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1996 Volvo 850 Gas Tank Size & Fuel Capacity

Sedan 10 trims listed 1 fuel-system recall ← 1995 1997 →

Fuel tank capacity

19.3gal · 73 L

The 1996 Volvo 850 has a fuel tank capacity of 19.3 gallons (73 liters) on every trim.

A full tank is good for roughly 463–502 highway miles or 328–347 miles around town, going by the EPA ratings.

19.3 gal · Bigger than 57% of 1996 models we list.

Highway range
463–502 mi
City range
328–347 mi
Fuel
Regular unleaded
EPA combined
19–21 MPG
EPA size class
Midsize Cars

1996 Volvo 850 fuel tank capacity by trim

What changes the tank sizeTap an option to filter the table

Engine
no difference

All 10 trims

MPG and range are city / highway.

TrimEngineDrive Tank MPG city / hwy Range city / hwy
4dr Sedan 2.4L 5cyl 5M · FWD MPG 18 / 26Range 347 / 502 mi 2.4L 5cyl 5M FWD 19.3 gal73 L 18 / 26 347 / 502 mi
4dr Wagon 2.4L 5cyl 5M · FWD MPG 18 / 26Range 347 / 502 mi 2.4L 5cyl 5M FWD 19.3 gal73 L 18 / 26 347 / 502 mi
GLT 4dr Sedan 2.4L 5cyl 5M · FWD MPG 18 / 26Range 347 / 502 mi 2.4L 5cyl 5M FWD 19.3 gal73 L 18 / 26 347 / 502 mi
GLT 4dr Wagon 2.4L 5cyl 5M · FWD MPG 18 / 26Range 347 / 502 mi 2.4L 5cyl 5M FWD 19.3 gal73 L 18 / 26 347 / 502 mi
Platinum Limited Edition Turbo 4dr Sedan 2.3L 5cyl 4A · FWD MPG 17 / 24Range 328 / 463 mi 2.3L 5cyl 4A FWD 19.3 gal73 L 17 / 24 328 / 463 mi
Platinum Limited Edition Turbo 4dr Wagon 2.3L 5cyl 4A · FWD MPG 17 / 24Range 328 / 463 mi 2.3L 5cyl 4A FWD 19.3 gal73 L 17 / 24 328 / 463 mi
R Turbo 4dr Sedan 2.3L 5cyl 4A · FWD MPG 17 / 24Range 328 / 463 mi 2.3L 5cyl 4A FWD 19.3 gal73 L 17 / 24 328 / 463 mi
R Turbo 4dr Wagon 2.3L 5cyl 4A · FWD MPG 17 / 24Range 328 / 463 mi 2.3L 5cyl 4A FWD 19.3 gal73 L 17 / 24 328 / 463 mi
Turbo 4dr Sedan 2.3L 5cyl 4A · FWD MPG 17 / 24Range 328 / 463 mi 2.3L 5cyl 4A FWD 19.3 gal73 L 17 / 24 328 / 463 mi
Turbo 4dr Wagon 2.3L 5cyl 4A · FWD MPG 17 / 24Range 328 / 463 mi 2.3L 5cyl 4A FWD 19.3 gal73 L 17 / 24 328 / 463 mi

Tank figures are the manufacturer's rated capacity, sorted smallest tank first. Range is tank size times EPA city or highway MPG.

How far a 1996 Volvo 850 goes on a tank

Gallons left and the distance they cover at each mark on the fuel gauge, at EPA city and highway mileage. At the combined rating of 19 MPG, a full 19.3-gallon tank covers about 367 miles.

GaugeGallonsHighway milesCity miles
Full19.3463328
3/414.5347246
1/29.7232164
1/44.811682
1/82.45841

Over 15,000 miles a year (the EPA's yearly estimate) this configuration uses about 789 gallons, roughly 41 full tanks.

In real driving: owners who log fill-ups at fueleconomy.gov average 21.3 MPG in the 850 (10 drivers), about 411 miles on a full 19.3-gallon tank.

Fuel gauges aren't perfectly linear and the low-fuel light comes on with a few gallons still in the tank, so plan your stop before the last eighth.

EPA combined
19–21 MPG
Tailpipe CO2
423–468 g/mi
Source
EPA ratings

What it costs to fill up a 1996 Volvo 850

$82.41 to fill the 19.3-gallon tank from empty with regular, at this week's US average of $4.27 a gallon.

TankFuelUS avg / galFrom emptyFrom 1/4 tank
19.3 galRegular$4.27$82.41$61.81

By region, 19.3-gallon tank

RegionRegular / galFill from empty
East Coast$4.02$77.59
Midwest$4.27$82.41
Gulf CoastLowest$3.70$71.41
Rocky Mountain$4.46$86.08
West Coast$5.42$104.61
CaliforniaHighest$5.89$113.68

Prices: U.S. Energy Information Administration retail averages for the week of October 26, 2026. This week's prices by state and city.

