It seems to be that Volvo really sticks to its motto: Volvo, for life. Take the XC90—an ever-popular SUV, nearing a decade of being in the market. The recently replaced S60—in the market for a good nine years. The S40—in the market since 2004. The S80 on the other hand, seems to have reached its mid-life, due to the recent facelifts. Nevertheless, the S80 still seems to be able to captivate buyers from competitors, such as BMW’s 5-series. We come to see how the S80 manages to pull its tricks—despite its age.
· Design & Engineering:
A blast from the past. Sadly, the S80 carries on the Swedish no-nonsense looks, unlike its offspring—the sexy S60. The S80 has that same clean and classic shell, which tends to attract slightly more mature customers, according to statistics and observations. Nevertheless, the Volvo succeeds in magnifying the root of its success—safety and an excellent drivetrain. It’s this reason why the S80 is such a tantalizing dish compared to other Continental makes. The inflated Volvo crest on the front grill further enhances the rich heritage of Volvo’s commitment to safety, but seems somewhat gargantuan, considering the amount of space it occupies on the grill. From the side, the entire roof slopes down, harmoniously connecting with the bonnet—with the appropriate use of chrome. The rear boot proudly bears the 5-letter VOLVO word well, with subtle hints about the type of engine used, on the bottom right. At night, the flowing rear night-lights, fulfill their role in alerting other drivers quite well.
· Interior
Let’s face it. The exterior might not have placed a smile on your face—the interior definitely will. Volvo’s interiors have always been something to rave about, and the S80 is no exception. The build quality. The soft leather which almost covers the entire interior. The supportive front seats and rear benches. These are only some of the S80’s charming qualities. Volvo’s interior definitely challenges BMW and Audi, in terms of minimalism and user-friendly interfaces. BMW’s intricate i-Drive system, along with Audi’s MMI system loose points in being user-friendly. In the Volvo, what you see is what you get, enabling every passenger to travel comfortably, using the multitude of simple buttons. A wide windscreen and high seating position provide the driver with superb visibility both ways, complemented by the soft-touch, curved dashboard, which all adds up to being seemingly pleasant. Though there is a slot for the key, by pressing the start/stop button, inserting the key into its desiccated slot is unnecessary. In other words, the slot can be described as a key holder, so as to avoid the nerve wrecking clanking of the key in the cubbyholes. Volvo’s classic floating console is well built, and topped up with brushed aluminum, adding a touch of class. The factory-fit stereo is superb, being built by Sweeds, for Sweeds. Being Volvo’s flagship vehicle, oodles and oodles of space are available, making rear seating comfortable, and pleasing to the eye, with the array of available different colour combinations. Of course, the space doesn’t end in the rear, but continues into the boot, which provides a cavernous 480 liters.
· Ride & Handling
As the world is now being faced by environmental problems, all car manufacturers are simply reducing the size of the engine and its emissions, but without reducing the power. How? Simple. The answer: turbo charging, twin-turbo charging, and even supercharging. Why the S80 now features a T4, 1.6-liter turbocharged engine, a T5, 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, along with a T6, 3.0-liter turbocharged engine. The T4 seems to sound relatively raspy and unpleasant, on top of suffering from turbo lag. The T5 is the practical choice—reaching the century sprint in 7.7 seconds, with a top speed of 230km/h. Thus, when the light changes, all one has to do is to ease gently on the accelerator. The T6 model is for the thrill seekers, providing so much power on hand, a light tap on the accelerator sends the vehicle flying off. Nevertheless, when driven like a gentleman all variants exhibit old school Swedish qualities as it glides over potholes and bumps like Disney on ice. For a car weighing over 1.6 tons, it’s fast and well balanced, with powerful and responsive brakes. Steering is responsive, with ample grip and minimal roll. Keep in mind, that the S80 still isn’t a graceful dancer.
· Verdict
Does one not see how the S80 impresses? Gentleman qualities, testosterone turbos, feminine comfort. Not a bad mix.
o Pictures from:
http://www.ebestcars.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/volvo_s80_ebestcars2.jpg?cda6c1 
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