Overview & Reviews

Among luxury sedans, the Volvo S80 has always been something of an alternative choice. Through two generations, Volvo's largest sedan has spurned outright luxury and serious performance in favor of cutting-edge safety features and in-cabin technology. And, in a class dominated by rear-drive sedans, Volvo continues to tout the virtues of front-wheel drive, while offering all-wheel drive as an option.

There are plenty of premium-brand sedans that feel more upscale than the S80. There are just as many that surpass its balance and grip on a winding back road. Yet the Volvo S80 is certainly one of the safest cars money can buy. It also boasts some of the industry's most supportive seats.

For luxury sedan buyers whose tastes diverge from the mainstream, the Volvo S80 is an interesting car to consider. And with a price tag that undercuts many European and Japanese-brand competitors, it can be a sensible option as well.

Current Volvo S80
Despite its appearance, the Volvo S80 is only midsize in dimensions, which means it can seat four adults comfortably but doesn't have yards of legroom to spare. It's about the same size as the Acura RL, the competitor it most closely resembles in personality and performance.

There are two versions of the S80. The entry-level S80 3.2 is front-wheel drive and is adequately motivated by a 3.2-liter inline six-cylinder with 240 horsepower. Buyers seeking performance more befitting a luxury car will undoubtedly prefer the S80 T6, which uses a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 good for 300 hp. It uses the same six-speed transmission as the base S80, but power goes to all four wheels via a standard all-wheel-drive system.

Both Volvo S80s come standard with the usual luxury amenities, including leather upholstery, wood trim, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, power-adjustable seats and dual-zone automatic climate control. Major options include front/rear park assist, heated front and rear seats, an excellent 12-speaker sound system, a navigation system, a rearview camera, a dual-screen rear entertainment system and (T6 only) a sport-tuned suspension.

On the safety front, the blind spot warning system and collision warning system (bundled with adaptive cruise control) are worthwhile options for long-distance commuters to consider. The City Safety system -- which can detect an impending low-speed collision and then automatically apply the brakes to avoid or minimize it -- is standard. Although the Personal Car Communicator (PCC) is basically a glorified security system, its transponder has a heartbeat sensor to let you know if someone is still in your Volvo after the alarm has been activated.

Useful features like these are the main reasons someone might want to buy a Volvo S80. The utter comfort of the front seats and a reasonable price tag are additional points in the car's favor. In other respects, though, the Volvo S80 comes across as tepid compared to its luxury sedan rivals. It rides comfortably, handles predictably and stops short, but otherwise does little to engage its driver. And although its cabin has all the expected amenities, it lacks the unrestrained elegance and exacting quality of competitors' interiors.

Used Volvo S80 Models
The current S80 represents the second-generation Volvo S80 that debuted for the 2007 model year. Although it didn't change drastically in size or appearance compared to the first-generation model, this newer S80 moved to an all-new platform and adopted a new pair of engines -- the base inline-6 and the V8 -- not to mention an impressive array of safety technology. At the time, the available 4.4-liter V8 produced 311 hp.

The following year saw the addition of the turbocharged inline-6, then rated at 281 hp. Strangely for a luxury sedan, the S80 didn't offer standard Bluetooth or xenon headlamps prior to '09. A mild face-lift with a revised grille (sporting a much larger Volvo logo) and chrome accents took place for '10, which would also be the last year for the V8 model. For 2011, the remaining two versions got slight power increases (the base version from 235 to 240 hp and the T6 from 281 to 300 hp). Not much has changed since, apart from those earlier S80s lacking the current version's newly standard Bluetooth audio, multifunction color monitor and City Safety system.

Driving enthusiasts should also know that the S80 V8 could originally be equipped with a Sport package, which provided 18-inch wheels, Volvo's sport-tuned "Four-C" adaptive suspension, speed-sensitive power steering and ventilated front seats. These items became stand-alone options on the V8 for 2010, while the sport suspension could be had on the T6 via a new Dynamic package.

Prior to this, Volvo sold the first-generation S80 from 1999-2006. This car was similar in dimensions and focus to today's S80. It heralded a new styling direction for Volvo's sedans, as its curvy body lines were a dramatic break from the company's boxy designs of the '80s and '90s. Even today, the original S80 has a Scandinavian coolness that keeps it from looking dated. However, significant concerns about reliability have driven down its resale value -- good for bargain hunters, but not so much for owners.

Volvo offered the S80 with three different engines, two of them turbocharged. The most interesting of these was the T6, a twin-turbo inline six-cylinder rated for 268 horsepower. (Initially, the T6 displaced 2.8 liters; in 2002, Volvo enlarged it to 2.9 liters with no change in output.) Volvo claimed a 6.8-second 0-60 time for the S80 T6, but even with a standard four-speed automatic transmission driving the front wheels, the car felt quicker than that. Serious torque steer was the major knock against the T6 model. Volvo discontinued it after 2005.

From 1999-2004, a naturally aspirated 2.9-liter inline six-cylinder good for 197 hp motivated the base Volvo S80. It, too, was available only with a four-speed automatic and only with front-wheel drive. In 2004, a turbocharged 2.5-liter inline five-cylinder known as the 2.5T joined the lineup. Rated for 208 hp, it offered significantly more torque than the 2.9-liter, while engaging the services of a more sophisticated five-speed automatic transmission. The 2.5T was the only engine that could be had with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. And in '06, it was the only engine you could get on the S80.

