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2007
Volvo S80

Starts at:
$38,705
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Available trims

See the differences side-by-side to compare trims.
  • 4dr Sdn I6 FWD
    Starts at
    $38,705
    5
    Seat capacity
    -
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn I6 FWD
    Starts at
    $38,705
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas I6
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn V8 AWD
    Starts at
    $47,350
    5
    Seat capacity
    -
    Engine
    All Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn V8 AWD
    Starts at
    $47,350
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas V8
    Engine
    All Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs

Photo & video gallery

2007 Volvo S80 2007 Volvo S80 2007 Volvo S80 2007 Volvo S80 2007 Volvo S80 2007 Volvo S80 2007 Volvo S80 2007 Volvo S80 2007 Volvo S80 2007 Volvo S80 2007 Volvo S80 2007 Volvo S80 2007 Volvo S80 2007 Volvo S80 2007 Volvo S80 2007 Volvo S80 2007 Volvo S80 2007 Volvo S80 2007 Volvo S80 2007 Volvo S80 2007 Volvo S80 2007 Volvo S80

Notable features

Heartbeat sensor
Enlarged grille

The good & the bad

The good

New V-8 engine
New, sleeker front-end
More legroom

The bad

Price

Expert 2007 Volvo S80 review

our expert's take
Our expert's take
By Dan Neil
Full article
our expert's take


AS it happens, I have driven a car billed as the “World’s Fastest Volvo.” It was a late-’70s 242 GT with a 900-hp Chevy big-block V8 punched through the hood, a transbrake, full cage, trac bars and monster slicks. Some crazed digger in Tennessee decided it would be a good idea. Alas, not really.

So I wasn’t panting to drive the 2007 Volvo S80, the second generation of the company’s flagship and its first sedan with an optional V8 (the base engine is a 3.2-liter inline six). Given Volvo’s distinguished history of smaller displacement and turbocharged engines, and its core values – a kind of rounded reasonableness in every direction – I figured the S80 V8 was only a bid for the Ugly American market.

Well, I have driven the car and I love it, so what does that make me? Our maximally equipped S80 test car – with the Yamaha-built, 4.4-liter V8 crammed under the fluted hood – is just a spectacular sedan, a tone poem of Scandinavian chic and safety in the key of V. In a category ($50,000-ish executive sedans) full of wonderful cars – the Acura RL, the BMW 5-series, Audi A6, Lexus GS 450, Infiniti M45 – the big Volvo draws even with the best of them.

Why so great? Listen up, car makers. It’s all about clarity.

Hard as it might be for some to believe, Ford’s corporate stewardship (since 1999) of Volvo has been a very good thing. As it did with recently divested Aston Martin, Ford has kept its distance from Volvo, coordinating platforms and sharing subsystems where it made sense (the S80’s all-wheel-drive uses the Haldex differential that appears in the Land Rover LR2) but allowing Gothenburg to steer its own course. Volvo has been left free to develop a distinctive corporate identity with a consonance and harmony that rival BMW’s.

This is most obviously true in the portfolio’s styling language – the gently chamfered shoulder lines that run from nose to tail, the light taper at the trunk lid, the rake of the windshield – but it reaches down into some of the subtlest tactile signals these cars give out: the heft and weight of the steering, the machined precision of the switchgear, the conformation of the seats. The S80 – like the coming-soon C30 coupe, some $20,000 cheaper – uses the distinctive central console for the audio and climate systems, a graceful bit of Nordic design to rival bentwood furniture.

Above all, the S80 feels safe. As in, one of those things with a combination lock and the word Diebold on it. A point of personal privilege here: There is an excellent chance that my wife and I are going to have a couple of children in the next year, and I have to tell you that fact seems to have transformed my appreciation for Volvos. It’s sort of like an automotive nesting instinct. Anyway, the S80’s immanent, bronze-cast solidity is very appealing. The car is heavy, to be sure – 4,065 pounds with a V8 engine – but it feels like it’s got nuclear survivability.

The S80’s complement of standard safety gear includes front, side and side-curtain air bags and front knee bolsters; five padded head restraints; tire-pressure monitoring system; Volvo’s whiplash protection seats (WHIPS); and the additional side structure to protect the passenger cell (SIPS). All the smart brake technology, traction and stability control you could want are built in.

