- Refined six-cylinder petrol engines
- Comfortable front seats
- Comfortable ride
- Safe and predictable handling
- Small turning circle
- Large boot/cargo area
- Dull driving experience
- Body roll when cornering
- Poor interior space for its size
- Restricted rear seat foot and headroom (especially with sunroof)
Review: Volvo 960 (1990-94)
Overview
Released in December 1990, the Volvo 960 was initially available as a large, rear-wheel drive sedan. Prior to December 1991, the Volvo 960 was powered by Volvo’s 2.8-litre B280F inline six cylinder petrol engine which had a single overhead camshaft and two valves per cylinder. From December 1991, however, the 960 was also available as a wagon and powered by the more powerful 2.9-litre B6304S engine which had double overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder.
| Body | Variant | Years | Engine | Trans. | Peak power | Peak torque |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedan | GLE | 1990-91 | 2849 cc B280F petrol I6 | 4sp auto | 108 kW at 5100 rpm | 235 Nm at 3750 rpm |
| Sedan, wagon |
N/A | 1991-94 | 2922 cc B6304S petrol I6 | 4sp auto | 150 kW at 6000 rpm | 267 Nm at 4300 rpm |
Dimensions
Manufactured in Sweden, the Volvo 960 sedan was 4870 mm long, 1760 mm wide, 1410 mm tall and had a 2770 mm long wheelbase. Relative to the sedan, however, the 960 wagon was 62 mm shorter (at 4808 mm) and 25 mm taller (1435 mm), though the other dimensions were unchanged.
Suspension and steering
The Volvo 960 had MacPherson strut front suspension and independent, multi-link rear suspension. Furthermore, the Volvo 960 had rack-and-pinion steering with hydraulic power assistance.
Safety equipment
Standard safety equipment for the Volvo 960 GLE included ABS. From December 1991, the standard 960 was fitted with a driver’s airbag.
Features
Standard features for the Volvo 960 GLE included 15-inch alloy wheels, a sound system with a radio and cassette player, air conditioning, leather trim, cruise control, central locking, power windows and a power sunroof.
From December 1991, standard features also included climate control air conditioning and power adjustable front seats.
Review: Volvo 960 (1994-97)
Overview
In December 1994, the Volvo 960 introduced several upgrades including revised front suspension, new multi-link rear suspension (previously live axle) with self-levelling for heavy loads and improved engine insulation. Occupant protection was also improved with increased usage of high strength steels, a redesigned firewall for reduced footwell deformation in a crash and thicker doors with energy-absorbing material. The four-speed automatic transmission featured three driving modes – Economy, Sport and Winter – and a ‘Down Slope’ mode which automatically shifted to a lower gear on descents for enhanced engine braking.
Visually, the updated 960 could be identified by its more rounded bonnet and bumpers; the range was also expanded with standard and SE (short for ‘special equipment) variants.
| Body | Variant | Engine | Trans. | Peak power | Peak torque |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedan, wagon |
960, 960 SE |
2922 cc B6304S petrol I6 | 4sp auto | 150 kW at 6000 rpm | 267 Nm at 4300 rpm |
Safety equipment
Standard safety equipment was improved and consisted of dual front airbags, ABS and front seatbelt pretensioners. Furthermore, a differential brake also provided automatic traction control.
Features
Standard features for the updated Volvo 960 included 15-inch alloy wheels, a six speaker sound system with radio and cassette player, air conditioning, leather trim, heated front seats, central locking, power windows and power mirrors.
The 960 SE was further equipped with 16-inch alloy wheels, a CD player, climate control air conditioning, power adjustable front seats and a power-operated sunroof.
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