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Mercedes S Class vs VW Crafter comparison

Compare performance (635 HP vs 177 HP), boot space and price (104,000 £ vs 47,100 £ ) at a glance. Find out which car is the better choice for you – Mercedes S Class or VW Crafter?

Mercedes S Class vs VW Crafter: Key differences

Mercedes S Class

  • considerably more power
  • considerably more efficient
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VW Crafter

  • clearly cheaper
  • barely lighter
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By Achim Sedelmaier

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

S Class

Costs and Efficiency:

Price and efficiency are often the first things buyers look at. Here it becomes clear which model has the long-term edge – whether at the pump, the plug, or in purchase price.

VW Crafter is clearly cheaper – starting at 47,100 £ , while the Mercedes S Class costs 104,000 £ . That’s a price difference of around 56,895 £.

Fuel consumption also shows a difference: the Mercedes S Class uses 2.2 L/100km and is considerably more efficient than the VW Crafter with 8.4 L/100km. The difference is about 6.2 L/100km.

Crafter

Engine and Performance:

Power, torque and acceleration say a lot about how a car feels on the road. This is where you see which model delivers more driving dynamics.

When it comes to engine power, the Mercedes S Class offers considerably more power – delivering 635 HP compared to 177 HP. That’s roughly 458 HP more horsepower.

There’s also a difference in torque: the Mercedes S Class delivers considerably more torque with 850 Nm compared to 410 Nm. That’s about 440 Nm more.

S Class

Space and Everyday Use:

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

Seats: Mercedes S Class offers more seats – 5 vs 2.

In terms of curb weight, VW Crafter is barely lighter – 2,072 kg compared to 2,165 kg. The difference is around 93 kg.

When it comes to payload, the VW Crafter carries substantially more – 2,994 kg compared to 660 kg. That’s a difference of about 2,334 kg.

Who wins the race in the data check?

The Mercedes S Class is clearly superior overall 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 £104,000
S Class

Mercedes S Class

  • Engine Type : Petrol MHEV, Plugin Hybrid, Diesel MHEV
  • Transmission : Automatic
  • Drive Type : All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive
  • Power HP : 336 - 635 HP
  • Consumption L/100km : 2.2 - 11 L/100km
  • Electric Range : 98 - 118 km
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Mercedes S Class
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Costs and Consumption
View detailed analysis

Engine and Performance
View detailed analysis

Dimensions and Body
View detailed analysis

Mercedes S Class

The Mercedes S-Class wraps peerless comfort, whisper-quiet luxury and subtle tech wizardry into a chauffeur-ready package that still knows how to engage the driver. It’s the car for buyers who want to arrive relaxed, be taken seriously and occasionally enjoy a grin when the road reminds them this limousine can dance.

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Reviews Mercedes S Class

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VW Crafter

The VW Crafter is a no-nonsense workhorse that makes hauling and running a mobile business feel almost civilized, with a cabin built for long days and smart storage where you need it. It may not turn heads for glamour, but its sturdy build, straightforward tech and reliable manners mean fewer headaches for owners — a van that prefers to earn your trust rather than demand attention.

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Reviews VW Crafter

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Mercedes S Class
VW Crafter

Costs and Consumption
Price
104,000 - 201,400 £
Price
47,100 - 68,800 £
Consumption L/100km
2.2 - 11 L/100km
Consumption L/100km
8.4 - 13.1 L/100km
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Electric Range
98 - 118 km
Electric Range
-
Battery Capacity
-
Battery Capacity
-
co2
50 - 252 g/km
co2
220 - 342 g/km
Fuel tank capacity
-
Fuel tank capacity
75 L

Dimensions and Body
Body Type
Sedan
Body Type
Cargo Van
Seats
5
Seats
2
Doors
-
Doors
4
Curb weight
2,165 - 2,650 kg
Curb weight
2,072 - 2,810 kg
Trunk capacity
-
Trunk capacity
-
Length
-
Length
5,986 - 7,391 mm
Width
1,921 mm
Width
2,040 - 2,069 mm
Height
-
Height
2,355 - 2,830 mm
Max trunk capacity
-
Max trunk capacity
9,300 - 18,400 L
Payload
420 - 660 kg
Payload
1,037 - 2,994 kg

Engine and Performance
Engine Type
Petrol MHEV, Plugin Hybrid, Diesel MHEV
Engine Type
Diesel
Transmission
Automatic
Transmission
Manuel, Automatic
Transmission Detail
Automatic Gearbox
Transmission Detail
Manual Gearbox, Automatic Gearbox
Drive Type
All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive
Drive Type
Rear-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Power HP
336 - 635 HP
Power HP
140 - 177 HP
Acceleration 0-100km/h
4 - 5.7 s
Acceleration 0-100km/h
-
Max Speed
-
Max Speed
90 - 165 km/h
Torque
560 - 850 Nm
Torque
360 - 410 Nm
Number of Cylinders
6 - 8
Number of Cylinders
4
Power kW
247 - 467 kW
Power kW
103 - 130 kW
Engine capacity
2,989 - 3,982 cm3
Engine capacity
1,968 cm3

General
Model Year
2026
Model Year
2,017 - 2,023
CO2 Efficiency Class
G, B, F
CO2 Efficiency Class
G
Brand
Mercedes-Benz
Brand
VW
Is the Mercedes S Class offered with different drivetrains?

The Mercedes S Class is offered with All-Wheel Drive or Rear-Wheel Drive.

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.