Mercedes-Benz C-Class vs Volvo XC90
What's the difference?

Mercedes-Benz C-Class

$43,950 - $180,800

2023 price

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Volvo XC90

$97,990 - $130,990

2026 price

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Aston Martin Vanquish

Lamborghini Aventador

Maserati Quattroporte

Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class

Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Mercedes-Benz E53

Mercedes-Benz EQS

Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class

Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

Summary

2023 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

2026 Volvo XC90

By Emily Agar

By Tim Nicholson

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Turbo 4, 1.5L

Turbo 4, 2.0L

Fuel Type

Premium Unleaded/Electric

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Fuel Efficiency

6.9L/100km (combined)

1.8L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Luxurious finishes
Upmarket and intuitive tech
Precise handling

New multimedia system
Interior design and materials
Brisk and engaging performance

Dislikes

On the compact side for size
Low-ground clearance may grind the teeth
Dynamic guidelines are trippy

Old school EV driving range
Clunky third row set-up
Unsettled low-speed ride

2023 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Summary

When it comes to choosing a family car, sedans are often overlooked for their long-legged wagon or beefy SUV cousins.

They're a bit of a forgotten hero but they'll always hold a piece of my heart for their practicality and (often) sexier kerb-side appeal.

If you can get used to your body cracking like a glow stick when you get in and out of them, the sedan may make a comeback!

The new Mercedes-Benz C-Class, in entry-level C200 form, has definitely tempted my family to consider a sedan in the future – it looks stately and refined but the driving experience also makes it fun.

Let's see what else it did right and if there was anything that could be improved.

Did I mention, I'm fond of sedans... ?

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2026 Volvo XC90 Summary

The first-generation Volvo XC90 remained on sale for 12 years in Australia before being replaced by the handsome second-gen version that recently clocked up a decade of sales.

There’s a reason for the longevity. People love the Volvo XC90. It is a reliable seven-seat family-friendly SUV with a premium bent. You’ll spot loads of these at fancy private school drop off.

Volvo has extended the life of the second-gen XC90 with a significant late-life update. It adopts some features from its stablemate, the similarly sized and positioned EX90 electric SUV.

It doesn’t get a fully-electric powertrain but you have the choice of a mild-hybrid grade that acts as the range opener and the well-equipped T8 Plug-In Hybrid I’m testing.

Interestingly, a number of this car’s rivals have had their lives extended, too. As many carmakers pour billions into EVs, they’ve taken to delivering major updates to older internal combustion platforms rather than developing all-new underpinnings. The Audi Q7 and BMW X5 are other examples of this.

For the update, Volvo has ushered in a front-end design refresh, a fresh take on the interior, new multimedia and safety tech, a light tweak to suspension and new colours and wheels.

But is this enough to keep premium SUV buyers interested? Let’s find out…

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Deep dive comparison

2023 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2026 Volvo XC90

Verdict

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class C200 is such a stylish sedan and I would totally have one. The driving performance, luxurious features and practical size made it a winning combo for my family. The price point is definitely up there but you do get a high-end build for the cash. I've seen bigger boots in other sedans and not being able to fit a third child seat will limit some families, but this still easily earns an 8.5/10 from me.

My son really loved this one. The ambient lighting was the highlight for him and he thought it looked like a "space car" inside. He gave it a 9/10.

Verdict

It’s a credit to Volvo that the XC90 feels like a new car, even with its older underpinnings. This latest update has successfully addressed areas that needed the most attention, namely the multimedia system, interior and exterior design. The electric driving range now feels somewhat old school compared to the numbers some manufacturers can achieve these days. A lot of PHEVs now exceed 100km EV range and buyers are starting to expect that. And setting up the third row takes way too much effort to want to do it regularly. The new Volvo XC90 is a comfortable, engaging and properly premium family SUV and the updates have only improved what was already a solid offering.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class vs Volvo XC90 What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Mercedes-Benz C-Class vs Volvo XC90
What's the difference?