1988 Lotus Esprit vs. 1989 Volvo 740
To start off, 1989 Volvo 740 is newer by 1 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1988 Lotus Esprit. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1988 Lotus Esprit would be higher. At 2,174 cc (4 cylinders), 1988 Lotus Esprit is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1988 Lotus Esprit (215 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 99 more horse power than 1989 Volvo 740. (116 HP @ 5700 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1988 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1989 Volvo 740. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1989 Volvo 740 weights approximately 72 kg more than 1988 Lotus Esprit.
Both vehicles are rear wheel drive (RWD) - it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, both vehicles do the job better than front wheel drive vehicles. 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, 1988 Lotus Esprit (298 Nm @ 4250 RPM) has 104 more torque (in Nm) than 1989 Volvo 740. (194 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1988 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1989 Volvo 740.
Compare all specifications:
| 1988 Lotus Esprit | 1989 Volvo 740 | |
| Make | Lotus | Volvo |
| Model | Esprit | 740 |
| Year Released | 1988 | 1989 |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 2174 cc | 1986 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 215 HP | 116 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5700 RPM |
| Torque | 298 Nm | 194 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4250 RPM | 2500 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1188 kg | 1260 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4350 mm | 4790 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1870 mm | 1760 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1160 mm | 1420 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 2780 mm |
