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

Renault T, 285 kW, 4x2 tractor unit (2015–2022) vs Volvo FM, 285 kW, 4x2 tractor unit (2019–2022)

Renault T, 285 kW, 4x2 tractor unit (2015–2022)

2015–2022 · 285 kW
31.7l/100 km
median; 28.5–35.3 across 5 declared configurations

Volvo FM, 285 kW, 4x2 tractor unit (2019–2022)

2019–2022 · 285 kW
32.8l/100 km
median; 27.2–35.9 across 63 declared configurations
Renault T, 285 kW, 4x2 tractor unit (2015–2022) and Volvo FM, 285 kW, 4x2 tractor unit (2019–2022) side by side
SpecificationRenault T, 285 kW, 4x2 tractor unit (2015–2022)Volvo FM, 285 kW, 4x2 tractor unit (2019–2022)
Vehicle formTractor unit for semi-trailer (BC)RegisteredTractor unit for semi-trailer (BC)Registered
Axle configuration4×2Declared4×2Declared
Registered new2015–2022Registeredcentral 90% of records2019–2022Registeredcentral 90% of records
Engine power285 kWDeclared285 kWDeclared
Engine displacement10.8 litresDeclared10.8 litresDeclared
GearboxautomatedDeclaredautomatedDeclared
Emission classEURO 6, EURO VI B, EURO VI C, EURO VI D, EURO VI ERegisteredEURO 6, EURO VI D, EURO VI ERegistered
Gross vehicle weight18,600–21,000 kgRegisteredmedian 20,500 kg, across 10 type-approval versions18,200–22,000 kgRegisteredmedian 20,500 kg, across 28 type-approval versions and 8 records without one
Kerb weight7,200–7,972 kgRegisteredmedian 7,465 kg, over 105 registrations6,576–7,804 kgRegisteredmedian 7,209 kg, over 346 registrations
Wheelbase3,700–3,800 mmRegisteredmedian 3,800 mm, over 105 registrations3,500–3,800 mmRegisteredmedian 3,800 mm, over 346 registrations
Overall length5,890–6,210 mmRegisteredmedian 5,990 mm, over 105 registrations5,690–6,210 mmRegisteredmedian 5,990 mm, over 346 registrations
Overall height3,730–3,960 mmRegisteredmedian 3,930 mm, over 21 registrations2,930–3,910 mmRegisteredmedian 3,820 mm, over 78 registrations
Declared fuel, long haul31.7 l/100 km Declaredmedian; 28.5–35.3 l/100 km across 5 declared configurations32.8 l/100 km Declaredmedian; 27.2–35.9 l/100 km across 63 declared configurations
CO₂ per tonne-km42.99 g Declaredmedian; 38.64–47.8 g44.5 g Declaredmedian; 36.86–48.7 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 (3.4%). 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 8.7 l/100 km across its configurations, so the specification ordered matters more than the choice between these two.

Fuel over a year

120,000 km · assumed price
Renault T, 285 kW, 4x2 tractor unit (2015–2022)38,040 litres
£53,256 at the assumed price
Volvo FM, 285 kW, 4x2 tractor unit (2019–2022)39,360 litres
£55,104 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.