Acceleration was modest with either of the lesser engines, but otherwise the driving experience was agreeable in the S80, with a comfortable ride and sure-footed handling. Those seeking added control should look for an S80 with the Four-C adaptive suspension, which was offered as an option on 2004 and later models. Dual-zone automatic climate control, a CD audio system and a telescoping steering wheel were standard throughout the run. Options ran the gamut in the first-gen Volvo S80. In addition to expected items like a navigation system (DVD-based from '02 onward), a high-quality Dolby sound system and xenon headlamps ('02 and up), Volvo offered a rear-seat refrigerator, a dual-screen entertainment system and even a fax machine ('01 only) in certain high-line T6 models, which were called Executive, Elite or Premier depending on the model year.

Still, the best reason to consider buying a used Volvo S80 is its high level of safety. It earned five stars in all government-administered front- and side-impact crash tests, as well as a "Good" rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Additionally, a full menu of side airbags and dynamic front head restraints were standard throughout its eight-year run. The one feature to pay attention to is stability control: It was standard on T6 models but optional on all other S80s.

User Reviews:

• 

  Finally a Great Car! - 1999 Volvo S80
  By Nice_One - July 21 - 2:00 am

  My S80 is a T6 and I just love it! Approaching 80,000 miles and no complaints on this car. One of the nicest cars to drive or to even be a passenger in. So comfortable and so fast! I had a couple initial problems after I bought the car (covered by warranty). The dealer upgraded the software in the car and after that I never had a single problem. Absolutely nothing at all! The dealer says the upgrade is offered free of charge and only has to be done to the car once and never again. Some people just dont get it done and would rather complain about poor reliability. Wake up people, it only takes a few minutes for them to do. This car is great!

• 

  s80 - 2004 Volvo S80
  By shelbis1 - July 21 - 2:00 am

  I always wanted Volvo due to the fact it is the safest car on the road. When I finally test drove it I was shocked at what a pleasure it was to drive as well. I would recommend this car to anyone.

• 

  LUXURY WITH POWER - 2000 Volvo S80
  By mrsly - July 20 - 10:00 am

  A great car. Accelerates on the fly...Quite, awesome sound system...Very comfortable on long trips.....A great overall value.

• 

  What a great car! - 2006 Volvo S80
  By stan - July 17 - 12:56 pm

  I loved the interior design and features, like heated seats, separate right-left heating controls, etc., but I really fell in love when I drove the car. Acceleration is excellent; reminds me of a Chevy 350-4 barrel v-8 I once had. Road feel, suspension and braking are outstanding. Owning this car makes me feel like I just want to hit the road and throw it around a road course. It makes driving fun again.

• 

  S80 T6 after four years: Still happy - 2000 Volvo S80
  By jarchdeacon - July 4 - 10:00 am

  Our 2000 S80 T6 has over 70,000 miles and still feels and drives like a new car. Im very pleased with this car. Note that I did purchase the extended warranty (up to 100K miles) from Volvo which turned out to be a good idea (it has paid for itself). After the 50,000 mile warranty expired, Ive had to replace some DSTC parts, NAV system parts, and so on) all of which were adequately covered by the Volvo VIP plan. I will consider another S80 purchase in the future.

• 

  Great car for your money!!! - 2000 Volvo S80
  By IanRomines - June 30 - 6:16 am

  I guess with all cars you get bad ones and good ones. Mine was a good one I cant believe I can drive a luxury Vehicle for less than $8000. I have never sat in a seat so comfortable in this Volvo. You have so much power it feels like you can do anything. It surprises me that cars were this stylish in the mid 2000s its like nothing else on the road. I love my Volvo and will keep it for a very long time.

• 

  Very happy even years later - 2004 Volvo S80
  By BWS2010 - June 22 - 7:30 pm

  Its unfortunate that these other owners have had a lot of problems. I have had very little problems. My cig lighter will blow every once in a while, but its when Im running 2 chargers at the same time so I just keep extra 20 AMP fuses in the car. The drink holders are no the best designs, but overall I have had no serious problems.

• 

  Great Car - 1999 Volvo S80
  By Chris Furman - June 18 - 11:20 pm

  So Far Ive put on over 10,000 miles on car without any troubles at all. Very comfortable, fast, reliable, and enjoyable. The European Technology in 1999 is beyond compare to Domestic cars today. Very affordable when looking for luxury and reliability. Great fuel economy as well. Im averaging around 27 mixing the city and highway travel. Non-stop highway Im averaging about 32mpg. I didnt think that was to bad for a 3600 pound car. I hope this helps if youre thinking about buying this model car.

• 

  Great Car! - 2007 Volvo S80
  By twindy - June 16 - 5:00 pm

  This is my second S80. This car is very quiet, handles great, super turning radius, fun to drive.

• 

  The Best! - 1999 Volvo S80
  By KingNight - June 15 - 10:00 am

  Having owned several luxury cars over the years, Ive had my chance to really test them. My S80 is a 1999 and has roughly 60,000 miles on it. Only problem was a side light that fell out. Dealer replaced with the new revised part and said it should never happen again. So far it hasnt. Other than regular maintenance (very reasonably priced w/dealer) no problems to report at all. Its a wonderful vehicle and so solid. The seats are the best Ive ever found. I used to own a Lexus LS400. That car was great too! Its a toss up between which of these I like better. The Volvo S80 T6 (twin turbo) will blow them all away though!