Subjective comparisons, or broad-brushed ones like “X is slower than Y,” simply use too broad and too vague of a brush.   A programming language is a tool, and each of them is designed by someone with something-in-particular in mind.   Thus, each language champions certain things at the expense of certain others, just as a wrench is not-so-good for driving a nail although it can be done.   “Versus” comparisons frankly aren’t worth much in practice.

“Speed,” especially in a modern-day program, has mostly to do with algorithm.   Which is why, in the tiny but important book, “The Elements of Programming Style,” we read this maxim:

Don’t “diddle” a program to make it faster:   find a better algorithm.”

But “speed” also has to do with how rapidly a particular set of programmers can accomplish the work, reliably and completely, and how well their work-product will integrate with everything else that surrounds it.   Which is why, say, if you’re writing a program for the Android, you’re probably gonna do it in Java.