28. Volvo 850R Wagon
Is there anything more boring in the automotive world than a Volvo station wagon? Probably not. The typical suburban mom car from the ’90s had loads of space for kids and their stuff. It was slow but dependable and boring to drive. Although that’s true for the regular Volvo 850 Wagon, the 1996 “R” version is something completely different. After Volvo’s success with the T5 version in the 850 series featuring a turbocharged engine, they decided to introduce an all-out sleeper machine: the 850R. Under the hood was a 2.3-liter five-cylinder engine with a bigger turbo and an updated intake system and electronics. With a 250-HP output, the 850R Wagon could go from 0 to 60 mph in just 6.5 seconds with a top speed of almost 160 mph.
That was sports car territory for the mid-90s. There must have been many confused Porsche owners when those boring-looking Volvo wagons passed them on the highway. After the 850R, many manufacturers like Audi started offering powerful, fast wagons. However, Volvo was the first with the 850R. Today, those performance numbers still demand respect. Fortunately, the 850R is quite affordable on the used car market. Also, you can find various power upgrades for this model, so consider buying this ultimate wagon.