Comparison · 6×4 lorry · long haul at 19.3 t

Mercedes-Benz Actros, 290 kW, 6x4 rigid lorry vs Volvo FM, 285 kW, 6x4 rigid lorry

Mercedes-Benz Actros, 290 kW, 6x4 rigid lorry

2021–2023 · 290 kW

37.4l/100 km

median; 37.4–39 across 2 declared configurations

Volvo FM, 285 kW, 6x4 rigid lorry

2020–2024 · 285 kW

38.5l/100 km

median; 36.6–47.2 across 3 declared configurations

Mercedes-Benz Actros, 290 kW, 6x4 rigid lorry and Volvo FM, 285 kW, 6x4 rigid lorry side by side
Specification	Mercedes-Benz Actros, 290 kW, 6x4 rigid lorry	Volvo FM, 285 kW, 6x4 rigid lorry
Vehicle form	Lorry (BA)Registered	Lorry (BA)Registered
Axle configuration	6×4Declared	6×4Declared
Registered new	2021–2023Registeredcentral 90% of records	2020–2024Registeredcentral 90% of records
Engine power	290 kWDeclared	285 kWDeclared
Engine displacement	10.7 litresDeclared	10.8 litresDeclared
Gearbox	automatedDeclared	automated, automaticDeclared
Emission class	Not recorded	EURO VI ERegistered
Gross vehicle weight	26,000–33,000 kgDeclaredmedian 28,000 kg, across 15 declared configurations	32,000–33,000 kgRegisteredmedian 32,000 kg, over 2 registrations
Kerb weight	Not recorded	16,796–16,890 kgRegisteredmedian 16,796 kg, over 2 registrations
Wheelbase	Not recorded	5,700–5,750 mmRegisteredmedian 5,700 mm, over 2 registrations
Overall length	Not recorded	8,400–8,610 mmRegisteredmedian 8,400 mm, over 2 registrations
Overall height	Not recorded	3,780–3,900 mmRegisteredmedian 3,780 mm, over 2 registrations
Declared fuel, long haul	37.4 l/100 km Declaredmedian; 37.4–39 l/100 km across 2 declared configurations	38.5 l/100 km Declaredmedian; 36.6–47.2 l/100 km across 3 declared configurations
CO₂ per tonne-km	50.77 g Declaredmedian; 50.77–52.8 g	52.21 g Declaredmedian; 49.69–64 g

Fuel and CO₂: long haul at 19.3 t, 2022 declarations.

What the numbers actually say

There is 1.1 l/100 km between these two (2.9%). That is inside the 10% tolerance of declared figures, so on fuel alone neither is the better choice: at 120,000 km a year and an assumed £1.40 a litre the gap would be about 1,320 litres a year (£1,848). The declared figures for one of them alone span 10.6 l/100 km across its configurations, so the specification ordered matters more than the choice between these two.

Actros, 290 kW, 6x4 rigid lorry full specification FM, 285 kW, 6x4 rigid lorry full specification

Fuel over a year

120,000 km · assumed price

Mercedes-Benz Actros, 290 kW, 6x4 rigid lorry44,880 litres

£62,832 at the assumed price

Volvo FM, 285 kW, 6x4 rigid lorry46,200 litres

£64,680 at the assumed price

At 120,000 km a year and an assumed £1.40 a litre; the price is an assumption, not one we track.