Review of the new Volvo S80 2.5T

Volvo's S80 is designed to appeal to buyers who have not driven one of the Swedish marque's products before. With seventy per cent of new S80 customers predicted to be new to Volvo, this manufacturer is hoping to significantly dent the sales figures of the rival premium brands. One of the models most likely to be at the forefront of this quest is the S80 2.5T that we look at here.

This S80 is powered by the five-cylinder 228bhp 2.5-litre turbo petrol unit. It's a robust and tested powerplant that develops a healthy 340Nm of torque. The turbocharger unit has been cleverly integrated into the exhaust manifold to give the engine a very compact design. The 0-60mph sprint is achieved in a very sprightly 6.9 seconds, going on to a maximum top speed of 130mph.

You won't be expecting this Volvo to handle like a BMW 5 Series - which is just as well because it doesn't. But then, no other Executive saloon in the sector handles like a 5 Series either and few of them compensate by being such a relaxing long distance companion as the S80. Those that do are either much more expensive - or they depreciate like a stone.

First impressions are deceiving with this car. It's only when you get the Mk1 S80 next to the current generation model that you'll see quite how far it has evolved. OK, so many of the primary design cues are still much the same - the distinctive shoulders that run all the way back to the tail lights, the arched roofline and the rather bluff front grille up front. Look beyond them though and you can see some significant changes to the vehicle's stance and its fine detailing. The old S80 was a bit of a frumpy thing. This one has smartened up nicely and the most recent models feature a more distinctive front featuring a larger badge, plus extra chrome detailing on the air intakes, the lower part of the doors and under the tail lamps.

"This model's robust and tested powerplant develops a healthy 320Nm of torque."

Inside, well, it's all rather refreshing. Instead of trying to copy their German rivals, Volvo have gone their own way. The Swedes claim that their 'design language' radiates a simpler, more stylish and modern feel by combining aesthetics and technology in a more inviting and intelligent way. I'm not sure that I buy into that completely but there's certainly a nice blend of no-nonsense Scandinavian style thanks to nice touches like the slim 'floating' centre stack (with its smarter 'Silk Metal' frame) in the centre of the dashboard, quality materials for upholsteries and a thoughtful choice of inlays and colour schemes that blend smoothly together. As before, there's comfortable room for five adults and a huge 422-litre boot. For more carrying space from this brand, you'll need a Volvo V70, effectively the estate version of this car.

Equipment levels on all models run to electronic climate control and a punchy stereo package. More important standard features however, are those concerned with the S80's class-leading safety systems. It would take me all day to go into these, so we'll just give you the highlights. Volvo think that there's a great deal more to safety than just dotting airbags around the cabin - though of course, there are plenty of those.

There's also Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), active Bi-Xenon headlights that swivel with the car and a patented body structure developed at the Volvo Safety Centre. Security hasn't been forgotten either. I like the idea of ordering the optional Personal Car Communicator which fits into your keyfob and is able to remotely check if the car is locked or not, alert you if the alarm has been activated and even includes a heartbeat sensor to warn you if there's anyone in the car who shouldn't be.

Another interesting technology is the Collision Warning system which alerts the driver, via a 'heads-up' warning display on the windscreen plus an audible buzzer, if the gap to the car in front closes so fast that a collision is likely. At the same time, the Brake Support system boosts the braking force to ensure braking is as effective as possible. The active Bi-Xenon headlights turn the beam of the headlights in the direction the steering wheel is being turned, allowing better visibility deeper into corners at night and also helping to highlight the immediate verge where a pedestrian, cyclist or parked vehicle could be obscured.

The Volvo S80 is a beautifully-engineered car and with the 2.5-litre turbo likely to be one of the best sellers in the range, the brand will be expecting great things from this model. It has some clever innovations and is stylishly finished. Whether or not it has enough to seriously dent the sales figures of the established premium brands, only time will tell.

TOP 5 S80 DEALS

The results below show the top S80 deals on buyacar

Volvo S80 DRIVe [115] SE Lux 4dr [Start Stop] Diesel Saloon
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