Safe ’n Sexy
Volvo’s new S80 makes itself known in the competitive import luxury market

ELEGANT. Sophisticated. Luxurious. Sexy. You’d think with descriptions like these that we’d be describing the newest flashy car from Italy or Germany. But in this case it’s Volvo, that manufacturer of safe but hardly sophisticated automobiles.

That’s all changed with the introduction of the S80, Volvo’s newest flagship. This ugly duckling, though safe and responsible, has grown up to become a safe but sexy and suave swan.

Power is provided by a 2.9 liter 24-valve in-line six, rated at 197 horsepower at 6000 rpm. The engine is willing to get the Volvo from 0-60, but its overly high curbweight of nearly 3,600 pounds keeps the car in the middle of the pack, acceleration speaking. (An optional 268-bhm turbocharged 2.8 litre in-line six can really get the juices flowing!) The transmission is an electronically controlled four-speed automatic.

The suspension, a combination of MacPherson struts up front and a multi-link, full independent system in the back, gives the driver a refined and acceptable ride. A turn on a country road isn’t out of the question, though the Volvo conveys a more somber than spirited sense than competitors from Lexus or BMW. The large 16-inch wheels with all-season radials give a good mix of comfort and performance. The standard four wheel disc brakes with ABS give straight and true stopping distances.

Plenty of head and leg room abound, a result of the clever body design. The interior is a testament to European minimalism, focusing only on the necessary with everything closely positioned to driver and passenger. The appointments are what’s expected in entry-level luxury: leather seating, wood trim, stereo cassette with optional Dolby Pro-Logic surround sound CD changer. Other less common options come standard, like a three-filter, dual-automatic climate control system that removes the pollen, soot and debris from the air.

The Volvo lineage truly shines in the standard safety features, including its WHIPS system, an anti-whiplash design incorporated into the front seats, and a full-length inflatable side curtains to protect the passenger’s heads. The car has also received the government’s five-star safety rating, the highest score available.

Looking at the S 80, I had to keep reminding myself that I was behind the wheel of a Volvo. The car takes many cues from the Scandinavian market: efficient styling and performance combined with European comfort and luxury. Volvo has finally distinguished itself in one of the most hotly contested automobile markets.

Chris Taylor is managing director of The Lane Report and an auto enthusiast.

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