In 2021, the Volvo 850 has celebrated its 30th anniversary. Back then, it was a revolutionary model, that introduced a vast number of innovations to Volvo customers, such as five-cylinder engines and front-wheel drive.
Despite its age, there is still a lot to love about the Volvo 850. It is not only the perfect first car but also an appealing young timer. It has all that we have ever loved about Volvo, including the reliable and powerful engines, superb safety, and original boxy design.
- Swedish Safety
Probably the largest selling point of all Volvos, and what they are most known for is their safety. The Swedish brand has made driving so much safer for their customers with the introduction of three-point seatbelts many decades ago. Volvo was also the first-ever car brand to offer side-impact airbags. That Swedish attention to safety is definitely a plus when you’re looking for a perfect first car. Yet, this particular Volvo takes things a step further.
The Volvo 850 specifically has been called “the world’s safest car” when it was first introduced, keeping up the high Swedish safety standard. It was the Volvo 850 that introduced the side-impact airbags in 1995. They called this award-winning safety feature SIPS, short for Side-Impact Protection System.
In addition, for the 1997 model year, the manufacturer launched the Volvo 850 AWD. As the name suggests, this iteration was equipped with a four-wheel drive as standard. This was the first Volvo model to have this advanced safety technology, and even by today’s standards, it does a surprisingly good job. Anti-lock brakes (ABS) came on all 850s as standard as well.
To back up all the claims about the safety of Swedish vehicles, Volvo went as far as issuing Accidental Loss of Life insurance policies with all 1996 Volvos, which were valid for four years. This shows that Volvo was always very confident concerning the safety of their models, and they have not been wrong!
- Boxy Design for an Unbeatable Practicality
Old Volvo models are easily distinguishable by their boxy design with almost no curves. This not only gave the engineers the ability to equip the Volvo 850 with supreme safety, great deformation zones, and a rigid chassis but also unbeatable practicality. In addition, the squared-off design also makes the vehicle very easy to fit in tight parking spots, as you can easily gauge where the corners of the 850 are. This makes it amazing to drive in the city.
The boot space in the Volvo 850 adds to the whole utilitarian vibe this car emanates. The wagon featured 28 cubic feet of luggage space, and with the split-folding second row of seats, it can be enlarged to an immense 56 cubic feet. However, the Volvo 850 has one more surprise up its sleeve. Not only are the rear seats foldable, but so is the front passenger seat. With it folded, the driver of this Volvo has access to more than 109 inches of loading length.
Apart from this, the Volvo 850 was very spacious for passengers as well. With enough room for both rows, and with lots of storage space, the 850 is ideal for long cruises.
- The Perfect Sleeper
The best model of the 850 Series was definitely the Volvo 850 T-5R. It was based on the 850 Turbo and developed with assistance from Porsche. Under the hood was a 2.3-liter turbo derived from the T-5, which was able to generate 243 horsepower through a 4-speed automatic transmission made by AISIN.
The engine could have also been paired with a 5-speed manual for a more engaging driving experience, in which case only 228 horsepower were available. However, to make up for this power deficiency, the engine was equipped with an overboost function, which pushed the power to 246 horsepower for 30 seconds. This is yet another tech feature that Volvo had decades ago and is only now starting to be used by other manufacturers!
The styling was also transformed for the better using larger 17-inch alloy wheels and subtle spoilers. In addition, the Volvo 850 T-5R used a special yellow paint, which was later accompanied by black and dark green color options. Still, this special variant goes under the radar quite easily.
Nobody suspects the old 850 to pack so much power. The figures were unbelievable for an executive car back then and are still respectable today. The T-5R variant is a great sleeper and a sought-after option by Volvo enthusiasts. It is quite rare as it was made in only a limited production run as a homologation special.
- Sublime comfort
Thanks to an entirely new chassis and years of engineering, the Volvo 850 offered what was at the time unrivaled comfort. It was one of the best in its class and delivered excellent driving characteristics with the accent on comfort.
The 850 was equipped with a delta-link rear axle as the first Volvo ever, which gave it significantly better handling. This is essentially a semi-independent suspension and some parts of it had even been patented by Volvo.
Namely, the rear axle bushings, which gave the 850 Series passive rear steering, as the bushings compressed under load. By using this design, Volvo has achieved a turning radius of 33.5 ft, which is usually common for much smaller vehicles. Asides from this, the 850 was equipped with new roll bars and entirely reworked shock absorbers.
The Volvo 850 is also quiet in the interior. Besides the use of sound-proofing materials and an overall big mass around the interior, the drivetrain significantly contributes to the sound comfort. Volvo has used the 850 Series to introduce a new lineup of 5-cylinder transverse engines, which are extremely quiet and steady in comparison with the competition. Thanks to the drivetrains, you can enjoy a truly sublime comfort in the interior of the Volvo 850.
- Revolutionary tech and loads of comfort features
When first launched to the market, the 850 series was advertised as “a dynamic car with four world-firsts”. The four significant world-firsts were the Side-Impact Protection System (SIPS), the self-adjusting front seat belts, the delta-link axles, and the 5-cylinder engine with a transverse mount. We have already mentioned all of these novelties, but there are still tons of other technologies and equipment worth mentioning.
The estate versions of the Volvo 850 have self-leveling rear suspension as standard, which ensures that the car is balanced even when the rear is loaded. Of course, the heated seats can be adjusted electrically, and passengers get automatic climate controls, which were not all that common back in the early 90s, nor was a CD multichanger, which is also a part of the 850’s equipment.
A cruise control might come in handy on long journeys and because Volvo has always been generous with comfort features, it comes as standard on most trim levels.
A Revolutionary model that is still relevant today
In 1996, the Volvo 850 came to an end. With the 1997 remodel, the compact executive car was rebadged as the Volvo S70 for the sedans and V70 for wagons. That said, the new model continued on the trend of the 850 and was just as popular, which was a tough task to achieve, as over 716 thousand units were produced in the mere five and a half years of production.
With such vast production numbers, the Volvo 850 is not that difficult to find even now, when even the last production models have been on the roads for 25 years. With superb reliability, safety, and comfort, this revolutionary Volvo is simply the perfect first car.
