Volkswagen Passat vs Volvo S40 03/29/2011
There are a wide range of sedans available for purchase, which can make choosing between all the available models difficult. To make the process a little bit easier, we compared the Volkswagen Passat and Volvo S40 side-by-side to see which was the better value.
Volkswagen prices the Passat at $27,195, while Volvo's S40 retails for $27,750. Volkswagen offers a slightly better warranty as well on the Passat, covering the car for 5 years/60,000 miles. Volvo's pledge only lasts for 4 years/50,000 miles.
Drivers who choose the S40 will get an extra cylinder under the hood, as it sports a five-cylinder engine while the Passat only has four. This allows the car to get 227 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque, beating out Volkswagen's 200 horsepower and 207 lb-ft.
On the inside, we prefer the Passat, which comes with heated seats and satellite radio standard. In terms of options available for purchase, the Passat offers a built-in hard drive and iPod hookup while the S40 offers parking assist and keyless ignition.
In the end, we think the Passat's cheaper price, longer warranty and better features ultimately make it the better value, as it doesn't sacrifice too much in the power department.