Comparison · 4×2 lorry · long haul at 14 t

Mercedes-Benz Actros, 390 kW, 4x2 rigid lorry vs Scania R 540 B4x2

Mercedes-Benz Actros, 390 kW, 4x2 rigid lorry

2020–2023 · 390 kW

32.7l/100 km

median; 29.9–38.2 across 26 declared configurations

Scania R 540 B4x2

2021–2023 · 397 kW

30.4l/100 km

median; 28–31.7 across 10 declared configurations

Mercedes-Benz Actros, 390 kW, 4x2 rigid lorry and Scania R 540 B4x2 side by side
Specification	Mercedes-Benz Actros, 390 kW, 4x2 rigid lorry	Scania R 540 B4x2
Vehicle form	Lorry (BA)Registered	Lorry (BA)Registered
Axle configuration	4×2Declared	4×2Declared
Registered new	2020–2023Registeredcentral 90% of records	2021–2023Registeredcentral 90% of records
Engine power	390 kWDeclared	397 kWDeclared
Engine displacement	12.8 litresDeclared	12.7 litresDeclared
Gearbox	automatedDeclared	automatedDeclared
Emission class	Not recorded	EURO VI ERegistered
Gross vehicle weight	18,000–20,500 kgDeclaredmedian 18,000 kg, across 123 declared configurations	22,000 kgRegistered
Kerb weight	Not recorded	9,660 kgRegistered
Wheelbase	Not recorded	4,550 mmRegistered
Overall length	Not recorded	7,330 mmRegistered
Overall height	Not recorded	4,000 mmRegistered
Declared fuel, long haul	32.7 l/100 km Declaredmedian; 29.9–38.2 l/100 km across 26 declared configurations	30.4 l/100 km Declaredmedian; 28–31.7 l/100 km across 10 declared configurations
CO₂ per tonne-km	61.1 g Declaredmedian; 55.89–71.4 g	56.7 g Declaredmedian; 52.37–59.24 g

Fuel and CO₂: long haul at 14 t, 2022 declarations.

What the numbers actually say

There is 2.3 l/100 km between these two (7.5%). 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 2,760 litres a year (£3,864). The declared figures for one of them alone span 8.3 l/100 km across its configurations, so the specification ordered matters more than the choice between these two.

Actros, 390 kW, 4x2 rigid lorry full specification R 540 B4x2 full specification The fuel ranking

Fuel over a year

120,000 km · assumed price

Mercedes-Benz Actros, 390 kW, 4x2 rigid lorry39,240 litres

£54,936 at the assumed price

Scania R 540 B4x236,480 litres

£51,072 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.