1951 Austin Princess vs. 1989 Volvo 440
To start off, 1989 Volvo 440 is newer by 38 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1951 Austin Princess. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1951 Austin Princess would be higher. At 3,990 cc (6 cylinders), 1951 Austin Princess is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1951 Austin Princess (124 HP @ 3800 RPM) has 34 more horse power than 1989 Volvo 440. (90 HP @ 5800 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1951 Austin Princess should accelerate faster than 1989 Volvo 440. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1951 Austin Princess weights approximately 930 kg more than 1989 Volvo 440. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Because 1951 Austin Princess is rear wheel drive (RWD), it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, it will be much easier to do with 1951 Austin Princess. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1989 Volvo 440, being front wheel drive (FWD), will offer much better control with better grip. With that said, do keep in mind that many other factors such as speed and the wear on your tires can also have significant impact on traction and control. Let's talk about torque, 1951 Austin Princess (288 Nm @ 2200 RPM) has 156 more torque (in Nm) than 1989 Volvo 440. (132 Nm @ 3600 RPM). This means 1951 Austin Princess will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1989 Volvo 440.
Compare all specifications:
| 1951 Austin Princess | 1989 Volvo 440 | |
| Make | Austin | Volvo |
| Model | Princess | 440 |
| Year Released | 1951 | 1989 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3990 cc | 1721 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 124 HP | 90 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3800 RPM | 5800 RPM |
| Torque | 288 Nm | 132 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2200 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 6.8:1 | 9.5:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Front |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 5 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1955 kg | 1025 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4880 mm | 4320 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1860 mm | 1720 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1710 mm | 1410 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3030 mm | 2510 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 34 L | 48 L |
