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1995
Volvo 850

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$24,935
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New 1995 Volvo 850
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Available trims

See the differences side-by-side to compare trims.
  • 4dr Sedan Manual
    Starts at
    $24,935
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  • 4dr Sedan Auto
    Starts at
    $25,835
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  • 5dr Sportswagon Manual
    Starts at
    $26,235
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  • 5dr Sportswagon Auto
    Starts at
    $27,135
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  • 4dr Sedan Manual GLT w/Sunroof
    Starts at
    $27,780
    See all specs
  • 4dr Sedan Auto GLT w/Sunroof
    Starts at
    $28,680
    See all specs
  • 5dr Sportswagon Manual GLT w/Sunroof
    Starts at
    $29,080
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  • 5dr Sportswagon Auto GLT w/Sunroof
    Starts at
    $29,980
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  • 4dr Sedan Turbo Auto
    Starts at
    $31,790
    See all specs
  • 5dr Sportswagon Auto Turbo
    Starts at
    $33,090
    See all specs

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Expert 1995 Volvo 850 review

our expert's take
Our expert's take
By
Full article
our expert's take

The Swedish automaker Volvo AB doesn’t make a minivan. With its 1995 Volvo 850 Turbo Wagon, it figures it doesn’t have to.

Based on a controlled test by Motor Trend magazine of the 16 fastest cars under $50,000 sold in North America, the turbocharged Volvo wagon was the eighth quickest.

Its top speed was 152 miles per hour. That not only makes it the fastest station wagon sold in North America, but maybe the fastest sold anywhere as a mass-production vehicle.

“Our buyers are generally those who owned sports cars in the ’80s,” said Ward Lamon, Volvo specialist for Tom Wood Volvo. “Now they have need for a minivan or a station wagon for family reasons, and the 850 turbocharged station wagon gives them their sports car performance.”

What makes this 850 so unusual it that a wagon design generally is not associated with performance motoring. And the station wagon body shape is hardly the epitome of aerodynamic air flow.

Nonetheless, Volvo’s Turbo Wagon is a “haulin”‘ set of wheels. You could understand its 0-60 mph in 7.4 seconds time if a five-speed manual gearbox was on board, but a four-speed automatic is the only way this thing comes.

In addition, the seven cars that were faster were two or four passenger sports cars. And with the exception of the Mazda RX-7’s turbo twin-rotary engine, all were six or eight-cylinder powerplants that were bigger than the 850’s 2.3-liter five-cylinder engine.

The Turbowagon is a derivative of the Volvo 850 Turbo Sedan, with ensuing body modifications to make it a station wagon. With the squared- off back end of a wagon creating what must be considerable air drag, it is not hard to visualize what the heart of this vehicle is doing in the way of developing power.

The engine is an in-line 5 that carries twin-overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder. The 2.3-liter engine is actually 2,319 cubic centimeters, or 141.4-cubic inches, not exactly monster size when compared to the 350-cubic inch V-8s the wagon was up against.

Volvo rates the engine at 222-horsepower. According to Lamon, a limited-edition T5R model is rated at 240-horsepower, “and by making a little change in a (computer) chip it goes to 270 (horsepower).”

For all its power, the engine demonstrates a relatively flat torque curve, with the acceleration coming on from as low as 2,000 rpm engine speed. That’s not a whole lot above idling speed, so the wagon will lean you against the back of the seats when leaving a stop light.

While the Turbo Wagon is a bonafide fire breather, driving the thing in a normal manner is just as simple as driving an economy car.

There are three driving modes, economy, sport, and winter, where the automatic starts in third gear under slippery conditions. Select your mode. Then just put the thing in Drive and steer.

The suspension on the Turbo Wagon leans a little towards the firm side without being stiff. With the turbo boost up, pinpoint accurate steering keeps the vehicle going in the right direction. And at urban speeds, the ride is quite comfortable.

Volvo hasn’t neglected the utility or comfort and convenience aspects of this wagon. There is plenty of room for five adults. And the back seat not only has shoulder harnesses and headrests for the passengers but also splits 60/40 and folds completely flat for added cargo capacity.

Total cargo space is 58-cubic feet. So while the Turbo Wagon may be a rocket ship it still performs yeoman duties.

The wagon is also a well-lit vehicle, both front and rear. In front is a daytime running light; in the rear is a fog light plus a pair of taillights that extend from the roof to the bottom of the rear cargo door.

