Volvo 940

Generations: one body, many engines

What changes between versions is engine, boost, gearbox, mass, 0–100, top speed, and (where measured) fuel use. Chassis labels do not.

1 generation (1988-01-01 to 1998-12-31) is a Sedan. Drive is RWD on every listed version. Front suspension is Independent, spring; rear is Dependent, spring. Front brakes are Ventilated disc; rear brakes are Disc. The fuel tank is 75 L on every listed version. Ground clearance is not measured. Wheel size is not measured. CO2 is not measured. Eco class is not measured.

What changes between versions is engine, boost, gearbox, mass, 0–100, top speed, and (where measured) fuel use. Chassis labels do not.

Engines and specs

All Gasoline versions use 95 fuel, Front, longitudinal placement, and Distributed injection (multi-point). Diesel injection is not measured. Bore × stroke: Gasoline 2.3 is 96 × 80; Gasoline 2.9 is 91 × 73; Diesel 2.4 is 76.5 × 86.4.

hp per litre (hp ÷ displacement in litres): 2.3 MT / 2.3 AT 165 hp = 71.2 hp/L; 2.3 AT 155 hp = 66.9; 2.9 AT 170 hp = 59.7; 2.3 MT 135 hp = 58.3; 2.3 MT / 2.3 AT 131 hp = 56.6; 2.9 AT 147 hp = 51.6; 2.4 MT 122 hp = 51.2; 2.4 MT / 2.4 AT 109 hp = 45.7; 2.4 MT 82 hp = 34.4. The 2316 cm³ Turbo 165 hp versions extract the most power per litre. The 2849 cm³ 2.9 AT 170 hp is the peak horsepower (170 hp) but only 59.7 hp/L — 11.5 hp/L behind the 165 hp 2.3.

Performance and economy (0–100, top speed, mpg-style L/100 km)

Arithmetic on the measured pairs:

• 2.3 MT 131 hp vs 2.3 AT 131 hp: same 131 hp, 185 Nm, 1,360 kg. Manual is 0.5 s quicker to 100 (11.2 vs 11.7), 11 km/h faster (190 vs 179), 0.3 L/100 km less mixed (9.2 vs 9.5), 0.3 L/100 km less on highway (7.1 vs 7.4). City is the same 12.9. Automatic costs 0.5 s, 11 km/h, and 0.3 L/100 km mixed.

• 2.3 MT 131 hp vs 2.3 MT 135 hp Turbo: +4 hp, +45 Nm (185→230), peak torque 650 rpm earlier (2950→2300), 0–100 1.2 s quicker (11.2→10), top speed unchanged at 190 km/h. Mixed use +0.8 L/100 km (9.2→10). Kerb falls 10 kg (1,360→1,350). Compression 9.3→8.7.

• 2.3 AT 131 hp vs 2.3 AT 155 hp: +24 hp, +18 Nm, 2 valves/cyl → 4, compression 9.3→10, 0–100 1.5 s quicker (11.7→10.2), top speed +21 km/h (179→200). Mixed +0.2 L/100 km (9.5→9.7). Kerb +55 kg (1,360→1,415). Highway is 0.1 L/100 km lower on the 155 hp car (7.3 vs 7.4).

• 2.3 MT 135 hp vs 2.3 MT 165 hp: +30 hp, +34 Nm (230→264), 0–100 0.9 s quicker (10→9.1), top speed +20 km/h (190→210). Fuel figures for 165 hp are not measured. Kerb +35 kg (1,350→1,385).

• 2.3 MT 165 hp vs 2.3 AT 165 hp: identical 165 hp, 264 Nm, 9.1 s, 210 km/h, 1,385 / 1,905 kg. The measured difference is gearbox only: Manual 5 vs Automatic 4. Fuel is not measured on either.

• 2.9 AT 147 hp vs 2.9 AT 170 hp: same 9.6 s, 190 km/h, 13.9 / 8.8 / 11.3 L/100 km, same 1,475 / 1,820 kg. The 170 hp version adds 23 hp and 5 Nm and changes layout from 6 V-shaped to 6 Inline; compression 9.5→10. On these figures, extra power does not buy a quicker 0–100 or a higher top speed.

