Volvo S80: Driving the Viking flagship

MANILA, Philippines - The last time I test-drove a new Volvo, it was the then-new Volvo C30 – a.k.a. the Twilight vampire car. Fast forward a little more than a year later and my next Volvo test drive is the polar opposite of that sporty 3-door hatchback. This time around, Volvo let me loose in the big daddy of its passenger car range, the curvaceous S80.

As European luxury sedans go, the models from Goteborg, Sweden are a bit of an odd size relative to their German counterparts. While Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz have virtually identically sized models in each of the compact, midsize, and large sedan categories, Volvo’s sedan offerings (S40, S60 and S80) slot in between those three size classes.

Which can be a good thing if you’re the “glass is half-full” kind of person. Take the S80, for example. The Viking leader is closer in size to a BMW 5-series (the Swedish sedan is actually 10mm longer) but is priced much closer to the BMW 3-series.

The S80 2.5T retails for P3.25 million. In contrast, the BMW 5-series start at P4 million while the Mercedes E-class, which is just 5mm longer than the S80, starts at P3.98 million.

At the S80’s price range, you’ll find yourself in a BMW 320i (P2.99 million) or a BMW 325i (P3.45 million). Go for a Mercedes C-class and you’ll be looking at the P2.98 million C200. (Prices are based on published SRPs.) Both German sedans are a full foot shorter and much narrower than the S80 with much less legroom, elbowroom and trunk space compared to the Volvo.

At that price point, the German sedans, regardless of whether you get the C- or E-class or the 3- or 5-series, are severely outgunned as well in the horsepower department.

That’s because the S80 packs a turbocharged, 2.5-liter 5-cylinder, twin-cam 20-valve engine developing 200 hp at 4800 rpm and 300 Nm of torque spread evenly from as low as 1,500 rpm all the way to 4,500 rpm. Again at said price point, the most that the S80’s rivals can muster is 184 hp and much less torque.

Neither is the S80 lacking in the drivetrain department, as the S80 boasts a state-of-the-art 6-speed automatic gearbox with Volvo’s Geartronic manumatic shifting feature.

Being a Volvo, there is certainly no shortage of safety features, with the S80 offering dual front airbags, side-impact airbags, and inflatable side curtains. For active safety, it has ABS, Dynamic Stability Traction Control (DSTC), Brake Assist (BA), and Ready Alert Brakes (RAB), the latter priming the brakes by moving the brake pads closer to the brake discs when the computer senses an abrupt lift of the driver’s foot from the accelerator pedal (signaling a possible emergency situation) for faster braking response.

The S80’s doors even automatically unlock after a crash to aid rescuers. Occupants are further protected by Volvo’s Side Impact Protection System (SIPS) and Whiplash Protection Seating System (WHIPS).

People who plunk down 3 million bucks would probably be more interested in the S80’s luxury features, however. They won’t be disappointed.

First off, the S80 pampers its occupants with creamy, soft leather on the seats, doors, steering wheel and just about every surface the occupants can touch. Rich wood trim is used to accent the spacious cabin. The S80 also boasts Volvo’s artful free-floating center console. If you appreciate IKEA furniture, you’ll be right at home inside the S80.

It’s got an Engine Start/Stop push button, power-adjustable front seats with memory feature, audio and cruise controls on the steering wheel, auto-dimming rearview mirror, B-pillar-mounted aircon vents for the rear passengers, dual-zone climate control, power-folding rear headrests (to aid rearward visibility when there are no rear passengers), and even a cabin air filtering system.

Music lovers will appreciate its premium 8-speaker, 6-disc in-dash CD changer/AM/FM/MP3 player with AUX input and headphone jack.

Externally, it’s got auto-leveling bi-xenon headlamps, a rain sensor, headlamp washers, water-repellant glass and side mirrors, power retractable side mirrors with “puddle” lights, and a rear parking assist system.

Performance? Suffice to say that the riding comfort, always a Volvo strong suit, is right up there with the best of the Germans. Straight-line performance, thanks to its higher horsepower, is easily the best in its price range (and even beyond).

Almost all Volvo sedans are front-wheel-driven, so understeer is the prevailing trait, especially when probing the car’s limits. The S80 rides on McPherson struts in front and a multilink setup at the rear. Braking performance, needless to say, is exemplary. BMWs are still the best luxury sedans to take on a track day, but if everyday driving or riding comfort is at the top of your list, then you can do much worse than choosing a Volvo.

The Good

• Understatedly elegant styling

• Gobs of luxury and safety features

• Class-leading engine power

• Terrific value for money

The Bad

• Styling might be too understated for some

The Verdict

• At its price, simply the best luxury sedan on the market.