Review 850

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Volvo. They may not build excitement, but they do build darn good cars.

By B. Grant Whitmore

Volvo. The name doesn't exactly set your heart on fire the way other premier European manufacturers might. Noted for safety and stability rather than performance, Volvo has attracted a loyal following of parents, commuters and people who need to haul lots of stuff. Until recently, however, Volvo has been overlooked as a performance car. We think the reason has to do with Volvo's undying ad campaign that touts safety cage this, side-impact that, DRLs here andcrumple zones there. Really, it's enough to put Ralph Nader to sleep. Based on the previous decade's advertising you would never know that Volvo produces one of the fastest front-wheel drive cars on the planet. You wouldn't know that the 850 Turbo model has zero-to-sixty times that would embarrass most Mustang GT owners. Nor would you know that when properly equipped these boxy little shapes can pull g-forces equal to the highly acclaimed Volkswagen GTI-VR6. All the while cocooning occupants in a veritable Fort Knox of safety.

This year we've had the chance to experience both ends of the Volvo spectrum; sedate suburban driving in a restrained Volvo 850 GLT Wagon, and blistering interstate touring in a Volvo 850 Turbo Platinum Edition Sedan. We had a greattime in both cars and found ourselves looking at Volvo in a new light.

The interior of the Volvo 850 is a nice place to spend time. The seats are soft yet supportive, the steering wheel is thick and grippy, the stereo system is crystal clear and the climate controls work exceptionally well. The few problems with the 850's ergonomics are due to the angularity of the dashboard. The thing is as flat as western Kansas; thus some of the controls are awkwardly placed. We had particular difficulty locating the headlight on/off switch and the sideview mirror adjusters. Once you learn your way around, however, most controls fall readily to hand without much fumbling. As one would expect in a car that breaks the $30,000 price barrier, the materials in the 850 are first rate. The leather upholstery found in both cars is buttery soft and the Platinum Edition's burled walnut interior is a staff favorite. The GLT wagon's interior consists of high quality plastics instead of burled walnut, but is still comfortable and inviting. Noticeably missing from the doors are grab handles; it is easy to drive the 850 quickly, and something for passengers to hold onto would be greatly appreciated.

The Volvo 850 can easily accommodate four full-sized adults, or five in a pinch. Front seat passengers enjoy commodious leg room and seats that are more comfortable than your father's favorite recliner. Rear seat occupants also get good seats and adequate leg room, but the middle passenger will feel a bit squeezed on long trips. An integrated child seat is standard on the 850 wagon, making trips to the grocery store with Junior a breeze. The trunk space in the sedan is wonderful, easily holding two people's belongings for a four-day trip. The cargo area in the wagon is positively enormous; anything more and this car would feel like a minivan.

You, of course, already know this. Legions of people have bought Volvo afterVolvo because they are safe, comfortable cars that move people and their things around in an agreeable degree of luxury. What you might not know is that these cars have exceptionally good road manners at all speeds, brakes that could stop the rotation of the earth and, in turbo form, enough power under the hood to make state troopers very, very angry.

The Volvo 850's normally-aspirated five-cylinder engine makes 168 horsepower and 162 pounds/feet of torque. These aren't outstanding numbers, but they are more than sufficient for getting around in city traffic and merging onto fast-moving freeways. There is virtually no torque steer with this engine and noises from the power plant are kept to a minimum. While driving the 850 GLT wagon around the mountainous regions of Colorado we were able to drive aggressively thanks to a relatively stiff suspension and minimal body roll. (Interestingly, we were testing a sporty Jetta GLX the same weekend and were surprised to feel more comfortable on twisty roads in the Volvo.) The 850 GLT's real pleasure, however, is the quick precision of its steering. Unlike most station wagons, the steering is communicative with a tiny bit of under steer, thus rendering the car predictable and easy to handle. The 850 GLT wagon is a great car for individuals or families looking for safe, reliable transportation with a lot of cargo space, good gas mileage and conservative good looks.

Unlike the GLT, the 850 Turbo Platinum Edition is geared for the practical enthusiast. We realize this may sound like an oxymoron, but there are occasions when even the most speed hungry of us must slow down and opt for something with four doors. The beauty of the 850 Platinum Edition is that it can fill more roles than most of its competition. Nope, there just aren't that many cars that you can use to pick up the kids from soccer practice, impress the valets at a snazzy downtown restaurant and race home at over 135 mph. Speaking of racing, the driver of the Platinum Edition is in close contact with the road, very aware of potholes and bumps, but unlikely to lose fillings as a result of them. The850's turbo spools up quickly with very little lag, resulting in zero-to-sixty times that are consistently in the mid-sixes. The Platinum Edition has 221 pounds/feet of torque pouring through the front tires and 222 horsepower available. You will notice some torque steer in this car, particularly if you are trying to get around a corner under hard acceleration. Other than that,steering is precise and communicative. The 850 Platinum Edition has one option: the sport suspension. Everything else is standard on this very luxurious car. Unlike vehicles from Lexus, Infiniti, BMW and Cadillac, the 850 Platinum Edition doesn't nickel and dime its buyers with unnecessary options or things that should be included on a luxury vehicle's standard equipment list but aren't. Volvo decided what was important to buyers of its premium car and put it on; nothing else is necessary.

Since we are discussing Volvo, we must point out some of the more dramatic safety features found on the 850, features that will undoubtedly be standard on other cars in about four years. The 850 has dual front airbags, side-impact airbags, daytime running lights, fixed head restraints, an integrated child seat (wagon models only), anti-lock brakes, a variable transmission that allows the car to be started in third gear on wet surfaces, fog lights and optional traction control. Indeed, Volvo is so certain of their safety engineering prowess that they will pay $250,000 to the estate of any occupant killed in one of their cars as the result of an accident. Heck, it wouldn't be Volvo any other way.

No, the Volvo 850 may not receive the sporting acclaim of certain BMWs or Mercedes, it may not be an ergonomic masterpiece like a Lexus or Infiniti and it certainly doesn't have the sheer number of luxury doo-dads offered on Lincolns or Cadillacs. But, it is a great car that can foot the bill for a large number of people. Whether looking for a safe reliable family hauler, a striking car to impress the people next door or a feisty four-door to race around back-country roads, there is a Volvo 850 for you. They come in two body styles, a wide range of colors, with normally-aspirated or turbo engines. We suggest you buy one.

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Vi ... /model=850