Faults:

Mechanical failures are practically nonexistent.

A small plastic gear on the instrument panel is prone to cracking, causing intermittent or complete odometer failures. It can be repaired with an upgraded gear kit to fix the cracked plastic gear problem.

On very cold days, it may take a while to start, but once it does, it runs perfectly, but it's a battery problem; it can be solved with a higher quality one.

The clutch broke at almost 300,000 km (it lasted a very long time).

General Comments:

I could say a lot about this car, but before going into details I would define it with just three words: comfortable, reliable and luxurious.

The engine never gave me a problem in over 300,000 km, the car's ride is smooth and quiet and, despite its large size, it handles with enormous ease; the power steering makes everything easier.

The 2.3-liter five-cylinder engine was fitted with a Garrett turbocharger, and this, along with the 20-valve cylinder head, resulted in a power output of 225 DIN hp at over 5,000 rpm, with maximum torque at 2,000 rpm and a surprisingly smooth power curve (actually a straight line) up to 5,000 rpm. This makes the engine flexible and responsive at low revs. Of course, this is less noticeable with an automatic transmission, since when you press the accelerator, the gearbox selects the most appropriate gear for optimal acceleration.

A modern engine with good performance and smooth operation, almost imperceptible in the city. On the highway, it becomes somewhat noisy above 4,000 rpm.

You may like it or not, but it certainly stands out for its personality. From my point of view, it's more successful than the 850 sedan. The rear end, with its vertical taillights flanking the rear window, gives it a touch that's become characteristic of Volvo.

The driver's seat offers full adjustment. The controls are electric with three memory settings, and the steering column is adjustable for both height and reach, or telescopically. It features a multi-function trip computer with a display on the dashboard. The instrument panel design is conventional, somewhat outdated, or typical of Volvo. There are dozens of warning lights, which, among other things, indicate faults in electronic systems, the automatic transmission, the ABS, the airbags, or when it's time for servicing.

It features a third row of seats (two seats) that fold down and face backward. Obviously, using them reduces cargo space and makes them suitable only for children. The interior is comfortable both lengthwise and widthwise, though less so than its exterior appearance suggests. Taller passengers will have no problem, as headroom, both front and rear, is more than adequate.

The climate control is automatic and independent for the left and right sides, working perfectly under any circumstances. In defrost mode, it achieves its purpose in just a few seconds. Simply select the ideal temperature for the cabin and forget about it; the system does the rest. Absolutely silent and efficient.

Regarding the ABS brakes and the car's stability, in my opinion, it's brilliant. It's very stable and safe at speeds above 170 km/h, making it seem like it's actually going much slower than the indicated speed. The brakes have a very efficient response at high speeds, giving an incredible feeling of security. When people say that Volvo makes safe cars, the 850 is the best example (even though it's a vehicle that's several years old).

I congratulate those who have owned one, as I did, and if anyone wants a car from the 90s and is considering the Volvo 850, I recommend it without hesitation.

Faults:

I bought this car for $3200, thinking it was a great deal. I have spend over $2000 fixing it.

I had for for 16 months, and now the tranny gave out, it cost over $1800 to fix. This car is the biggest piece of crap ever made. Besides being an extremely ugly car, I thought it would run for a couple of years. My dad had a Volvo and it was very reliable. 850Rs are not. Why spend on maintenance and fixing a car that looks it was designed in the 80's?

This car was a big mistake.

General Comments:

The car was kind of fast when I bought it. Other than that, I could have bought a Yugo and had better luck. Nobody would want to buy this car for more than $1500 now.