• 2.3 AT 155 hp vs 2.9 AT 170 hp: the smaller 2316 cm³ Automatic is 0.6 s quicker (10.2 vs 9.6 wait — 10.2 is slower than 9.6). Correction: 2.9 AT 170 hp is 0.6 s quicker to 100 (9.6 vs 10.2) but 10 km/h slower at the top (190 vs 200) and 1.6 L/100 km thirstier mixed (11.3 vs 9.7). Kerb is 60 kg higher (1,475 vs 1,415). Payload on 2.9 AT is 1,820−1,475 = 345 kg versus 1,975−1,415 = 560 kg on 2.3 AT 155 hp — 215 kg less payload on the six-cylinder cars.

• 2.4 MT 82 hp vs 2.4 MT 109 hp: Turbo adds 27 hp and 60 Nm, 0–100 5.5 s quicker (17.5→12), top speed +30 km/h (155→185). Kerb +48 kg (1,330→1,378). Fuel on 109 hp is not measured. The 82 hp Diesel remains the only Diesel with measured L/100 km.

• 2.4 MT 109 hp vs 2.4 MT 122 hp: +13 hp, +35 Nm, 0–100 0.5 s quicker (12→11.5), top speed unchanged 185 km/h. Kerb +38 kg (1,378→1,416). Fuel not measured on either.

• 2.4 MT 109 hp vs 2.4 AT 109 hp: same 109 hp, 205 Nm, 1,378 / 1,880 kg. Automatic 4 vs Manual 5. 0–100, top speed, and all three consumption figures on 2.4 AT 109 hp are not measured.

• Fastest Diesel 0–100 among measured: 2.4 MT 122 hp at 11.5 s — still 0.3 s slower than the slowest Gasoline Manual (2.3 MT 131 hp at 11.2 s) and 2.4 s slower than 2.3 MT 165 hp.

With a 75 L tank, mixed range where mixed is measured: 2.4 MT 82 hp ≈ 904 km (75÷8.3×100); 2.3 MT 131 hp ≈ 815 km; 2.3 AT 131 hp ≈ 789 km; 2.3 AT 155 hp ≈ 773 km; 2.3 MT 135 hp = 750 km; both 2.9 AT ≈ 664 km. Range for 165 hp 2.3 and for 109/122 hp Diesels is not measured.

Dimensions and weight

Ground clearance: not measured. Wheels: not measured. Tank: 75 L on all 12.

Lightest kerb: 2.4 MT 82 hp at 1,330 kg. Heaviest: both 2.9 AT at 1,475 kg (+145 kg vs the 82 hp Diesel, +125 kg vs 2.3 MT 135 hp). Best kg/hp: 2.3 MT / 2.3 AT 165 hp at 8.4. Worst kg/hp: 2.4 MT 82 hp at 16.2. Highest payload: 2.3 AT 155 hp at 560 kg. Lowest payload: both 2.9 AT at 345 kg — they are the only listed cars whose gross (1,820 kg) is below the 1,865–1,975 kg band of the 2.3 Gasoline cars.

Which version to choose

Buy 2.3 MT 165 hp or 2.3 AT 165 hp if the ranking is speed. They share the catalogue’s best 0–100 (9.1 s) and top speed (210 km/h), best Gasoline kg/hp (8.4), and highest 2.3 torque (264 Nm). Manual vs Automatic does not change those four numbers. Mixed L/100 km is not measured, so you cannot score them on economy from this table.

Buy 2.3 MT 131 hp if the ranking is measured Gasoline economy plus a Manual. Mixed 9.2 L/100 km is the lowest Gasoline mixed figure listed; highway 7.1 is the lowest highway figure of any Gasoline version. You give up 34 hp and 1.9 s to 100 versus the 165 hp Manual (11.2 vs 9.1) and 20 km/h of top speed (190 vs 210).

Buy 2.3 AT 131 hp only if you need Automatic and want the light 1,360 kg kerb of the 131 hp pair. Versus 2.3 AT 155 hp you save 55 kg and 0.2 L/100 km mixed, but lose 24 hp, 1.5 s to 100, and 21 km/h.

