Volvo S80 2007 Review

What we like
Strong powerful and refined V8 engine
Vastly improved dynamics
Good value with high level of standard equipment

OVERVIEW
When Volvo first launched the S80 sedan back in 1998 in Australia, the company had high hopes for the vehicle to take on the prestige and might of the German brands BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi. But although the original fitted the bill in terms of size, quality and features, it was sorely let down by a ride and handling package that just didn't gel. The car had replaced the previous 900 series models and as the company experienced, there were few people prepared to pay close to $100,000 for a Volvo.

Now the second generation S80 has been launched onto the Australian market and it is a vastly improved and altogether different beast, being bigger all-round and featuring Volvo's first V8 engine in a premium sedan and all-wheel drive for the petrol models.

While the jury may still be out on whether the brand carries the prestige to warrant its $85,000 to $100,000 price tag, Volvo is also a lot more realistic about its prospects simply offering it as an alternative to the dominating Germans rather than hoping to overtake them.

The car sits on an all-new platform with Volvo's active suspension dubbed Four-C standard across the range while, as you would expect, the car sports a vast amount of safety technology. Three models will be on offer with the first two being the top-end V8 AWD and entry level D5 turbodiesel front driver.

A third mid-range all-wheel drive petrol version featuring a new 3.2-litre straight six-cylinder engine is due to arrive in showrooms in March and all three models aim to provide a renewed focus for the Swedish car maker on style and performance, as well as the traditional safety values.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
The new S80 starts with the D5 turbodiesel front-drive model that hits the showrooms priced from $71,950. It remains the sole front driver in the lineup but like the other two petrol models, is driven via a six-speed automatic transmission.

Although it is the entry level model, the D5 is very well specced -- especially in relation to its German rivals -- with all three models sharing a very similar list of standard comfort and convenience kit. This includes climate control air-conditioning, cruise control, heated power front seats, windows and mirrors, leather trim, automatic active Bi Xenon headlights, front and rear foglights, front and rear parking sensors, 17-inch alloy wheels and an eight-speaker six-stack MP3/CD audio system.

Across the range the S80 also comes standard with Volvo's keyless entry and start system that runs under the acronym PCC or Personal Car Communicator. The small rectangular plipper not only allows you to enter, lock and start the car via the push button on the dash without removing the PCC from your pocket but will also relay the status of the car.

Within a radius of between 60 and 100m, the PCC can tell you whether the car is locked, unlocked, the alarm has been triggered and even if someone is still in the car courtesy of the vehicle's heartbeat sensor!

Next up the range from the D5 is the six-cylinder 3.2 AWD priced from $75,950 -- that shares the D5's spec level apart from bigger 18-inch alloys -- while the top-of-the-range V8 AWD is priced from $95,950. On the comfort and convenience front, the only addition for the V8 is a higher grade and superb sounding premium audio system with 12 speakers courtesy of Danish audio specialist Dynaudio.

Options across the range include a rear seat DVD system ($5500), satnav ($3950), sunroof ($2150) and the innovative Clean Zone Interior Package (CZIP) for $250.

CZIP has been developed to improve the quality of the air inside the cabin and has been approved by Sweden's Asthma and Allergies Association. The system delivers a 60 second ventilation cycle that removes interior air and replaces it with clean air upon opening the car while through the use of natural materials, and reducing the use of chemicals in development and processing of materials, CZIP aims to reduce any toxins emitted inside the car.

MECHANICAL
The big mechanical news for the Volvo S80 is the car's all-new petrol engines -- a V8 and inline six. The V8 is a transversely mounted 4.4-litre unit that develops maximum outputs of 232kW and 440Nm providing the S80 with a claimed 0-100km/h time of 6.5 seconds. The straight six-cylinder engine is also transversely mounted and is a 3.2-litre unit that generates a maximum power of 175kW and peak torque of 320Nm. The third engine in the lineup, the diesel, is a development of Volvo's all-aluminium five-cylinder turbocharged 2.4-litre powerplant that delivers maximum outputs of 136kW and 400Nm from between 2000rpm -- 2750rpm.

All three engines are mated to a new six-speed "Geartronic" automatic transmission that allows manual shifts to be selected via the gearshift lever although it does have an automatic override that results in the transmission automatically shifting up a gear about 500rpm shy of the respective red-lines on the tacho.

The S80 sits on a new chassis that is also shared by the forthcoming XC70, utilising a front strut and rear multi-link arrangement. For Australia, all models use Volvo's Four-C electronically controlled adaptive damping system that offers three modes of operation -- Comfort, Sport and Advanced  -- to vary the stiffness of the dampers according to driver requirements for ride/handling compromise.

The all-wheel-drive system in the petrol models is also electronically controlled with an electro-mechanical Haldex coupling to distribute torque between the front and rear axles. Under normal driving conditions up to 95 per cent of the driving power is sent forward but should traction losses be detected, the system can deliver up to 50 per cent of torque to the rear axle.

PACKAGING
Sitting on a longer wheelbase with a wider track, the new S80 is substantially bigger than its predecessor and from the moment you slip into the driver's seat, it becomes obvious that much of that extra space is inside.

Up front with large glass areas, there is a feeling of roominess that is repeated in the rear with plenty of head and legroom for a couple of adults on the outboard seats. Three adults across the rear is possible for shorter journeys and if it's kids that take up the rear seat spaces, parents will welcome the integrated booster seat in the centre position.

