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:

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  The Volvo That Caught Fire - 2003 Volvo S80
  By Michelle V - April 30 - 1:02 am

  Fell in love with this car, spent about 3,000$ on repairs and rode like new. Beautiful car and fun ride. After owning used car for ~2 months, it caught on fire while i was driving and melted the hood shut and totaled the entire front compartment, and the car. Fire rescue couldnt determine cause. Be careful in this car.

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  Very dissapointed - 2004 Volvo S80
  By dbaill - March 14 - 12:28 pm

  I bought my volvo 8 years ago. I have fixed this car so many times. Fixed windows not working three time, motor mount broke, throttle body needed cleaning, lights quit working, I owned three different toyota vehicle and put over 150,000 on each and have not had problems like this in any one of them. Would never ever buy another one

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  Great Car Until It Breaks - 2000 Volvo S80
  By Sportscarnut - February 6 - 2:10 am

  Had my S80 T6 for 18 months from 22K to 40K miles. During that time, the following failed or broke: upper strut mounts (2), oxygen sensor, mass flow sensor, motor mount, lower control arm, strut assembly, front brake rotors, ABS control unit, turbo oil return line, dashboard clock, ignition switch, turn signal switch, headlight assembly, exterior trim piece, door trim piece, etc., etc. Additionally, when I sold it, one of the turbos was blowing oil and the transmission shifts had gotten mushy (neither of which the dealership was willing to correct). Other than that, it was the best car you could ever own. It was fast, handled great, and was very comfortable. It also got about 20 mpg.

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  Never again... - 2000 Volvo S80
  By lemonvolvo - February 2 - 6:40 am

  Bought 4 years old with 27k on it. 55k miles now. Know why the low miles, spent most of its life in for repairs. I spent $1200 on new shift solenoid per Volvo, which didnt fix 2nd to 3rd gear shudder. Then told me only remedy is $3500 new tranny. Didnt do that yet. Numerous phantom electrical problems. Repeated trips to clear codes, with a minimum $50 charge each time. If you are thinking of buying this model year, run away as fast as you can. See message boards and reviews. Ford didnt even own Volvo yet, so cant lay blame there. But it is a GM tranny, go figure. Will never buy another Volvo, have owned 17 vehicles in 35 years, this is worst buy far, more problems than all others combined

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  Lemon - 2000 Volvo S80
  By 1bigagent - January 26 - 10:00 am

  The S-80 is avery comfortable and good looking veh, but it has been the most unreliable veh I have ever owned, in the last 3 years the car has been in the shop over a dozen times, and for weeks at a time. The head gasket blew at 4000 miles, the electrical system, a nightmare, the transmission does not function properly. All of this Volvo acknowleges, but they will not step up to the plate and get me out of a lease that only has 3 months remaining. My car is currently in the shop and has been for the past week and a half. I will never buy another Volvo!

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  Waste of money - 2000 Volvo S80
  By Jenn - January 24 - 10:23 pm

  I bought this car used 4 months ago and have brought it back to the dealer 3 times for repairs including faulty locks, broken heater fan, shocks, constant stalling while driving, gloppy engine oil, throttle replacement. Its a total lemon. Dont buy one!

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  Its a Ford! - 2000 Volvo S80
  By Its a Ford! - November 22 - 10:00 am

  All complaints posted apply to my auto too! Buy the extended warranty. Maybe the numerous "kinks" will be out of the car by 50K. Having logged as many as 8-16 annual trips to the dealer for repairs, why take a chance? I bought the warranty, at 45k. When not in the shop, the car is a dream to drive. Repairs major:38k mi. slow down on the freeway = throttle etc; noisy suspension = motor mounts,struts,etc.. Minor annoyances:door lock, steering wheel adjustment failures/breakage. Brakes wear fast 3-front,1 rear replaced before 40k;tires too -nope not the driver, its the car (soft, safe Volvo brakes, heavy car (note the motor mount failures).

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  NOT SAFE AT ANY SPEED AFTER 4OK MILES - 2001 Volvo S80
  By Garden State Volvo - October 14 - 2:00 am

  car literally started falling apart after 40K miles. Worst experience was electronic throttle die at 75 MPH, engin eshut down, leaving rocketing down the parkway without any STEERING. Beyond that, car required major egition, air pump/valve, and suspension repairs before 48K. Interior parts are cheap plastic that break regularly...replaced cup holders, air vents, radio face, and center console. Finally, rear visibility is horrible. Most of rear quarter panel and lights is totally blind....thank god I dont live near little children!!! Definetly not in the league with Lexus and Acura

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  Dont buy - 2000 Volvo S80
  By S80T6 - September 23 - 4:56 am

  Fast and good gas mileage. Absolutely terrible reliability. Many expensive suspension problems. Power window motors fail commonly and are expensive to repair. Averaging over $1200/year in repair costs plus normal maintenance. A real lemon

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  Money pit and headaches - 1999 Volvo S80
  By WhyHom - September 2 - 2:00 am

  Small things at first, like bad AM reception on the radio. Even a Kia gets AM radio. Had it in 4 times to get it fixed. Front end kept getting knocked out of alignment, even with no rough driving or potholes. The tires cost $1000 for a set. Then, major stuff started happening. Oil leaks, turbo seals, valves, radiator problem that involved a $900 part. All this before 35000 miles. Engine light keeps going on and the mechanic keeps telling me to ignore it. These headaches dont make up for the fun driving it. Reliability is a big thing to me. Im buying a Toyota.