Volvo needed a car to compete in the small-size sedan segment and worked closely with Renault to start the 440/460 series.
At the beginning of the ’80s, Volvo started to look for a partner and develop a new vehicle lineup. Its rear-wheel-drive vehicles started to be outdated and outperformed. In the end, it signed a deal with Renault, created a new platform, and introduced the 1987 Volvo 440 hatchback on the market. Two years later, the Swedish carmaker launched the sedan version, which was named 460.

The design language of the 460 was very similar to the one offered by its sibling, the 440. Its front fascia resembled the 740/760 series but shrunk to fit. By those times standards, it was considered a compact-sized vehicle. Volvo’s design team made the three-box sedan with shorter side windows behind the rear doors than those from the 440 and a less raked C-pillar.

Inside, the change toward a front-wheel-drive platform led to a more interior room for the front passengers, but the limited wheelbase made things more difficult for the rear ones who didn’t have too much legroom. Still, it was considered a premium compact-segment sedan fit for a family looking for a more luxurious car.

Under the hood, the Swedish carmaker installed Renault engines paired to a standard 5-speed manual gearbox. A four-speed automatic transmission was offered as an option, while Volvo developed and installed a CVT on later versions.