The thinking man’s luxury car

When most Filipinos think of luxury cars, the words "Mercedes-Benz" instantly come to mind. "BMW" would be a close second. In the words popularized by Harvard grads, these choices would be "no-brainers." Especially to those who wish to make an "aspirational" purchase, to use another Gen X marketing term.

But for those who already have the wherewithal and to whom ostentatious status symbols are only for those who wish to climb the social ladder, there is a genuinely legitimate alternative that could only come from the snowy climes of Scandanavia - Volvo.

Of course, Volvos have always been status symbols in their own right. Window stickers that start way above the P1 million mark and approach the P3 million stratosphere (depending on the model) automatically do that. But unlike its German counterparts, Volvo does not have production models that command P8-10 million price tags.

What the carmaker from Goteborg, Sweden does have is an array of intelligently designed luxury sedans that, in recent years, have been morphing into absolutely sexy shapes the likes of which used to be seen only in cars from Bavaria.

The transformation from staid sedan to sexy Swede began with the S80. Volvo’s aptly named Viking Cars dealership in Pasong Tamo Ext. sells this flagship model for P2.625 million.

Gone are the boxy shapes, straight lines and sharp angles of previous Volvos. In their place is a truly sensuous roofline, a sharply raked windshield and rear backlight, a masculine hoodline and bulge that connotes power, and – in what is becoming a Volvo styling signature – a prominent "shoulder" that’s easily seen from the front or the rear of the car.

All these elements combine to make what is really a fairly large car in the flesh look deceivingly small in pictures – a styling success. The overall impression is that of a suited executive who’s actually a decathlete – stylishly formal yet ready underlyingly sporty.

Thankfully, the folks from Sweden fitted the front-wheel-drive S80 with a robust 2.0-liter 5-cylinder 20-valve turbocharged engine that develops 180 bhp at 5300 rpm and 240 N-m at a broad spread from 2200-5300 rpm. Two liters might seem small for a car as large as the S80 but in normal city driving — and thanks to the turbo - it’s enough to send the sedan scurrying (to a claimed 0-100 kph sprint in 9.8 seconds) with small prods on the accelerator. Keep your foot down and the S80 will take you to its claimed top speed of 200 kph.

Performance fanatics can order the fabulous S80 T6, whose six cylinders, 2.8 liters, twin turbos, 272 hp (and whopping 380 N-m of torque) can take you from 0 to 100 kph in 7 seconds and on to a 250 kph terminal velocity. That car retails for P3.8 million. Not bad for a large luxury sedan that’s almost half the cost of a Porsche Boxster but only a second slower in 0-100 kph acceleration.

The 5-speed automatic transmission abets the car’s forward progress with responsive yet smooth shifts – every bit as smooth as in cars costing two or even three times more.

Ride and handling, courtesy of front struts, rear multi-links and a very stiff chassis, conform to traditional luxury car philosophy. Smooth and supple even on rough roads but reassuringly stable when pressed in corners. Inside, the cabin is a veritable isolation chamber with very low levels of NVH (noise/vibration/harshness). Interior materials and overall fit-and-finish are absolutely top notch.

Like any top-of-the-line model, the S80 boasts of a lengthy list of features and amenities: power everything (including seats), electrically foldable rear headrests, a Dolby Surround Pro Logic audio system with in-dash CD, a 10-disc CD changer and 8 speakers, B-pillar aircon vents, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, supple leather upholstery (a welcome change from the vinyl-feeling hard leather of most Japanese cars), the de rigeur wood trim, to name a few.

Safety, of course, is almost a Volvo trademark. Here’s a rundown on some of the S80’s key safety systems: Volvo’s patented Side Impact Protection System (SIPS), inflatable curtains (IC) to prevent head injuries in side collisions, Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS) that automatically moves the head restraints forward when the car is rear-ended, side airbags, dual front airbags, pyrotechnic pre-tensioners for all seatbelts, Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS.

All things considered, the Volvo S80 deserves a close look when shopping for a large luxury sedan. It presents a strong case — especially when you consider pricing - against its German rivals, the BMW 5-series, the Mercedes E-class and the Audi A6.