Skip advert
Advertisement
Car group tests

Volvo S80 v Mercedes E220 v Audi A6 v BMW 525d

Looking for a new executive car? There’s only one country to turn to: Germany...

The dominance of this sector by the nation’s manufacturers is well documented; its three most successful automotive brands (BMW, Audi and Mercedes) account for 75 per cent of all exec­utive saloons bought in UK showrooms.

So does that mean rivals are left to pick over the scraps? Not if Volvo is to be believed. The second-generation S80 is just arriving in dealers here now, and top brass in Sweden reckon 70 per cent of customers will be new to the Volvo marque – in other words, they will be buyers who have been tempted to defect from other brands.

Advertisement - Article continues below

So, only one question needs to be answered: does the latest S80 have what it takes to steal sales from its German competitors? To find out, we test the newcomer against the 5-Series, A6 and E-Class, all in their most popular guises – powered by mainstream diesel engines and in mid-range trim.

Verdict

The one thing that stands out in this test is how similar these saloons are. This isn’t surprising considering the makers benchmark test them against each other – but does that mean none of them stands out from the crowd.

Volvo’s S80 is excellent value and well laid out inside, but the driving experience falls short and the engine is comparatively unrefined. As a result, it finishes last behind the stylish Audi A6 by the smallest of margins.

A refined powerplant, comfortable cabin and smooth ride mean the Mercedes E220 CDI is the best model here on the road. But two factors caused it to finish second – it’s expensive to buy and costly to run. So once again, the BMW 5-Series clings on to victory by the skin of its teeth.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Audi A6

Audi A6

RRP £39,640Avg. savings £7,356 off RRP*Used from £16,490
BMW 5 Series

BMW 5 Series

RRP £52,195Avg. savings £8,090 off RRP*Used from £18,601
Audi A5

Audi A5

RRP £42,660Avg. savings £4,120 off RRP*Used from £22,900
Audi A4

Audi A4

RRP £32,725Avg. savings £2,195 off RRP*Used from £16,697
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Labour hints at major luxury car tax U-turn to boost EV sales
Luxury car tax

Labour hints at major luxury car tax U-turn to boost EV sales

Is pressure from retailers and car makers finally cutting through with ministers?
News
22 May 2025
The Nissan Micra is back! New supermini arrives with EV power and plenty of charm
Nissan Micra - front

The Nissan Micra is back! New supermini arrives with EV power and plenty of charm

The Nissan Micra makes a long-awaited return as an EV and is set to offer up to 253 miles of range
News
21 May 2025
BYD Dolphin Surf review
BYD Dolphin Surf - front

BYD Dolphin Surf review

The BYD Dolphin Surf is a roomy, sophisticated, and competitively priced electric city car that’ll find plenty of willing buyers
In-depth reviews
23 May 2025