- Comfortable front seats
- Comfortable ride
- Safe and predictable handling
- Small turning circle
- Large boot/cargo area
- Underpowered four-cylinder engines
- Dull driving experience
- Body roll when cornering
- Poor interior space for its size
- Restricted rear seat foot and headroom
Overview
Released in December 1990, the Volvo 940 was available as a large sedan or wagon. The rear-wheel drive Volvo 940 was initially available with naturally aspirated and turbocharged 2.3-litre four-cylinder petrol engines that were mated to four-speed automatic transmissions.
Introduced in February 1993, the engine for the Volvo 940 GLE 16 Valve had double overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder. In 1995, the 940 range was further expanded with the introduction of an S variant which featured a low-pressure turbocharger. Beyond the range of engines, the 940 was available in GL, GLE, GLE 16 Valve, Turbo, SE and S variants.
| Body | Variant | Years | Engine | Trans. | Peak power | Peak torque |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedan | GL | 1991-95 | 2316 cc B230FB petrol I4 | 4sp auto | 96 kW at 5500 rpm | 185 Nm at 2950 rpm |
| GLE | 1990-94 | 2316 cc B230FB petrol I4 | 4sp auto | 96 kW at 5500 rpm | 185 Nm at 2950 rpm | |
| GLE 16 Valve | 1993-95 | 2316 cc B234F (DOHC) petrol I4 | 4sp auto | 114 kW at 5500 rpm | 203 Nm at 4450 rpm | |
| Turbo | 1990-91 | 2316 cc B230FT turbo petrol I4 | 4sp auto | 121 kW at 4800 rpm | 264 Nm at 3450 rpm | |
| SE | 1992-93 | 2316 cc B230FT turbo petrol I4 | 4sp auto | 121 kW at 4800 rpm | 264 Nm at 3450 rpm | |
| Wagon | GL | 1992-95 | 2316 cc B230FB petrol I4 | 4sp auto | 96 kW at 5500 rpm | 185 Nm at 2950 rpm |
| GLE | 1990-92 | 2316 cc B230FB petrol I4 | 4sp auto | 96 kW at 5500 rpm | 185 Nm at 2950 rpm | |
| GLE 16 Valve | 1994 | 2316 cc B234F (DOHC) petrol I4 | 4sp auto | 114 kW at 5500 rpm | 203 Nm at 4450 rpm | |
| Turbo | 1990-91 | 2316 cc B230FT turbo petrol I4 | 4sp auto | 121 kW at 4800 rpm | 264 Nm at 3450 rpm | |
| SE | 1992-93 | 2316 cc B230FT turbo petrol I4 | 4sp auto | 121 kW at 4800 rpm | 264 Nm at 3450 rpm | |
| S | 1995-96 | 2316 cc B230FK turbo petrol I4 | 4sp auto | 99 kW at 4900 rpm | 230 Nm at 2300 rpm |
Dimensions
The Volvo 940 sedan was 4870 mm long, 1760 mm wide, 1410 mm tall and had a 2771 mm long wheelbase. Relative to the sedan, the 940 wagon was 25 mm taller (at 1435 mm), though the other dimensions were unchanged.
Suspension and steering
The Volvo 940 had MacPherson strut front suspension and a live rear axle with lower trailing arms. Furthermore, the Volvo 940 had rack-and-pinion steering with hydraulic power assistance.
Safety equipment
Standard safety equipment for the Volvo 940 included ABS. From February 1993, a driver’s airbag was fitted as standard across the range.
Features
Standard features for the Volvo 940 GL and S included a six speaker sound system with a radio and cassette player, air conditioning, front fog lights, central locking and power windows.
Compared to the GL, the Volvo 940 GLE, Turbo and SE variants were further equipped with 15-inch alloy wheels and leather trim. In 1992, however, standard features were extended to include 15-inch alloy wheels and leather trim.
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