Volvo S80 D5 SE Start/Stop 4dr Car Review - March 2012

The cabin interior is well designed in a typically Swedish minimalist way, with a three-tone colour scheme. Volvo’s trademark super-slim, centre console is present, but with an upmarket look more suitable for a car like the S80. The dash is logically laid out and all the switchgear has a nice quality feel to it. Finding the perfect driving position is easy thanks to the ample adjustments available on both steering wheel and driver’s seat and all round visibility is excellent.

This S80 D5 SE is fitted with Volvo’s 2.4-litre 212bhp 5-cylinder 20-valve diesel engine. Capable of a top speed of 143mph and 0-62mph in 7.9 seconds, it’s certainly rapid and powerful enough to cope with a car this size. There’s 309lb-ft of torque available low and mid-range making the S80 very responsive when overtaking. Average fuel economy is a very decent 57.7mpg and CO2 emissions a respectable 129g/km.

The S80’s suspension is set up for a comfortable drive rather than anything else and it does behave impeccably, providing a smooth, relaxing, limousine-like drive especially when cruising on the motorway. On twistier roads its firm suspension and body control are good, but it’s not as agile as some alternatives such as the BMW 5-Series. The steering, while precise and with driver programmable weighting, still lacks feel.

Overall, noise is well suppressed inside the cabin, although there’s some engine noise evident when it’s being worked hard.

While the exterior of the S80 may be nothing adventurous, the interior is everything you’d expect from Swedish designers and presents a top quality and pleasing travelling environment.

As you’d expect in a large executive saloon the S80 D5 SE comes very well equipped with remote-central-locking, DSTC stability control, 17-inch alloy wheels, climate control, electric door mirrors, electric windows, electrically adjustable driver’s seat, cruise control, rear parking sensor, leather seats, interior chrome trim, alarm, immobiliser, CD with MP3 connectivity and Bluetooth.

Volvo also offers as optional extras for the S80, metallic paint £640 and satellite navigation £525.

The S80 is supremely comfortable and accommodates five adults in luxury. Ample leg room is available for all passengers and automatic climate control is fitted as standard. Luggage space isn’t as generous as in some rivals, with just 422-litres available, but the boot is square and has a wide opening which makes bulkier items easier to carry.

As you’d expect from Volvo the S80 is one of the safest cars in this class, with lots of safety features. The usual airbags, side-impact bars and stability control are fitted as well as a head-up warning system which activates if the car is about to collide, and an auto braking system in which the car automatically performs an emergency braking procedure if it detects a low speed imminent impact and there is no driver reaction.

Volvo has an enviable reputation for quality and rates in the top ten for reliability and customer satisfaction. While the mechanicals and many components in the S80 are well tried and tested there are a lot of high-tech systems in the car that are still relatively new.

Volvo covers the S80 with its three-year 60,000 mile warranty and regular servicing intervals are every 18,000 miles.

The Volvo S80 D5 SE doesn’t come cheap at £31,385. However, it’s more affordable than some of its rivals and does offer much of what they do, for a lot less. Discounts should be available if you buy new from a dealer, although the D5 SE is one of the most popular in the range.

Residual values for the S80 are not as good as its German competitors so be prepared to hang on to it for a while, or even consider it as a used buy to avoid the steep depreciation.

Running costs are typical for a car in this class. Insurance is in group 32, and thanks to its low emissions Road Tax is in VED Band D.