2005 Land Rover Defender vs. 2011 Volvo S40
To start off, 2011 Volvo S40 is newer by 6 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 2005 Land Rover Defender. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 2005 Land Rover Defender would be higher. At 3,947 cc (8 cylinders), 2005 Land Rover Defender is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2011 Volvo S40 (227 HP @ 5000 RPM) has 47 more horse power than 2005 Land Rover Defender. (180 HP @ 4750 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2011 Volvo S40 should accelerate faster than 2005 Land Rover Defender. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2005 Land Rover Defender weights approximately 116 kg more than 2011 Volvo S40.
Because 2005 Land Rover Defender is four wheel drive (4WD), it will have significant more traction and grip than 2011 Volvo S40. In wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 2005 Land Rover Defender will offer significantly more control. 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, both vehicles can yield 320 Nm of torque. So under normal driving conditions, the ability to climb up hills and pull heavy equipment should be relatively similar for both vehicles. 2011 Volvo S40 has automatic transmission and 2005 Land Rover Defender has manual transmission. 2005 Land Rover Defender will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 2011 Volvo S40 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 2005 Land Rover Defender | 2011 Volvo S40 | |
| Make | Land Rover | Volvo |
| Model | Defender | S40 |
| Year Released | 2005 | 2011 |
| Body Type | SUV | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3947 cc | 2500 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 5 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 180 HP | 227 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4750 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 320 Nm | 320 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 1500 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | 4WD | Front |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 5 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1630 kg | 1514 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3730 mm | 4475 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1800 mm | 1770 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 2080 mm | 1453 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2370 mm | 2639 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 93 L | 60 L |
