Hi, I would like to buy a new car and I am evaluating the latest Volvo V40 D2 Momentum (Diesel) and the latest Mercedes A class A 180 Diesel.

since I have fleet discount from my company the final price of both cars is nearly the same, ~38.000 CHF including plenty of optionals like advances security sensors and alerts, Auto Parking pilot and much more.

I am unsure which one to take, I like the design of the V40 a bit more than A class but I am wondering if construction quality and lifetime of Mercedes is any higher than Volvos.

Both models I am evaluating are kind of the cheapest of these two brands, the A class is the smallest mercedes benz, the V40, just released, is the second smallest after the C30 which I am not considering anyway.

Does anybody have some experience with both brands or similar models and can suggest me something? thanks a lot, Davide- Zurich

http://www.topgear.com/uk/volvo/v40/road-test/d2-driven
http://www.topgear.com/uk/mercedes-b...ad-test/driven

If it were my money, I'd go with the A3, however the 5 door sportback has yet to go on sale. When I sat in one at the Geneva auto show, I was truly impressed at the fit and finish. Beautiful car inside and out.

http://www.topgear.com/uk/audi/a3/ro...i-sport-driven

I support acd483, although I have a (slightly larger) merc myself. The Volvo is a nightmare to drive backwards (poor view), and is basically a Ford Focus. The A-class has a nice, but not so spacy interior, and the A180's diesel is a Renault motor.

I'd go for the BMW 1-series or wait for the new Golf.

thanks everybody, I tried the Volvo and the A class (A 180), liked both but I decided for the V40 as it has way more security / safety features like outer pedestrian airbag, full autobrake in certain cases and I like the instrumentation more.

thanks for all answers, was very helpful to make my mind.

Davide.

Personally, I prefer Volvo (much better than Mercedes) and they do manufacture some great cars. Anyone remember this

Safety wise they are close of being unbeatable so I think you have made a very smart choice.

I've always been impressed by Volvo's reliability. Are you aware that the world record for most miles driven on an original car, with the original engine, is a Volvo P1800 owned by Irv Gordon of New York? He has almost 3,000,000 miles on his car. That is nearly 4,828,032 kilometers! And that's not a diesel engine.

If true, then run. Just run. Don't look back.

Good choice.

I come from a family which have always appreciated the Swedish "tanks" despite having tried out various brands over the years.

Between my parents, my brother and myself we have owned;
Toyota Carina
2 x Fiat 127
Renault 5
Chevolet Blazer
Ford Fiesta
Mercedes E280
Rover 216
Renault Laguna
Golf Mark 2
Nissan Skyline GT-R R32
Ford Sierra.

Some of these have been bad, but most have been really good.

However despite this, we always seem to go back to the Volvos, and have to date had;
Amazon,
4 x 240s
460 (the less said about this one, the better)
740
264 with a suped up 2.1 turbo engine (which was brilliant fun whenever the fuel system coped with the increased turbo boost)

Currently our main cars are a V70 for my brother, and an XC70 for me, so either we are completely brainwashed, or there is something really good about these cars.

But in those days it was a true Swedish car.
You can't compare them to the current models.

We had the earlier V40 model when we first came over and were quite happy with it. Took about six months to settle in, but garage did say that it would and it was fine from then on. Unfortunately, the model was discontinued by the time we were looking for a new car and we didn't like the V50 nearly as much so we got a Nissan Qashqai instead which was much better specced for about the same price. The new V40 would be too small for us as we liked the estate style of the other.

I can't speak for the longevity of electronics, but the engines themselves are built better and to tighter tolerances than engines made in the 1960s. There is no doubt to this engineer that the motor would go the distance. Unfortunately, the cost to replace the electronic components in 20 years might be cost prohibitive.

It should also be pointed out that, if you're looking to keep a car for the long run and worry about total ownership experience, you would be well to avoid diesels. They are not the trouble free engines of 20 years ago. Common rail injectors and pumps fail and they ae EXPENSIVE to replace. New emissions regulations which will come into effect will also offset fuel savings and reliability.

I fear that the same goes for all those tiny-displacement, high-boost gasoline engines that are currently being stuffed down European consumers' throats due to insane CO2 regulations. I wonder how many of those will make it beyond 150'000 kms.

Get the one you like look of best.

It's a bit like asking if you prefer apples or pears if you think about it !

I've just got back from 2 weeks in Mallorca in a rented New A-Class(1700km on the clock),
I expected much better build quality from Mercedes the interior didn't feel anywhere near as well put to together as our Golf.
And i'm still not sure if the steering wheel was attached to anything, almost impossible to drive in a straight line over 60km/h

The quality of interior materials in the A and B class has really gone downhill. Funny enough A class feels more expensive inside than B class.

The Volvo is lovely but kind of small on the inside. Depends on how tall you are. At 190 cm, the V 40 was a bit uncomfortable for me.