .73 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 E-Class Sedan is 5.2 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 based on actual driving conditions. 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 and exit feature raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The S90 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

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 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 is equipped with both FM and AM stereo radios, offering access to more content and better coverage than the S90, which solely provides FM radio. With AM radio, you can enjoy a wider variety of stations featuring news, talk shows, sports commentary, native language programing, automated traffic guidance, and emergency broadcasts. AM waves travel further and penetrate buildings and obstacles more effectively than FM signals, especially at night. Having both FM and AM stereo radios the E-Class Sedan offers a more comprehensive listening experience compared to only FM in the S90.

HD Radio boasts several benefits over conventional radio: superior sound quality with clearer and consistent FM broadcasts, CD-quality audio, and Multicast Channels offering up to four streams from a single station, adding programming choices. Cars like the E-Class Sedan equipped with HD Radio provide an improved in-car entertainment experience. The S90, devoid of this technology, foregoes these benefits. Selecting the Mercedes E-Class Sedan empowers drivers to enjoy a more immersive and enjoyable listening experience while on the go.

The E-Class Sedan’s Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The S90 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

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

The E450 was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2025 and 2 more times in the last 9 years. The S90 has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

Motor Trend selected the E-Class Sedan as their 2025 Car of the Year. The S90 has never been chosen.

The Mercedes E-Class outsold the Volvo 90 Series by almost 8 to one during 2025.