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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  Volvos Reliability Vampire - 1999 Volvo S80
  By teamsc10190 - May 4 - 10:00 am

  The Volvo S80 is a beautiful car with traditional Volvo virtues. Unfortunately it became apparent in short order that Volvo neglected to finish development before they released the car to market. The car is filled with substandard materials, and design, parts, and build defects. Clearly Volvo was more concerned with short-term profit than the welfare and retention of customers. While the car is a pleasure to drive when its working, its a short lived pleasure because the breakdowns are reliably frequent. Routinely shedding parts like a snake sheds skins, this car is a service nightmare.

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  In one word: "Unreliable " - 2001 Volvo S80
  By michaeloo - April 28 - 7:13 pm

  Unreliable and poor build quality describe this car. Always something going wrong on it. Consumes too much oil. Enough to catch you by surprise. 7500 miles intervals is not enough for a bi-turbo car. How could Volvo suggest such long intervals?? Torque steer in this class is simply unheard of. But the S80 has it by the loads. Dont buy this car. Stereo is poor. Cup holders are a joke.

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  Thrilled - 2004 Volvo S80
  By TerryDB - April 23 - 10:00 am

  I love everything about this car. From the performance (starting and stopping), to the beauty (interior and exterior), to the comfortable quiet ride.

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  Very pleased - 2002 Volvo S80
  By pete - April 9 - 10:00 am

  excellent vehicle - comfortable interior and fantastic off the line

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  Very pleased - 2002 Volvo S80
  By Pete - April 9 - 10:00 am

  excellent vehicle - comfortable interior and fantastic off the line

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  Worst Vehicle Every Purchased - 2000 Volvo S80
  By Brian - April 8 - 7:43 am

  Probably in the top 5 worst cars every made. 7yr old car, with 89k mi. Here is the short list: Warning lights constantly going off. Engine constatnly surges, even after multiple trips to dealer, multi software downloads and new throttle installed. Transmission is slipping. ABS system failed. Already replaced front bushings, struts, strut mounts and bearings. After 2nd set of new rotors, still vibrates like crazy when stopping. Cloth interior drooping, seats cracking. Sunroof brackets coming off. Headlight assembly is bad. AC fan vibrates and makes noise. Incredible depreciation rate! Owe $6500 on car and will have to put $3 to $5k to fix tranmission. Volvo wont help! Warranty ended in 06.

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  You should be warned - 1999 Volvo S80
  By Jon - March 27 - 1:06 am

  My wife and I had thought this was the car of the ages. We were looking forward to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd badge. As we approach the 1st badge(100K) we must again drive 120 miles to our neighborhood Volvo dealer to be told my control module computer is out(3rd one) and it will be $800 for est repairs and no the unit is not warranted. If you read the posts they speak for themselves. A great car to drive but a nightmare to own. Someone should be slapped for letting this thing out to the market place. I should have bought the Maxima at the time. I could have bought a new maxima this year with the money I would have saved over the last 6 years.

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  Get used to BAD NEWS! - 1999 Volvo S80
  By jjarnold - March 24 - 11:13 am

  This has to be the worst excuse for a "luxury" car I have ever experienced. Engine seals and gaskets replaced at 60,000 miles ($1,500)- Wheel bearings and tie rods replaced at 75,000 miles ($800) - Driver side power window fell off the track at 70,000 miles ($400) - Throttle sensor replaced 80,000 miles- ($1,200) Now I have more noises coming from the front end and I fear another trip to the Volvo dealer so I can pay $80+ an hour for them to fix this monster that they created. They are kind enough to give me a 10% discount on the repairs. What a relief!!? Never another Volvo in my future - could this be related to Ford now owning this once fine company? I will continue to spread the word!

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  OK if dealer supports - 1999 Volvo S80
  By jaego - March 22 - 10:00 am

  Have had insurmountable problems with am radio reception which still is not fixed. Had transmission replaced at 50000 and some strut at 25,000. Some rattles. Is safe as I T-boned a lady who ran a red light at 35mph and felt I had been hit harder by my 12 year old son. The car took a punch but the overall experience with dealer and radio has made it less than desireable.

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  What has happened to Volvo Quality - 2000 Volvo S80
  By MDB51 - March 16 - 12:10 pm

  This was my second Volvo. My first was a 1994 that was great. I looked foreward to the 2000 S-80. Intially it was fine, I do put a lot of miles on my cars but I also religiously keep them serviced too. It seemed that after the warrently was up everthing seemed to go bad. My biggest problem was first my right front wheel assembly collapsed to the tune of about $3000. Then a year later the left side collapsed-the same amount. I heard there was a factory recall on U joints and I suspect that I was not the only one to have this problem. The front under trim kept falling off. I finally got rid of it for a Mercedes which still has quality in their cars.