Volvo 850 Saloon
  • Economy

    Value

    2 out of 5 2.0

    Good aolid family car overall. Gets through tyres. Poor MPG.

    Costs

    2 out of 5 2.0

    Expensive servicing for little work. Eats front tyres for breakfast.

  • On the road

    Driving

    2 out of 5 2.0

    Not much appeal. Quick, but thirsty when pushed hard. Wallows around corners; chassis not tight enough.

    Performance

    2 out of 5 2.0

    Poor MPG on automatic. 5-cylinder emgine smooth. Gearchange can be jerky in stop/start traffic.

  • Living with it

    Reliability

    5 out of 5 5.0

    Excellent, but do not start then stop engine within 2/3 mins as this confuses the EMS. Electrics can be troublesome - light bulbs just blow randomly.

    Image

    2 out of 5 2.0

    Not a head turner, but looks nice and solid.

    Comfort

    4 out of 5 4.0

    Very comfortable in back as well as front.

  • Security and Service

    Security

    3 out of 5 3.0

    Alarm, immobiliser and deadlocks, but who wants to steal a Volvo?

    Service

    4 out of 5 4.0

    Good, helpful service but then they charge for it!!

  • Problems and Ownership

    Problems

    Engine

    Wonderfully smooth 5-cylinder engine, but drinks like an alchoholic.

    Other

    Front bearings gone at 64k miles - very expensive to repair (over £250 per side!!)

    Ownership

    Did you buy the car new?

    Used

    Would you buy the same model again?

    No

    Did you buy from the same manufacturer again?

    No