It’s also a battle between old gasoline and modern diesel engines
Volvo's wagons have long been the bread and butter of the Swedish automaker's lineup, but nowadays SUVs have overtaken them when it comes to sales.
Still, the Geely-owned brand hasn't given up on offering wagons, with the lineup currently including the V60 and V90 (Volvo also claims the V40 is an estate, but we all know it's just a five-door hatchback). So, Carwow has chosen the V90 for an unusual drag and rolling race against one of its forefathers: the 1996 Volvo 850 R.
The iconic 850 R was a performance version of the regular 850 and had a 225-hp turbocharged 2.3-liter five-cylinder gasoline engine under the hood. Fast forward to 2017 and the V90 D5 has a four-cylinder 2.0-liter turbodiesel engine that makes 235 hp.
Now, there are more differences between the two cars besides the 21 years that separate them: the V90 D5 has an automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive, while the 850 R features a manual transmission and front-wheel drive.
How's that a fair fight? Well, it isn't, because modern automatic transmissions shift gears faster than their manual counterparts, while the AWD system gives the V90 D5 a significant traction advantage.
Does that mean the 850 R should be completely ruled out? Watch the video to find out.
If you're hesitating between buying a V90 or an XC90, Volvo has just the right car for you: the V90 Cross Country.