The real safety feature, however, is standard side-impact air bags that complement the frontal dual air bags. “This is the only car in the world currently in production that has side-impact air bags,” Lamon said.

The bags arefitted on both the driver and front passenger seats, and their effectiveness is not dependen t up the position of the seats.

Pretty much everything is standard equipment on the Turbo Wagon: air, power, cruise, and the like. If you want to get fancy, you can order burled-walnut instrument panel trim, leather upholstery, an eight-way power seat with memory, a cold weather package, and electronic climate control.

But those extras will not make you go any faster. All you need for that is the basic factory model.

1995 Volvo 850 Turbo WagonBase price: $33,090Type: Front engine, front-wheel drive, five-passenger, station wagonEngine: 2.3-liters, DOHC in-line 5, 20 valves, fuel injected, 220- horsepower, 221 foot-pounds of torqueTransmission: Four-speed automaticMileage: 19 mpg city/26 mpg highwayAcceleration: 0-60 mph in 7.4 seconds (6.6 seconds in T5R mode)Top speed: 152 mphWheelbase: 104.9 inchesLength: 185.4 inchesWidth: 69.3 inchesHeight: 55.7 inchesCurb weight: 3,387 poundsOptions: Leather, Nordic weather package, headlight washers/wipers, traction control, 8-way power seat, burled walnut trim, electronic climate control, sport suspension

1995 Volvo 850 review: Our expert's take
By

The Swedish automaker Volvo AB doesn’t make a minivan. With its 1995 Volvo 850 Turbo Wagon, it figures it doesn’t have to.

Based on a controlled test by Motor Trend magazine of the 16 fastest cars under $50,000 sold in North America, the turbocharged Volvo wagon was the eighth quickest.

Its top speed was 152 miles per hour. That not only makes it the fastest station wagon sold in North America, but maybe the fastest sold anywhere as a mass-production vehicle.

“Our buyers are generally those who owned sports cars in the ’80s,” said Ward Lamon, Volvo specialist for Tom Wood Volvo. “Now they have need for a minivan or a station wagon for family reasons, and the 850 turbocharged station wagon gives them their sports car performance.”

What makes this 850 so unusual it that a wagon design generally is not associated with performance motoring. And the station wagon body shape is hardly the epitome of aerodynamic air flow.

Nonetheless, Volvo’s Turbo Wagon is a “haulin”‘ set of wheels. You could understand its 0-60 mph in 7.4 seconds time if a five-speed manual gearbox was on board, but a four-speed automatic is the only way this thing comes.

In addition, the seven cars that were faster were two or four passenger sports cars. And with the exception of the Mazda RX-7’s turbo twin-rotary engine, all were six or eight-cylinder powerplants that were bigger than the 850’s 2.3-liter five-cylinder engine.

The Turbowagon is a derivative of the Volvo 850 Turbo Sedan, with ensuing body modifications to make it a station wagon. With the squared- off back end of a wagon creating what must be considerable air drag, it is not hard to visualize what the heart of this vehicle is doing in the way of developing power.

The engine is an in-line 5 that carries twin-overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder. The 2.3-liter engine is actually 2,319 cubic centimeters, or 141.4-cubic inches, not exactly monster size when compared to the 350-cubic inch V-8s the wagon was up against.

Volvo rates the engine at 222-horsepower. According to Lamon, a limited-edition T5R model is rated at 240-horsepower, “and by making a little change in a (computer) chip it goes to 270 (horsepower).”

For all its power, the engine demonstrates a relatively flat torque curve, with the acceleration coming on from as low as 2,000 rpm engine speed. That’s not a whole lot above idling speed, so the wagon will lean you against the back of the seats when leaving a stop light.

While the Turbo Wagon is a bonafide fire breather, driving the thing in a normal manner is just as simple as driving an economy car.

There are three driving modes, economy, sport, and winter, where the automatic starts in third gear under slippery conditions. Select your mode. Then just put the thing in Drive and steer.

The suspension on the Turbo Wagon leans a little towards the firm side without being stiff. With the turbo boost up, pinpoint accurate steering keeps the vehicle going in the right direction. And at urban speeds, the ride is quite comfortable.

Volvo hasn’t neglected the utility or comfort and convenience aspects of this wagon. There is plenty of room for five adults. And the back seat not only has shoulder harnesses and headrests for the passengers but also splits 60/40 and folds completely flat for added cargo capacity.

