Volvo 240 Series Overview: Generations, Specs, and Which to Buy
The Volvo 240 Series is a 2-door sedan built from 1974 to 1993 with outputs from 76 to 155 hp. This overview covers its single generation, notable versions, and which one to pick.
The Volvo 240 Series is a 2-door sedan produced from 1974 to 1993 with engine outputs ranging from 76 to 155 hp, rear-wheel drive on every version, and a choice of manual or automatic transmission. It suits drivers who want a simple, long-running rear-drive Volvo with a wide spread of engine options across a single, remarkably stable generation.
Volvo 240 Series generations
1 generation (1974–1993)
The first and only generation of the Volvo 240 Series ran for nearly two decades, from 1974 to 1993, exclusively as a 2-door sedan. Across those years Volvo offered 49 modifications, all rear-wheel drive, with both manual and automatic gearboxes and power outputs spanning 76 to 155 hp. At the bottom of the range sits the Volvo 240 Series 1.8 MT with a 1788 cc engine producing 76 hp. The mid-range Volvo 240 Series 2.3 MT pairs a 2316 cc engine with 113 hp and reaches 100 km/h in 12.6 seconds. The top of the lineup is the Volvo 240 Series 2.1 MT, whose 2127 cc engine delivers 155 hp and a 9.0-second acceleration time. Notably, all three highlighted versions use a manual gearbox, while automatic transmissions were also available elsewhere in the 49-strong modification list. The gap between the weakest and strongest engines is 79 hp, roughly doubling the output from the 1.8 MT to the 2.1 MT.
Which Volvo 240 Series to buy
- 2.3 MT (113 hp) (1 generation): the mass-market choice with a 2316 cc engine, 113 hp, and acceleration of 12.6 seconds — a solid middle ground in the 76–155 hp range.
- 2.1 MT (155 hp) (1 generation): the most powerful version, with 155 hp from 2127 cc and the quickest acceleration in the lineup at 9.0 seconds.
- 1.8 MT (1 generation): the entry point to the range with a 1788 cc engine and 76 hp, the lowest output offered in the 240 Series.
When buying used, remember the entire production run belongs to one generation built from 1974 to 1993, so the mechanical layout — rear-wheel drive with manual or automatic transmission — stays consistent across all 49 modifications. That single-generation continuity makes it straightforward to compare cars from different years: the main differences come down to engine choice rather than platform changes.