NRMA Car Review - Volvo 960

For many years, Volvos have been regarded as amongst the safest cars you could buy, but not necessarily the most entertaining or rewarding to drive.

Apart from a few brief forays with earlier turbocharged models, the 850 was generally considered the first "driver's" Volvo of recent times. It has sporting manners, agile handling and strong performance in turbo form.

Now Volvo has turned its attention to the flagship of the range - the 960 - to make it more responsive and satisfying to drive. For 1995, the 960 gets the top specification engine, revised front suspension and an all-new multi-link rear suspension. Improved insulation has further lowered noise levels and service intervals have been extended out to 15,000 km for engine oil and filter changes.

At the same time as making these latest 960s more enjoyable to drive and to travel in, Volvo has upped the passive safety equation even further.

In addition to two front airbags, seat belt pretensioners, the patented Side Impact Protection System, rollover protection and safety location of the fuel tank, the latest 960 bodies use a large proportion of high strength steel that's claimed to be four times stronger than conventional steel. The firewall has been redesigned to reduce deformation of the front footwells in a crash, there's a new transverse reinforcement section at the front to provide extra protection in offset impacts and the doors are now thicker and contain shock-absorbent material for better cushioning against side impacts.

Models and prices

Just two versions of the 960 are available here; the 960 sedan and the 960 SE sedan. The difference is only in equipment levels; both are powered by the same 3.0 litre DOHC, 24 valve in-line six cylinder engine and both come with automatic transmission only.

Prices at the time of writing, (including the five per cent sales tax increase), were $69,670 for the "base" model and $77,670 for the SE (Special Equipment) version. Metallic paint costs an extra $900.

Features and equipment

The 960's engine is a high efficiency unit, featuring a light-alloy cylinder head and block. It's part of Volvo's modular engine family that was engineered largely by Porsche. It follows the same basic layout as the five cylinder engine used in the 850 series.

The engine is coupled to an electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission that has three driving modes (Economy, Sport and Winter) and a "Down Slope" mode that automatically shifts to a lower gear on descents for better engine braking. There's also a differential brake that provides automatic traction control to ensure that power delivered to the rear wheels is within traction limits of the tyres.

Though it's the lower-spec version, the 960 sedan is really anything but base. As well as the two airbags and other safety features already mentioned, it comes with ABS anti-lock brakes, leather trim, air conditioning, self-levelling rear suspension that compensates for heavy loads, alloy wheels, central locking (but not remote), heated front seats and electric windows and mirrors.

The SE adds climate control air conditioning, a compact disc player, electrically adjustable front seats and a sunroof. It also has bigger diameter wheels (16 inch) and wider, lower profile tyres.

Two surprising omissions from the 960 test sedan were any form of locking for the fuel cap or flap and the fact that the central locking didn't operate from the passenger's front door, nor did it offer the convenience of remote central locking (like you get on a Commodore for less than half the price).

Styling and finish

Though it takes a fairly close look to spot all the differences, the 960 has in fact, been rounded off a fair bit, to give it a softer, more flowing look. This is most noticeable around the front mudguards  bonnet and bumpers.
 
The body feels reassuringly strong, with no flexing or groaning when travelling over rough surfaces and finish on the test car looked to be first class throughout.

Space and comfort

One aspect of the 960 that disappoints me is the amount of interior space it offers relative to its exterior size. This car is longer in its wheelbase and body length than a VS Commodore, yet it has less overall leg space.

Front leg room is adequate for average size drivers, but if you're long legged like me, it's barely enough. Both front seats have height and lumbar adjustments and in Volvo tradition, are very comfortable. Even with the seats in their lowest positions, the driving position is high, affording good vision and control.

Rear seat leg room appears generous enough when you measure it with the tape, but sitting in there and not being able to get your feet very far under the front seats, diminishes the available space. Rear occupants sit even higher than those in the front, which is great for seeing out and avoiding any claustrophobic feeling. Comfort is generally good in the two outer rear positions, though the cushion is a little short to provide effective thigh support.

As in some other Volvo models, the 960 has an integrated fold-down child's booster seat in the centre rear. All five seating positions have lap/sash belts.

