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

Scania S 540 A4x2, tractor unit (2020–2022) vs Volvo FH, 405 kW, 4x2 tractor unit (2020–2023)

Scania S 540 A4x2, tractor unit (2020–2022)

2020–2022 · 397 kW
29.1l/100 km
median; 26.8–33.1 across 170 declared configurations

Volvo FH, 405 kW, 4x2 tractor unit (2020–2023)

2020–2023 · 405 kW
29l/100 km
median; 27–36.7 across 305 declared configurations
Scania S 540 A4x2, tractor unit (2020–2022) and Volvo FH, 405 kW, 4x2 tractor unit (2020–2023) side by side
SpecificationScania S 540 A4x2, tractor unit (2020–2022)Volvo FH, 405 kW, 4x2 tractor unit (2020–2023)
Vehicle formTractor unit for semi-trailer (BC)RegisteredTractor unit for semi-trailer (BC)Registered
Axle configuration4×2Declared4×2Declared
Registered new2020–2022Registeredcentral 90% of records2020–2023Registeredcentral 90% of records
Engine power397 kWDeclared405 kWDeclared
Engine displacement12.7 litresDeclared12.8 litresDeclared
GearboxautomatedDeclaredautomatedDeclared
Emission classEURO VI D, EURO VI ERegisteredEURO 6, EURO VI D, EURO VI ERegistered
Gross vehicle weight18,000–22,000 kgRegisteredmedian 19,000 kg, across 12 type-approval versions and 8 records without one19,000–22,000 kgRegisteredmedian 21,000 kg, across 22 type-approval versions and 6 records without one
Kerb weight7,837–9,689 kgRegisteredmedian 8,646 kg, over 43 registrations7,500–8,976 kgRegisteredmedian 8,337 kg, over 41 registrations
Wheelbase3,600–3,950 mmRegisteredmedian 3,750 mm, over 43 registrations3,700–4,000 mmRegisteredmedian 3,800 mm, over 41 registrations
Overall length5,840–6,490 mmRegisteredmedian 5,960 mm, over 43 registrations5,890–6,410 mmRegisteredmedian 6,040 mm, over 41 registrations
Overall height3,640–4,000 mmRegisteredmedian 4,000 mm, over 24 registrations3,430–4,000 mmRegisteredmedian 3,940 mm, over 17 registrations
Declared fuel, long haul29.1 l/100 km Declaredmedian; 26.8–33.1 l/100 km across 170 declared configurations29 l/100 km Declaredmedian; 27–36.7 l/100 km across 305 declared configurations
CO₂ per tonne-km39.49 g Declaredmedian; 36.27–44.91 g39.37 g Declaredmedian; 36.63–49.7 g

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

What the numbers actually say

There is 0.1 l/100 km between these two (0.3%). 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 120 litres a year (£168). The declared figures for one of them alone span 9.7 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
Scania S 540 A4x2, tractor unit (2020–2022)34,920 litres
£48,888 at the assumed price
Volvo FH, 405 kW, 4x2 tractor unit (2020–2023)34,800 litres
£48,720 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.