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Auto Trader Ten Point Test rating: 83%

The BMW 5 Series is king of the executive car market. Over a quarter of searches for executive cars on Auto Trader are for the Munich car.

German car manufacturers dominate this segment with Mercedes’ E Class and Audi’s A6. There may not be much room for competition, but Volvo believes its S80 provides a compelling alternative to the German market leaders.

Building on Volvo’s deserved reputation for safety – it introduced the first seat belts in 1959 - the S80 attempts to add style, sophistication and comfort to the mix. How well does it perform?

Looks | Looks Inside | Practicality | Ride and Handling | Performance
Running Costs | Reliability | Safety | Equipment | X-Factor | Rivals

1. Looks

Does the S80 have a sufficiently upmarket image to take on the 5 Series and E Class? On first glance it doesn’t look good. The front end of the S80 looks rather too similar to junior siblings like the S40 and C30.

This is redeemed by the elegantly proportioned rear quarter and distinctive tail lights which add a much-needed touch of class to the exterior.

But it’s hard to avoid the impression that Volvo has erred on the side of caution with the S80 and it lacks presence as a result.

7/10

2. Looks inside

A comfortable and luxurious cabin awaits you inside the S80. The front seats are especially cosy – supportive and soft even after hours of driving, though more side support would be nice.

Volvo’s trademark slim centre console makes an appearance with a small recess behind it. The stereo and climate controls are intuitive and clear, and the brushed aluminium along the dashboard looks great.

The beige interior featured on our model is not the best trim option. Despite the car having only 5,000 miles on the clock it was already very grubby around the gear knob and steering wheel.

9/10

3. Practicality

The Volvo’s boot has excellent capacity for a saloon but the stylish rear lights have an unfortunate side-effect of hindering access to it.

Rear seating is extremely comfortable and rear passengers even get their own air vents in the central pillars – a thoughtful touch common to several Volvo models.

Up front there’s plenty of space for storage with a capacious glove box and and cubby hole between the two seats. Visibility is generally very good but the thick rear pillars make reversing tricky. Front and rear proximity sensors can help with this – but at an added cost.

9/10

4. Ride and Handling

Motorway cruising is the name of the game and the S80 is very composed on long drives. Despite the car’s weight the suspension blends the harshness out of the roads and gives a delightfully smooth ride.

The steering weight felt right – giving feedback at speed but lightening up for easy parking. It’s also adjustable to suit your own preference.

But the S80 is not a performance car. Show it a road with corners and it becomes hesitant, shifting its weight around uneasily. It’s by no means bad, and it’s always comfortable, but B-roads are not its natural territory.

8/10

5. Performance

Our S80 had a 2.5 litre turbo petrol engine. It’s essentially the same block that’s in the Ford Focus ST, but tuned to suit the S80’s chassis. It proved amply powerful for most conditions although the automatic gearbox harmed the responsiveness and made overtaking more challenging than the 2.5T badge on the boot would indicate.

The diesel engine options are likely to prove more popular with corporate buyers and they do provide some useful extra pulling power. At the top of the range sits a potent 4.4 litre V8 petrol version with 315 bhp and four wheel drive – but for the best combination of grunt and fuel economy the diesel is the best bet.

8/10

6. Running Costs

Depreciation is a worry as the S80 is up against some of Germany’s finest offerings. But in most other respects the S80 is not too dear to run – for a car of this size.

The diesel models fare better than the others for depreciation and fuel economy. The D5 gets 44.8mpg (combined) versus 30.7 for our 2.5T.

Despite the value of the insurance bracket is reasonable, providing you steer clear of the V8 which can climb as high as group 19E with an expensive trim level. The servicing interval is 18,000 miles which is very competitive with its rivals and Volvo claims it has also cut labour costs. 

7/10

7. Reliability

Some early S80s were recalled to resolve electrical, steering and suspension problems.

But these glitches all seem to have been ironed out and our S80 ran trouble-free, apart from the odd instance where the automatic mirrors failed to fold back into position after locking the car. Its Auto Trader Reliability Index score is slightly worse than average.

The build quality is excellent inside and out. It exudes the sensation of quality you expect from a car of this size.

8/10

8. Safety

Safety is always a strength of Volvo’s and the S80 is no exception with its four star adult occupant rating from EuroNCAP. Volvo has improved passenger impact protection in the S80 by mounting the engines sideways – even the wide straight-six.

Volvo has deservedly won praise for its excellent Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) which is an option on the S80. Cameras mounted under each wing mirror detect vehicles moving into the drivers’ blind spot and a discreet light adjacent to the mirror glows if a car is there. It’s not a substitute for checking over your shoulder – but it’s an extra safety net that could save drivers from a costly mistake.

But some drivers may find the Intelligent Driver Information System (also optional) too intrusive – it can block incoming ‘phone calls or texts if it decides the driver is too preoccupied behind the wheel.

As you’d expect the S80 has a substantial complement of air bags and electronic driving safety systems.

9/10

9. Equipment

A deceptively powerful stereo nestles in the elegantly slim centre console. Continuing the interior theme of Scandinavian luxury the Dynaudio speakers sound fantastic – well defined with rich, deep bass. With MP3 compatibility via a standard 3.5mm connection in front storage box it’s a joy to use and listen to.

The equipment level even on the base S80 is excellent – dual-zone climate control, cruise control and 16-inch alloy wheels. It’s more than capable of giving the German opposition a run for their money.

A clever touch is the car’s ventilation system, which freshens the air inside the car as you unlock it on warm days – useful for the allergy-sensitive.

But in terms of high-end extras it can’t yet compete with the BMW 5 Series’ night vision and heads-up display.

9/10

10. X-Factor

Volvo has always equalled safety. But top-of-the-range cars like the S80 prove it’s a worthy competitor for the attentions of drivers looking for comfort and luxury.

If those are your top criteria for buying a car, then the S80 is definitely worth a test drive.

8/10

Rivals

You might also want to consider:

Saab 9-5 BioPower
Lexus LS460
Chrysler 300C

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