The 960 has a large boot that's easy to load, thanks to a low loading lip, a wide opening and a lid that opens to a near vertical position. The rear seat doesn't fold down but there's a porthole provided to poke through long items such as skis. The boot floor is solid but there is a step-up over the rear axle. Cabin storage includes a two-stage centre console bin with a lid that can be folded right back to provide two cup holders for rear passengers.

Behind the wheel

A high seating position, coupled with the various adjustments for both steering wheel and seat, allows drivers of varying shapes and sizes to obtain a comfortable and effective driving position in the 960. The high seating position also affords the driver good visibility, adding to safe driving. The left foot rest provided for drivers is well placed and of a useful size.

There are generally no surprises with the control layout, most switches and controls being well-placed and ergonomically effective. But for me, the centre console hindered easy access to the handbrake lever, and the W, S and E driving mode buttons on the left of the console were obscured by the gear selector lever when in Drive or third.

Volvos are well known for their tight turning circles and the 960 is no exception in this regard. It puts many a smaller car to shame with its ability to turn around in narrow streets without having to do a three-point turn.

On the road

The 960's 3.0 litre six cylinder engine produces plenty of power, and with its torque spread across a wide rev range, provides what is a fairly heavy car with quite spirited performance.
 
What makes the engine even more enjoyable is its smoothness and its eagerness to respond, whatever the occasion. Whether you're starting off at the traffic lights, trickling along in traffic, or overtaking out on the open road, the engine is never found wanting and performance is more than ample.

However, this combination of performance and large car mass does have an effect on fuel consumption. The test 960's overall figure of 13.1 litres per 100 km is fairly ordinary compared to 3.0 litre Magnas, Camrys and Sonatas I've tested.

The revisions to the 960's suspension have brought a new responsiveness to the car's behaviour on the road without compromising ride comfort. Exploring the limits on a test track, the 960 felt a little soft, tending to lurch with sudden changes of direction. However, on the road, this suppleness provides an impressive ability to soak up irregularities without upsetting the car's composure or its stability. Overall, the set-up is just about ideal for a luxury car - comfortable and composed, but with a responsive feel for those that enjoy their driving.

Adding to the 960's confident feel on the road is its smooth, accurate steering, with an ideal balance between low parking effort and precise feel at speed.

The ABS-equipped four-wheel disc brakes also add to the feeling of confidence and safety, putting in an impressive performance during our usual tests for maximum braking, normal braking and anti-fade qualities.

 The four-speed automatic transmission combines well with the responsive engine to give a smooth, progressive performance. It's perfectly happy just being left in Economy mode for all normal driving, with Sport holding the upchanges until higher revs or conversely, changing down earlier for extra acceleration. Winter mode is designed to cope with really slippery conditions as it locks out first and second gears.

Servicing

Unlike the compact-design V6 engines that many manufacturers use these days, Volvo's straight six occupies quite a deal of space in the engine bay. However everything is neatly positioned and accessibility looks reasonably good. Maintenance is due at the usual six months/10,000 km intervals.

Interestingly, the test car carried two stickers advising about the service requirements of the two airbags. It specified the passenger's bag should be serviced in April 2004 and the driver's side in April 2005! There was also a warning notice that no children or child's seats are to occupy the front passenger's seat.

Towing

The driver's handbook specifies an upper towing limit of 1800 kg for the 960, however this would be illegal in NSW, where the maximum towed mass for a passenger car shall be no more than the tare mass. In the 960's case, that would be 1487 kg. A transmission oil cooler is recommended when towing between 1201 and 1500 kg.

Summary

The latest Volvo 960s mighn't look a whole lot different, but the comprehensive programme of improvements that has gone into the car has made quite a difference in the way it drives and feels.

In line with the smaller 850 series, the 960 has a more agile, nimble feel, but retains its status as flagship of the range with even more safety and luxury features, stronger performance, a smoother ride and quieter operation. Fit and finish are at their usual impeccable levels and the whole car has a very solid feel about it.

I'm still not a fan of the squared-off look (even with its more rounded corners on the latest 960) and the packaging is a little disappointing when you compare interior leg room versus exterior length, however in other respects the 960 rates as a leading contender among luxury cars in the $70,000 to $80,000 range.

Test vehicle supplied by Volvo Australia.

By NRMA Motoring, May 1995.

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