Total cargo space is 58-cubic feet. So while the Turbo Wagon may be a rocket ship it still performs yeoman duties.

The wagon is also a well-lit vehicle, both front and rear. In front is a daytime running light; in the rear is a fog light plus a pair of taillights that extend from the roof to the bottom of the rear cargo door.

The real safety feature, however, is standard side-impact air bags that complement the frontal dual air bags. “This is the only car in the world currently in production that has side-impact air bags,” Lamon said.

The bags arefitted on both the driver and front passenger seats, and their effectiveness is not dependen t up the position of the seats.

Pretty much everything is standard equipment on the Turbo Wagon: air, power, cruise, and the like. If you want to get fancy, you can order burled-walnut instrument panel trim, leather upholstery, an eight-way power seat with memory, a cold weather package, and electronic climate control.

But those extras will not make you go any faster. All you need for that is the basic factory model.

1995 Volvo 850 Turbo WagonBase price: $33,090Type: Front engine, front-wheel drive, five-passenger, station wagonEngine: 2.3-liters, DOHC in-line 5, 20 valves, fuel injected, 220- horsepower, 221 foot-pounds of torqueTransmission: Four-speed automaticMileage: 19 mpg city/26 mpg highwayAcceleration: 0-60 mph in 7.4 seconds (6.6 seconds in T5R mode)Top speed: 152 mphWheelbase: 104.9 inchesLength: 185.4 inchesWidth: 69.3 inchesHeight: 55.7 inchesCurb weight: 3,387 poundsOptions: Leather, Nordic weather package, headlight washers/wipers, traction control, 8-way power seat, burled walnut trim, electronic climate control, sport suspension

Certified Pre-Owned program benefits

Age / mileage
Less than 5 years / less than 80,000 miles
Basic
5 years / unlimited miles , upgradeable up to 10 years
Dealer certification
170- plus point inspection

Consumer reviews

4.5 / 5
Based on 12 reviews
Write a review
Comfort 4.4
Interior 4.3
Performance 4.6
Value 4.7
Exterior 4.0
Reliability 4.5

Most recent

  • '95 volvo wagon 850

    My '95 volvo wagon 850 is tops. Love everything about it. Hoping it lasts for a million miles. Never had such a great car. I see why it's called a ' flying brick'. I highly recommend it. Best ride ever.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    3 people out of 3 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • 26 years old and running better than ever.

    I purchased my 95 850 (base model with cold weather package) as a 2nd vehicle/back up. At the time it only had 58k miles. When I came back from my deployment in 2005, I gave the car to my Dad (retired) and he used it to drive around town and run errands. After he passed in 2010, the car was rarely driven and was used probably for family members visiting from out of town or by local nieces/nephews -- and not really maintained all that well. In 2019, I asked my Mom if she wanted to sell it - and of course she said no because it reminded her of my Dad. As a Volvo man since my early 20's and a lover and restorer of vintage cars and motorcycles, I resurrected this trusty but tired 850 (to include all mechanical repairs and service, paint, upholstery, etc.,). And all I can say now, is that I love this more now than even when first bought it. With only 117k on the ODO, it's just now broken-in. Sure, it required a little investment to resurrect it, but it's been well worth it. I've had a couple of S70s, but I believe the 100% Manufactured in Sweden models were better and more solidly built. I have a 2017 S60 that has the Polestar Tuning upgrade. And while it has amazing performance and all the bells/whistles, there's just something about my 850 that I find more endearing/alluring and comforting. It's a solid, simple, classic car that I would have a hard very difficult time parting with. I'd sell my S60 before I got rid of this car. To me, the 850 platform was Volvo's finest hour in the 20th century, and it still is very capable in it's 20th century R-iterations even in the 21st century. If you find one that has been well maintained, buy it. Keep up the maintenance, and you'll have a fantastic and great return on your investment.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 4.0
    10 people out of 10 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • The fastest car with major safety.