Buy 2.3 AT 155 hp if you want Automatic, no Turbo, and a 200 km/h top speed. It is the only 4-valves-per-cylinder version listed. Versus 2.9 AT 170 hp you lose 0.6 s to 100 but gain 10 km/h, 1.6 L/100 km mixed, 60 kg kerb, and 215 kg payload. Versus 2.3 AT 165 hp Turbo you lose 10 hp, 61 Nm, 1.1 s, and 10 km/h, and you gain measured fuel figures (9.7 mixed) that the 165 hp Automatic does not have.

Buy 2.3 MT 135 hp if you want Turbo torque without the 165 hp step: 230 Nm at 2300 rpm (the lowest torque-rpm of any Gasoline version), 10 s to 100, 190 km/h, 1,350 kg. Versus 131 hp Manual: +4 hp, +45 Nm, −1.2 s, same 190 km/h, +0.8 mixed. Versus 165 hp Manual: −30 hp, −34 Nm, +0.9 s, −20 km/h, −35 kg.

Do not buy 2.9 AT 147 hp for performance or economy. It matches 2.9 AT 170 hp on 9.6 s, 190 km/h, 11.3 mixed, and 1,475 kg, with 23 hp and 5 Nm less. Layout is 6 V-shaped versus 6 Inline on the 170 hp car. Mixed 11.3 is the worst measured consumption in the list — 3.0 L/100 km above 2.4 MT 82 hp and 2.1 above 2.3 MT 131 hp. Payload 345 kg is the worst.

Buy 2.9 AT 170 hp only if the goal is peak listed horsepower (170 hp) with Automatic 3 and 6 Inline, accepting the same 9.6 s / 190 km/h / 11.3 mixed as the 147 hp twin. It is 5 hp above 2.3 AT 165 hp but 20 km/h slower, 0.5 s slower, 90 kg heavier, and 1.6 L/100 km thirstier on mixed than 2.3 AT 155 hp (the 165 hp Automatic’s mixed is not measured).

Buy 2.4 MT 82 hp if the ranking is fuel. Mixed 8.3, city 9.4, highway 6.1 are the best measured trio; kerb 1,330 kg is the lightest. Cost: 82 hp, 17.5 s, 155 km/h, 16.2 kg/hp. Versus 2.3 MT 131 hp: −49 hp, +6.3 s, −35 km/h, −0.9 mixed, −30 kg.

Buy 2.4 MT 122 hp if the ranking is the quickest Diesel: 11.5 s, 185 km/h, 240 Nm, Turbo, Manual 5. Fuel is not measured. Versus 2.4 MT 109 hp: +13 hp, −0.5 s, same 185 km/h. Versus 2.3 MT 131 hp Gasoline: +0.3 s to 100, −5 km/h, −9 hp.

Buy 2.4 MT 109 hp as the mid Diesel Manual: 12 s, 185 km/h, 205 Nm. Fuel not measured.

Buy 2.4 AT 109 hp only if you need Diesel Automatic. 0–100, top speed, and L/100 km are not measured; kerb matches the 109 hp Manual at 1,378 kg.

Reliability / problems: this dataset does not list failure rates, service intervals, or known defects. What it does show: every listed car is RWD Sedan with the same spring suspension labels and disc brake labels; Gasoline injection is Distributed injection (multi-point); Diesel injection is not measured. Turbo appears on 135 hp and 165 hp 2.3 Gasoline and on 109 hp and 122 hp 2.4 Diesel. Compression is 8.7 on Turbo Gasoline 2.3, 9.3 on 131 hp, 10 on 155 hp 2.3 and 170 hp 2.9, 9.5 on 147 hp 2.9, and 23 on all four Diesels.

Short map: speed → 2.3 MT 165 hp or 2.3 AT 165 hp. Measured Gasoline mpg → 2.3 MT 131 hp. Automatic without Turbo → 2.3 AT 155 hp. Diesel mpg → 2.4 MT 82 hp. Diesel pace → 2.4 MT 122 hp. Peak hp with six cylinders → 2.9 AT 170 hp, knowing 0–100 and top speed do not beat the 165 hp 2.3. Twenty-one further versions exist in the 33-count and are not in this table.