Your own price

  • 19.3-gallon tank$82.41
  • A year of driving (15,000 mi)$3,371

Starts at the US average for regular; type in what your station charges. For other tank sizes, use the fill-up calculator.

850 tank size in other years

The 1996 850 uses the same 19.3 gal tank as every 850 since 1993.

Model yearTankLongest highway range
1997 850 19.3 gal 502 mi
1996 850 19.3 gal 502 mi
1995 850 19.3 gal 502 mi
1994 850 19.3 gal 502 mi
1993 850 19.3 gal 521 mi
Volvo 850 fuel tank by model year
19931994199519961997
← 1995 Volvo 850 Every 850 year 1997 Volvo 850 →

1996 Volvo 850 vs similar 1996 sedans

The 850 has the largest tank of the six 1996 sedans compared here, 19.3 gallons against 18.5 for the Lexus ES 300.

1996 modelTankLongest highway range
Volvo 850 19.3 gal 502 mi
Lexus ES 300 18.5 gal 481 mi
INFINITI I30 18.5 gal 444 mi
Acura TL 17.2 gal 396 mi
Audi A4 16.4 gal 410 mi
Mercedes-Benz C-Class 16.4 gal 443 mi

Other 1996 sedans of a similar size, one model per brand.

1996 Volvo 850 fuel system recalls

NHTSA lists 1 fuel-system recall for the 1996 Volvo 850, out of 2 recalls in total. A recall applies only to the vehicles named in it, so check your VIN.

StorageJul 30, 2004 · NHTSA 04V368000 · Volvo Cars Of N.A. Llc. · 226,000 vehicles

On certain passenger vehicles, after prolonged exposure to heat, the fuel tank may seep or leak fuel at the points where the heat shield is attached.

Risk and remedy

Risk: Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.

Remedy: Volvo will inspect the fuel tank and replace it if any evidence of fuel seepage or leakage is found. All vehicles will receive new reinforcement bushings at the heat shield attachment points to prevent future leaks. This recall will be conducted as a safety recall in the hot weather states of Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah, and as a service recall in the other 33 states and the District of Columbia. The recall began on september 24, 2004. Owners may contact volvo at 1-800-458-1552.

All Volvo fuel recalls Look up your tank by VIN

Frequently asked questions

What is the fuel tank capacity of the 1996 Volvo 850?

The 1996 Volvo 850 holds 19.3 gallons (73 liters) on every trim we list.

How many gallons and liters does the 1996 Volvo 850 gas tank hold?

The 1996 Volvo 850 tank holds 73 liters, or 19.3 gallons in US gallons.

How far can a 1996 Volvo 850 go on a full tank?

About 463–502 miles on the highway and 328–347 miles in town, going from full to empty at its EPA ratings. Expect less in practice, since nobody runs the tank dry.

How many miles can a 1996 Volvo 850 go on a quarter tank?

About 116 highway miles or 82 in town from the 19.3-gallon tank, which has roughly 4.8 gallons left at the quarter mark. Gauges aren't exact, so treat that as a guide.

How many miles does a 1996 Volvo 850 really get on a tank?

Drivers who log their fill-ups at fueleconomy.gov average 21.3 MPG in the 1996 Volvo 850 (10 drivers), which works out to about 411 miles on a full 19.3-gallon tank.

What gas does the 1996 Volvo 850 take?

Regular unleaded. The label inside the fuel door confirms it for your car.

How much does it cost to fill up a 1996 Volvo 850?

At the US average of $4.27 a gallon for regular (EIA, week of October 26, 2026), filling the 19.3-gallon tank from empty costs $82.41. It ranges from $71.41 in the Gulf Coast to $113.68 in California.

How much does a full tank of gas weigh in a 1996 Volvo 850?

About 120 pounds for the 19.3-gallon tank. Gasoline weighs roughly 6.2 pounds a gallon.

Does the 1996 Volvo 850 have a bigger gas tank than the Lexus ES 300?

Yes. The 1996 Volvo 850 holds up to 19.3 gallons; the 1996 Lexus ES 300 holds up to 18.5.

Has the 1996 Volvo 850 had a fuel pump or fuel system recall?

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 fuel-system recall for the 1996 Volvo 850: 04V368000 (storage). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if your car is affected.

Sources

  • Tank sizes: manufacturer-rated capacities from US-market specifications, checked against independent references. Updated October 2026.
  • MPG and range: EPA ratings (fueleconomy.gov). Range is tank size times EPA MPG.
  • Fuel prices: U.S. Energy Information Administration, week of October 26, 2026 (this week's prices).
  • Recalls: NHTSA recall database (Volvo fuel system recalls).
  • Real-world MPG: driver-reported fill-ups shared at fueleconomy.gov (My MPG).

Does your owner's manual say something different? Let us know and we'll fix it. More on how we check the numbers.

Other 1996 Volvo models

96020.8 gallons