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Mercedes Marco Polo vs Subaru Forester comparison

Compare performance (237 HP vs 136 HP), boot space and price (57,500 £ vs 35,100 £ ) at a glance. Find out which car is the better choice for you – Mercedes Marco Polo or Subaru Forester?

Mercedes Marco Polo vs Subaru Forester: Key differences

Mercedes Marco Polo

  • clearly more power
  • barely more efficient
  • considerably quicker 0–100 km/h
  • clearly more trunk space
details

Subaru Forester

3.8 (4 Reviews)
rate
  • considerably cheaper
  • substantially lighter
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All details on performance, efficiency, range and trunk space can be found in the technical comparison below – including user reviews for both models.

By Achim Sedelmaier

Here’s where it gets real: The technical differences in detail

Marco Polo

Costs and Efficiency:

Price and efficiency are key factors when choosing a car – and this is often where the real differences emerge.

Subaru Forester is considerably cheaper – starting at 35,100 £ , while the Mercedes Marco Polo costs 57,500 £ . That’s a price difference of around 22,351 £.

Fuel consumption also shows a difference: the Mercedes Marco Polo uses 7.4 L/100km and is barely more efficient than the Subaru Forester with 8.1 L/100km. The difference is about 0.7 L/100km.

Forester

Engine and Performance:

Power, torque and acceleration are the classic benchmarks for car enthusiasts – and here, some clear differences start to show.

When it comes to engine power, the Mercedes Marco Polo offers clearly more power – delivering 237 HP compared to 136 HP. That’s roughly 101 HP more horsepower.

When accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h, the Mercedes Marco Polo is considerably quicker – completing the sprint in 7.4 s, while the Subaru Forester takes 12.2 s. That’s about 4.8 s quicker.

There’s also a difference in torque: the Mercedes Marco Polo delivers significantly more torque with 500 Nm compared to 182 Nm. That’s about 318 Nm more.

Space and Everyday Use:

Whether family car or daily driver – which one offers more room, flexibility and comfort?

Seats: Subaru Forester offers more seats – 5 vs 4.

In terms of curb weight, Subaru Forester is substantially lighter – 1,693 kg compared to 2,450 kg. The difference is around 757 kg.

Looking at boot space, the Mercedes Marco Polo offers clearly more boot space – 670 L compared to 508 L. That’s a difference of about 162 L.

When it comes to payload, the Mercedes Marco Polo carries markedly more – 650 kg compared to 492 kg. That’s a difference of about 158 kg.

Who wins the race in the data check?

The Mercedes Marco Polo is decisively ahead in the objective data comparison.
This result only shows which model scores more points on paper – not which of the two cars feels right for you.

from £57,500
Marco Polo

Mercedes Marco Polo

  • Engine Type Diesel
  • Transmission Automatic
  • Drive Type Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
  • Power HP 163 - 237 HP
  • Consumption L/100km 7.4 - 8.3 L/100km
Mercedes Marco Polo
Subaru Forester

Costs and Consumption

View detailed analysis

Engine and Performance

View detailed analysis

Dimensions and Body

View detailed analysis

Mercedes Marco Polo

The Mercedes Marco Polo is a posh, travel-ready camper that blends van practicality with Mercedes comfort, turning long trips into glamping adventures rather than endurance tests. Clever interior packaging and sensible luxury make it a top pick for buyers who want the prestige of a star on the grille without losing everyday usefulness.

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Subaru Forester

The Subaru Forester is a practical all-rounder that quietly does everything right, with roomy comfort, excellent visibility and a real fondness for weekend adventures off the beaten path. It won't set your pulse racing like a sports car, but for buyers who prize reliability, safety and sensible charm, it's a brilliantly steady companion with a cheeky streak.

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Mercedes Marco Polo
Subaru Forester

Costs and Consumption

Price
57,500 - 82,600 £
Price
35,100 - 42,800 £
Consumption L/100km
7.4 - 8.3 L/100km
Consumption L/100km
8.1 L/100km
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Electric Range
-
Electric Range
-
Battery Capacity
-
Battery Capacity
-
co2
194 - 218 g/km
co2
183 g/km
Fuel tank capacity
70 L
Fuel tank capacity
-

Dimensions and Body

Body Type
Bus
Body Type
SUV
Seats
4
Seats
5
Doors
4 - 5
Doors
-
Curb weight
2,450 - 2,545 kg
Curb weight
1,693 - 1,739 kg
Trunk capacity
670 L
Trunk capacity
508 L
Length
5,140 mm
Length
-
Width
1,928 mm
Width
1,830 mm
Height
1,975 mm
Height
-
Max trunk capacity
4,630 L
Max trunk capacity
-
Payload
555 - 650 kg
Payload
446 - 492 kg

Engine and Performance

Engine Type
Diesel
Engine Type
Petrol MHEV
Transmission
Automatic
Transmission
Automatic
Transmission Detail
Automatic Gearbox
Transmission Detail
CVT
Drive Type
Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Drive Type
All-Wheel Drive
Power HP
163 - 237 HP
Power HP
136 HP
Acceleration 0-100km/h
7.4 - 10.7 s
Acceleration 0-100km/h
12.2 s
Max Speed
188 - 220 km/h
Max Speed
-
Torque
380 - 500 Nm
Torque
182 Nm
Number of Cylinders
4
Number of Cylinders
4
Power kW
120 - 174 kW
Power kW
100 kW
Engine capacity
1,950 cm3
Engine capacity
1,995 cm3

General

Model Year
2,024 - 2,025
Model Year
2025
CO2 Efficiency Class
G
CO2 Efficiency Class
G
Brand
Mercedes-Benz
Brand
Subaru
DriveDuel uses data analysis and artificial intelligence to evaluate vehicle data and create content. Content is regularly reviewed and improved. The displayed prices are estimates based on German list prices, adjusted to the respective country’s VAT. Country-specific registration taxes are not included. This information is not legally binding.