CAR GAZING
S80 shows Swedish style
Volvo's luxury car emphasizes safety, Scandinavian comfort
By Derek Price
Like all Volvo's four-door cars, the company's top-of-the-line luxury model starts with the letter S.
It's called the S80 – as opposed to the smaller and cheaper S60 and S40 – and most people think the S stands for "sedan." But, after spending a week driving the S80, I think the S could stand for a few other things.
"Safety" is the first that comes to mind. Volvo, of course, has long been known for its innovations to keep passengers safe, and the S80 continues that tradition with its body construction, advanced air bags and high-tech safety features.
Its structural design uses four different grades of steel to better absorb energy in crashes. It has side air bags with two chambers to help avoid hip and chest injuries. Optional cameras near the side mirrors look for cars in your blind spot and warn you when there might be a car you can't see in the mirror.
And, most interesting of all, it has a "collision avoidance system" that sends out a warning before you hit an object in front of you. If a car in front of you suddenly brakes, for example, the S80 realizes a wreck may be possible, so it flashes bright red lights and emits an alarm letting you know to watch out. It will even apply the brakes if necessary.
But the S80 isn't just about safety. The S could just as well stand for "Swedish design."
The cabin is sleek and airy like a piece of modern Scandinavian furniture, with a simple, clean, sweeping dash and an ultra-thin center console.
It also comes with real wood trim that, oddly enough, doesn't have a glossy finish like in most cars. The wood actually feels like wood, not polished glass, and has a matte finish that makes you want to touch it. It's fantastic.
Also inside, the S could stand for "soft seats." Most new cars – especially European cars – come with fairly flat, firm seats that provide lots of support but aren't always comfortable. The S80 bucks that trend, offering soft, squishy seats that feel more like a living room recliner than a Euro sedan.
But there's one thing S doesn't stand for in the S80: "sporty."
Unlike its rear-wheel-drive competitors that unleash power in prodigious lumps, the front-wheel-drive S80 feels far more sensible. Even with optional all-wheel drive (AWD), the S80 drives like a quiet, grown-up luxury car rather than a wannabe sports car.
It's available in three versions, each of which has a different engine. The basic S80 comes with a 3.2-liter V6 and costs $38,705. The next version up is the T6 ($42,045), which has AWD and a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 that makes 281 horsepower. The range topper is the V8 model ($49,210), which makes 311 horsepower.
Better yet, the S80 actually looks good. About a decade ago, Volvo cars were some of the ugliest on the road, with a boxy, uninspired design that never drew second glances. But the newest Volvos – and the S80 in particular – have started to look very attractive with a distinct design language and sleek, dramatic lines.
That means the S stands for one final thing.
"Sexy."
(Derek Price is a newspaper editor and freelance writer living in Texas.)
The above article is provided for the interest and entertainment of our visitors. The views expressed in this article are only those of the author, who is solely responsible for the content. AutoGuide.net does not endorse any of these views, and is not to be held responsible for any of the content provided in the above article.
Click here to read Derek's past articles!
If you have any questions or comments for Derek or the AutoGuide.net, please fill out this form.
