1992 VOLVO 850 2.5L 5MT FWD (140 HP)

Vehicle Overview

The 850 was a big leap forward for the Swedish car-maker. It didn’t look like a brick on wheels anymore in terms of styling and, moreover, it was a front-wheel-drive vehicle. Later on, it was fitted with an all-wheel-drive system. The Swedish winters were long and snowy. The 850 was the first car in the world fitted with side-airbags.

The new design language took everybody by surprise. The sloped hood, rounded edges, and curved windshield were just a few elements that made the 850 so special in Volvo’s history. It was inspired by the bigger 960 model, but it wasn’t just a scaled-down vehicle. It retained the small, triangular, window behind the rear doors. The flat and straight trunk was still a part of the old school, but it looked better on the new 850.

Inside, due to the front-wheel-drive system, it wasn’t that cramped anymore in the front. The wide seats with bolstered sides offered a comfortable ride. The transverse engine canceled most of the vibrations. The dashboard was still in cubic style design, with a big center stack. In the back, there was room for two adults and, as an option, an integrated child seat in the middle.

The 850 was offered with a choice of engine diesel and gasoline. Some engines were carried-over from other car-makers, and some were developed by Volvo engineers. The standard transmission was a 5-speed manual for the entire range, but selected versions were offered with an option for a 4-speed automatic.