Volvo's Sizzling S80

by Thane Peterson

Editor's Rating:

The Good: Decent price, multiple engine choices, Scandinavian interior design

The Bad: Gimmicky safety devices, tight headroom

The Bottom Line: A quick, classy luxury sedan for buyers on a budget

Reader Reviews

In an otherwise terrible year for Volvo, the newly redesigned S80 luxury sedan is doing a booming business. While sales of most other Volvo models tanked, S80 sales nearly doubled, to 9,963 units in the first nine months of 2007.

There's a reason for that success. In the crowded market for performance-oriented luxury sedans, the S80 is a sleeper?a model from a second-tier brand that offers a powerful optional V-8 engine and many of the qualities of an Infiniti, BMW (BMWG), or Audi at a lower price. Further setting the S80 apart is its cool, minimalist Scandinavian interior styling.

I'd never claim that the S80 can match the speed and driving characteristics of, say, a BMW 535i. But if you're not into hard-core performance driving, it's plenty sporty for most. It has a feel to it that's similar to Honda's (HMC) Acura RL.

The S80 was redesigned for the '07 model year and is largely being carried over for '08, except that a third engine option has been added to the lineup. The front-wheel-drive base model, which is powered by a 3.2-liter, 235-hp inline six-cylinder engine, starts at $39,450.

Next up the food chain is the new T6, an all-wheel-drive version of the car that starts at $42,790 and is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter version of the inline six that generates an impressive 281 hp.

I test-drove the top-of-the-line model, featuring all-wheel drive and powered by a 4.4-liter, 311-hp V-8 that starts at $49,995. This engine, made by Yamaha (7272.T) and imported from Japan, is a gem. I drove the '07, but the V-8-powered S80 remains essentially the same for '08.

One big appeal of the S80 is its price. Even equipped with the V-8 engine and all-wheel drive, and well loaded with options, the S80 is considerably cheaper than the V-8-powered versions of such rivals as the Audi A6, Infiniti M45, Cadillac STS, and BMW 535i. It even matches or undercuts the Acura RL, which only comes with a 3.5-liter V-6 engine and lists for $47,000 to $54,500. And the slightly less fancy T6 costs seven grand less than the V-8-powered S80.

One option on all versions of the S80 that's well worth considering is the $2,495 Sport Package. It includes 18-inch alloy wheels and Pirelli high-performance tires, bi-Xenon headlamps, speed-sensitive power steering, and ventilated front seats. Also included is an electronic chassis control system that allows you to alter the tuning of the suspension at the push of a button.

The S80 has roughly the same fuel economy whichever engine you choose. The '08 base model is rated to get 16 miles per gallon in the city and 24 on the highway, vs. 15/23 for both all-wheel-drive models. In 255 miles of mixed driving in the V-8 AWD, I got 19.8 mpg. The owner's manual recommends that you use premium gasoline.

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