The 2010 Volvo S40 got a 7.4 rating out of 10 from Edmunds.com. They said that The 2010 Volvo S40 it's stylish and comfortable. But it isn't as sporty as comporable European luxury models and more expensive than VWJetta GLI. The features that were rating highly were the front seat comfort, numerous good safety features, very stylish and available in four wheel drive. The negatives are poor handling compared to other sport sedans and luxury pricing for not a very luxurious model of sedan.

The Volvo S60 is more sporty and has more of a sports car feel. The exterior is more sporty in appearance and the interior has a sports seat with seat cushion. Leathertextile upholstry in the inerior is also available. The strut brace under the bonnet gives a stiffer feel and more responsive steering around turns.

The Volvo S60 received the following ratings from Fifth Gear.

Styling: 4 out of 5
Handling: 3 out of 5
Comfort: 4 out of 5
Quality and Reliability: 4 out of 5
Performance: 3 out of 5
Roominess: 3 out of 5
Stereo and Satellite Navigation: 3 out of 5
Running Costs: 3 out of 5
Value for Money: 3 out of 5
Environment: 4 out of 5

Looking at the price difference is one major way to determine how the two cars are positioned. The Volvo S40 is $10,000 less than the S60, which in my opinion is quite significant. The S40 is a five cylinder front wheel drive car while the S60 is a six cylinder all wheel drive vehicle. The S60 is also longer, wider and taller.

In my opinion, the S60 is simply a step up from the S40 in terms of size, performance and luxury. What you'll have to decide is whether or not the step up is worth spending $37,000 instead of $27,000. That extra $10,000 is more than a third of the total cost of the S40, so only you can decide whether the extra money is worth spending in order to meet your needs.