Volvo has never had a problem constructing good seats and the S80 is no different with very comfortable and supportive electrically adjustable pews up front. But while the seats adjust in myriad directions, the steering column only adjusts for height.

The quality of the fit and finish is easily up to the standards expected of a luxury car and on the road, the S80 is very quiet and cosseting inside, giving you plenty of opportunity to enjoy the excellent audio system.

There is also plenty of space in the long and wide boot -- helped by the spare being a space saver -- whose 422-litre capacity can be expanded with the rear seat back offering a 60/40-split folding facility for added carrying capacity.

What is not so practical however are the controls that fill the 'floating' centre console. There is a vast array of buttons -- including a number keypad for the bluetooth phone connection -- and many are small and difficult to use on the fly. Should you want to adjust anything to any large degree it is best to pull off the road and wait until you are stationary.

One of these is the $2950 optional adaptive cruise control and collision warning system. Using front-mounted radars, the adaptive cruise maintains an adjustable defined distance behind the vehicle in front. The collision warning system comes into play if the same sensors determine that a frontal crash is imminent and it delivers a visual and audible warning before applying up to 30 per cent braking force automatically.

Hard braking that results in a deceleration force of more than 0.7g, will also activate the rear fog lights that will flash to alert drivers behind you that you are stopping quickly.

Another new safety technology is the optional $1200 BLIS (Blind Spot Information System) that flashes a small orange light at the base of either A-pillar when the cameras in the bottom of the wing mirrors detect a vehicle in your blind spot.

In addition to these, active safety comes in the form of added traction courtesy of the all-wheel drive in the petrol models while all models also feature Volvo's dynamic stability and traction control and anti-lock brakes. Passive safety features include six airbags -- dual-stage front and front side and side curtain bags -- three-point seatbelts all round with pre-tensioners on the front and front seat whiplash protection.

COMPETITORS
First and foremost Volvo sees its new S80 competing against the German mid-sized luxury models being BMW's 5 Series, Mercedes E-Class and Audi A6. And while it certainly competes in terms of size and quality, if you are looking at each rival on an individual model basis, you are always going to get more engine and kit in your Volvo than you will for a similarly priced German.

Against the range-topping V8 S80, the equivalent Audi S6 on the dollar meter is the 188kW/330Nm 3.2-litre V6, while BMW and Mercedes' closest models are the 160kW/250Nm 2.5-litre six-cylinder 525i and 170kW/300Nm 2.8-litre V6 E280 respectively. For any of the three brands' V8s you need to lay down at least $135K!

As well as the Germans, others in the mix include the 183kW/310Nm 3.0-litre V6 Lexus GS300 and perhaps fellow Swedish maker Saab's 191kW/350Nm 2.3 turbo 9-5 Aero although the latter is getting very long in the tooth.

ON THE ROAD
What a difference a generation makes! From the minute you press the button to start the new V8 S80 there is a feeling that things have definitely changed and the low rumble from the rear pipes actually sounds quite exciting. Could this really be a Volvo, you ask?

Off the line the engine is very smooth, strong and responsive to the right foot and the shifts via the Aisin-sourced six-speed auto are delightfully silky and barely perceptible. Cruising southwest out of Brisbane on the freeways that made up the first stretch of the media drive, the car was delightfully responsive, comfortable and very quiet. Just the sort of manners you expect of a large luxury sedan.

With the suspension set to comfort mode, there is just the slightest hint of float over bigger undulations but on the smooth freeway, the car generally feels very solid, stable and well tied down.

Like the suspension, the steering offers three settings that adjust the level of assistance but the low setting for urban speeds was way too light for our liking. Setting the system to the lowest level of assistance increased the weighting and feel, and this was to be the most preferable default for this tester.

Off the freeway and into the winding country roads, it was a chance to taste the more dynamic and much firmer 'Advanced' suspension mode and it did deliver what it promised. At the opposite end to the Comfort setting, there is very wide and noticeable difference.

Sitting very flat and solid on the road, you could push the S80 on with enthusiasm and the car displayed a very well balanced and predictable chassis.

There were no issues with traction -- even on the slippery wet dirt sections -- with the all-wheel drive and stability control working well in a nicely graduated and subtle manner.

On the move, the in-gear response from the V8 was instant and urgent although locking the car into second gear and pushing the higher reaches of the rev band could be a problem with the transmission insisting on shifting up at around 5000rpm.

Our second stint was in the diesel, which with 400Nm of torque is not that far shy of the V8's peak output while the car weighs in at just over 150kg less. However, such is the character of the engine that off the line, it feels adequately strong but not what you would call overly exciting. It is very smooth, though, and delivers a traditional Volvo five-cylinder purr as the revs climb.

It's in the mid range where the diesel feels strongest and in-gear acceleration is much more rapid than that from standstill. But as with most diesels, you are playing in a relatively narrow power band, between about 2000rpm and 4000rpm. In that zone, you can push the car along and like the V8, in Advanced mode, its dynamics are up for the task. This mode is however, one for the enthusiast as there is a definite trade-off in the ride quality with sharp ruts finding their way through the seat base and the car crashing through bigger potholes.

The mid-range Sport setting is, perhaps obviously, the best compromise for ride and handling across a variety of surfaces.

On first impressions, the new S80 has what it takes to be able to compete against the Germans at last. Performance, dynamics, comfort, features, safety and very good value are all checked.

But with such a large range of variation that can be dialled up through things like the suspension and steering, it becomes a sort of everyman car with a dynamic package for everyone. And in that, we feel it tends to lose some appeal as it still lacks a definable character.