    At the time I didn't believe the quickness handling superb. Because it was Volvos journey into turbos, this family wagon rocks! A front wheel drive 222HP with R chip installed provides a boost to 240 between 5000 rpm 6000rpm. That caused the car to completely pass our maxima competition with a head snap.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Having fun
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 3.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 4.0
    5 people out of 6 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • On of nicestest cars I have owned

    Can't believe all the extras this car has especially for its age example side air bags heated leather front seats both moon and pop up and full open sunroof great speakers FABULOUS AC
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Having fun
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 4.0
    4 people out of 4 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • Volvo

    I think the vehicle needs a new alternator. The paint job on the car is a little chipped. On the other hand, its works work
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 3.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 3.0
    Reliability 4.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • Volvo

    its a good car. May need a new alternator. I spent a lot of money repairing this car, but now it is in good shape.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 3.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 3.0
    Reliability 4.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • Swedish cars are great

    Wonderful, so quiet and full of all kinds of power, love the performance, leather, moon roof, wish I was rich, would buy a new one and yes they are built for the miles.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Transporting family
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • My First Car

    You know the idea "Your first car should always be an old one" well this is the car i got, its been in my family since 1995 and the repairs can get expensive, But the car is great. its a comfort to know that if i were to ever get into an accident i would most likely walk away safely. And i get great gas millage for an old car, i get 30mpg and more if i drive economically! i highly recommend this car to new car drivers.
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 3.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 3.0
    Reliability 5.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • 1995 850 T-5R is a beast!!!

    I did not know this car exsisted until the spring of 2009. I knew of the base and turbo model but not the T-5R trim. I was surprised of the deal I got on the car but the market was right, I had the car inspected, and cash on hand. I had to travel 1,500 miles to purchase it but it was worth the effort. The car had low miles and is the yellow color which is very rare. I did not test the car's ability until after I had the motor mounts checked and the timing belt replaced. Took the car to D-Max in Charlotte and was able to do the 1/4 mile in 14.6 seconds. No tune up, no mods. I would NOT recommend you get this car for a teenager, just to fast. I put 30,000 miles on it in about 12 months, loved almost every minute of it. Very little in the car has fallen apart. The only thing that was broken on the interior was the arm rest and the front edge of the drivers seat had a small hole worn in it (very common). The exterior was also in good shape other than the fact that the front lower spoiler was replaced with the standard turbo style, common because the T-5R lip is low and usually broken on parking spot stops. Common problems for this car include the following: A/C Evaperator leak ($1,500), Two engine mounts, PCV breather system, Headlight wiper motor. Good: The motors, when oil changes have been done, will go forever, likely over 400,000 miles. I get 25 mpg around town and 32 on the freeway (63 mph), when I drive like it matters. Seats are very comfortable, car pretty quiet, smooth ride. BAD: T-5R low profile tires are easily damaged by road, ride is sporty (not luxary soft), and did I mention that the low profile tires suck?
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 4.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • Great car

    I bought this car to my daughter recently. It is safe, and reasonably priced. I think that it is a great first car: reliable and low maintenance.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 5.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • Volvo 850

    Reluctantly bought one for my Son. 6 months later another driver forced him into the median and head-on into the cable barrier on I-265 in Ky. at 70 MPH!! Heavy damage to the front. From the fire wall back it was in perfect condition. He and two friends walked away UNINJURIED!! In a lesser vehicle I'm sure they would have been injured..or worse. I bought him another and and one for my 16 year old Daughter. I bought my Wife an S80. Now you know what "VOLVO FOR LIFE" means
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 5.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • I LOVE THAT THING

    I HAVE HAD MY 850 FOR THREE YEARS AND HAVE LOVED EVERY MIN. IT IS ONE OF THE BEST CARS I HAVE EVER OWNED. IT IS RELIABLE, SAFE, SPORTY, AND GOOD LOOKING. MY ONLY BIT OF ADVISE IS GET THE TURBO MODLES THE POWER IS WORTH IT, AND REMBER TO SERVICE AT A PLACE THAT KNOW VOLVO
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 3.0
    Interior 3.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 3.0
    Reliability 5.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No

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FAQ

What trim levels are available for the 1995 Volvo 850?

The 1995 Volvo 850 is available in 2 trim levels:

  • (6 styles)
  • GLT w/Sunroof (4 styles)

Is the 1995 Volvo 850 reliable?

The 1995 Volvo 850 has an average reliability rating of 4.5 out of 5 according to cars.com consumers. Find real-world reliability insights within consumer reviews from 1995 Volvo 850 owners.

Is the 1995 Volvo 850 a good Sedan?

Below are the cars.com consumers ratings for the 1995 Volvo 850. 100.0% of drivers recommend this vehicle.

4.5 / 5
Based on 12 reviews
  • Comfort: 4.4
  • Interior: 4.3
  • Performance: 4.6
  • Value: 4.7
  • Exterior: 4.0
  • Reliability: 4.5
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