The BMW M340i, Audi S4 Avant, Volvo S60 T8 Polestar Engineered, and Mercedes-AMG E53 all prove that you don’t need the absolute ultimate in performance to enjoy a sporty sedan. CarWow recently put them head-to-head for a series of acceleration and braking tests.
One could consider the Volvo S60 T8 Polestar Engineered as the underdog of the four, mainly due to the Swedish automaker’s relative lack of offerings / experience when it comes to creating performance cars compared to Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. On paper, it reads very well indeed, featuring a twincharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with a rear-mounted electric motor that pumps out a total of 415 hp and 494 lb-ft (669 Nm) of torque.
Also Read: You’ll Be Able To Purchase A Volvo S60 Polestar Engineered, But There’s A Catch
By comparison, the Audi S4 Avant featured in this test is the diesel model with 342 hp and 516 lb-ft (700 Nm) of torque. Meanwhile, the slightly larger Mercedes-AMG E53 packs a 3.0-liter inline-six turbocharged engine with 429 hp and 384 lb-ft (520 Nm) of torque. Last but not least is the BMW M340i with its 368 hp and 369 lb-ft (500 Nm) of torque.
If one were to simply look at these figures, it would be easy to conclude that either the Volvo or the Mercedes-AMG will be the quickest of the four. That’s not the case.
Instead, it is the M340i that easily establishes itself as the quickest car in the field, repeatedly storming ahead of its rivals in the tests performed.
When it comes to braking, it is the Audi S4 Avant that proves to be the most impressive, followed shortly by the BMW and then the Mercedes-AMG and Volvo.