2012 Volvo S80
Starting MSRP $37,950–$45,650
Expert Reviews
By Cars.com Staff
Cars.com National July 6, 2011Vehicle Overview
Touting "Scandinavian luxury" as its defining attribute, Volvo's flagship sedan combines traditional Volvo lines with high-tech safety features typical of the brand. The S80 seats five, and all-wheel drive is available. Competitors include the BMW 528i, Audi A6 and Saab 9-5.
New for 2012
Volvo adds Premier Plus and Platinum trim levels for both the S80 3.2 and T6 models, expanding the lineup to six trims. Premier Plus features include front and rear parking sensors, a garage door opener, a compass in the rearview mirror and keyless start. The Platinum trim includes those features plus a premium stereo, navigation system and a backup camera. City Safety, which applies the brakes to avoid collisions at less than 19 mph, is a new standard feature, and a pedestrian detection system that automatically applies the brakes is a new option.
Exterior
Volvo says Scandinavian luxury is accessible, elegant and intelligent without being elitist. Volvo has shaken the boxy look it made famous by giving the S80 a curvier, sleeker appearance with a slightly sportier profile, yet still an unmistakably Volvo design. Exterior features include:
- Available 17- or 18-inch alloy wheels
- Standard power-operated heated side mirrors with integrated turn signals
- Optional rain-sensing windshield wipers
- Optional heated windshield-washer nozzles
- Optional headlight washers
- Optional xenon high-intensity-discharge headlights with articulating lenses
- Optional leather-covered dashboard
Interior
The S80's center controls sit on a thin metal panel pioneered in the S40 compact sedan. Luxurious touches include optional real wood trim with a wood-accented steering wheel. The back bench has a standard 60/40-split folding function for increased cargo capacity. Interior features include:
- Standard leather-wrapped steering wheel, shifter and brake handle
- Standard Bluetooth connectivity
- Optional moonroof
- Optional heated front and rear seats
- Optional ventilated front seats
- Available navigation system with real-time traffic info
Under the Hood
For 2011, Volvo cut back on the number of engine and drivetrain combinations available and is sticking with that plan for 2012. Mechanical features include:
- 240-horsepower, 3.2-liter six-cylinder (3.2)
- 300-hp, turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder (T6)
- Six-speed automatic transmission
- Front-wheel drive for 3.2, all-wheel drive for T6
Safety
In addition to the standard safety features, available features include a blind spot warning system, which checks adjacent lanes for unnoticed cars, a collision warning system that monitors the speed of traffic ahead and warns the driver of an impending rear-end collision, and pedestrian detection with automatic braking. Other safety features include:
- Standard side-impact and side curtain airbags
- Standard electronic stability system
- Standard antilock brakes with hydraulic brake assist
- Standard City Safety accident avoidance system
- Optional adaptive cruise control
- Optional lane departure warning system
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