AllTruckData
Comparison · 4×2 tractor unit · long haul at 19.3 t

Mercedes-Benz Actros, 315 kW, 4x2 tractor unit (2015–2020) vs Volvo FM, 278 kW, 4x2 tractor unit (2016–2019)

Mercedes-Benz Actros, 315 kW, 4x2 tractor unit (2015–2020)

2015–2020 · 315 kW
32.7l/100 km
median; 29.7–39.5 across 203 declared configurations

Volvo FM, 278 kW, 4x2 tractor unit (2016–2019)

2016–2019 · 278 kW
32.9l/100 km
median; 32.5–36.2 across 8 declared configurations
Mercedes-Benz Actros, 315 kW, 4x2 tractor unit (2015–2020) and Volvo FM, 278 kW, 4x2 tractor unit (2016–2019) side by side
SpecificationMercedes-Benz Actros, 315 kW, 4x2 tractor unit (2015–2020)Volvo FM, 278 kW, 4x2 tractor unit (2016–2019)
Vehicle formTractor unit for semi-trailer (BC)RegisteredTractor unit for semi-trailer (BC)Registered
Axle configuration4×2Declared4×2Declared
Registered new2015–2020Registeredcentral 90% of records2016–2019Registeredcentral 90% of records
Engine power315 kWDeclared278 kWDeclared
Engine displacement10.7 litresDeclared10.8 litresDeclared
GearboxautomatedDeclaredautomatedDeclared
Emission classEURO 6, EURO VI, EURO VI A, EURO VI C, EURO VI DRegisteredEURO VI B, EURO VI CRegistered
Gross vehicle weight18,000–20,500 kgRegisteredmedian 19,000 kg, across 74 type-approval versions and 34 records without one19,000–22,000 kgRegisteredmedian 20,500 kg, across 27 type-approval versions and 2 records without one
Kerb weight6,895–8,255 kgRegisteredmedian 7,446 kg, over 244 registrations6,854–11,075 kgRegisteredmedian 7,379 kg, over 147 registrations
Wheelbase3,700–3,850 mmRegisteredmedian 3,700 mm, over 244 registrations3,700–4,000 mmRegisteredmedian 3,800 mm, over 147 registrations
Overall length5,900–6,310 mmRegisteredmedian 6,160 mm, over 244 registrations5,890–6,210 mmRegisteredmedian 5,990 mm, over 147 registrations
Overall height3,480–3,950 mmRegisteredmedian 3,740 mm, over 8 registrations3,100–3,910 mmRegisteredmedian 3,880 mm, over 46 registrations
Declared fuel, long haul32.7 l/100 km Declaredmedian; 29.7–39.5 l/100 km across 203 declared configurations32.9 l/100 km Declaredmedian; 32.5–36.2 l/100 km across 8 declared configurations
CO₂ per tonne-km44.3 g Declaredmedian; 40.3–53.6 g44.7 g Declaredmedian; 44–49 g

Fuel and CO₂: long haul at 19.3 t, 2019 declarations.

What the numbers actually say

There is 0.2 l/100 km between these two (0.6%). 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 240 litres a year (£336). The declared figures for one of them alone span 9.8 l/100 km across its configurations, so the specification ordered matters more than the choice between these two.

Actros, 315 kW, 4x2 tractor unit (2015–2020) full specificationFM, 278 kW, 4x2 tractor unit (2016–2019) full specificationThe fuel ranking

Fuel over a year

120,000 km · assumed price
Mercedes-Benz Actros, 315 kW, 4x2 tractor unit (2015–2020)39,240 litres
£54,936 at the assumed price
Volvo FM, 278 kW, 4x2 tractor unit (2016–2019)39,480 litres
£55,272 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.