The Volvo also has smart taillights that flash to alert drivers of a panic stop. Our full-boat tester included a raft of safety options: the BLIS Blind Spot Information System ($595), which uses mirror-mounted sensors to scan the rear periphery and alert drivers with door-mounted indicators; the parking-assist system ($495); and the adaptive cruise control with collision warning and brake support ($1,495).

You may have seen the S80 commercial in which the driver and his wife are out for a late-night run to Pink’s hot dog stand. He’s not looking where he’s going and runs up on a slower vehicle. The system flashes. She laughs and looks at him lovingly. Not in real life she doesn’t.

Attuned to the fact that women think of safety not just in terms of crash protection but personal security, Volvo offers the optional Personal Car Communicator (PCC), a high-tech keyless entry device that tells you if the car’s alarm has been activated while you’re away; the car even has a heartbeat sensor to tell you if anyone is hiding in the car. Cool.

Volvo sedans once had a reputation for being kind of solemn and lubberly to drive. The S80 V8 should put a stake in that idea. This is a powerful, fluid and agile car. Of course, it helps that our test car was shod with Pirelli P-Zero 245/40 18’s, Z-rated tires that would make a dump truck corner. The tires are part of the Sport/ZUBRA package, which includes speed-sensitive steering and the adjustable damping chassis. The Comfort suspension setting is just that, while the Advanced setting gives the car a tensed and confident cornering posture. The V8 spins the dial to 311 hp and 325 pound-feet of torque at 3,950 rpm. Fed through the leggy Geartronic six-speed, the engine is capable of pushing the car along at 80 mph at a whispering 2,400 rpm. Onramp acceleration is quite sufficient to put you in triple digits before the merge lane ends.

So now I have to reorder my favorite cars in this class. The Volvo – which has the added advantage of being neither German nor Japanese, a nonaligned nation in a segment where nationality matters to a lot of buyers – nudges the Acura RL from the top spot. Coolly Euro, quietly indifferent to its competitors, understated and overachieving, this V8 powered son of Gothenburg is most definitely a good idea.

*

—————– dan.neil@latimes.com

*

(INFOBOX BELOW)

2007 Volvo S80 V8

Base price: $48,045

Price, as tested: $58,490

Powertrain: 4.4-liter DOHC V8 with variable-valve timing; six-speed automatic with manual-shift mode; permanent all-wheel drive.

Horsepower: 311 at 5,950 rpm

Torque: 325 pound-feet at 3,950 rpm

Curb weight: 4,065 pounds

0-60 mph: 6.5 seconds

Wheelbase: 111.6 inches

Overall length: 191.0 inches

EPA fuel economy: 17 miles per gallon city, 25 mpg highway

Final thoughts: Get groceries, now!

2007 Volvo S80 review: Our expert's take
By Dan Neil


AS it happens, I have driven a car billed as the “World’s Fastest Volvo.” It was a late-’70s 242 GT with a 900-hp Chevy big-block V8 punched through the hood, a transbrake, full cage, trac bars and monster slicks. Some crazed digger in Tennessee decided it would be a good idea. Alas, not really.

So I wasn’t panting to drive the 2007 Volvo S80, the second generation of the company’s flagship and its first sedan with an optional V8 (the base engine is a 3.2-liter inline six). Given Volvo’s distinguished history of smaller displacement and turbocharged engines, and its core values – a kind of rounded reasonableness in every direction – I figured the S80 V8 was only a bid for the Ugly American market.

Well, I have driven the car and I love it, so what does that make me? Our maximally equipped S80 test car – with the Yamaha-built, 4.4-liter V8 crammed under the fluted hood – is just a spectacular sedan, a tone poem of Scandinavian chic and safety in the key of V. In a category ($50,000-ish executive sedans) full of wonderful cars – the Acura RL, the BMW 5-series, Audi A6, Lexus GS 450, Infiniti M45 – the big Volvo draws even with the best of them.

Why so great? Listen up, car makers. It’s all about clarity.

Hard as it might be for some to believe, Ford’s corporate stewardship (since 1999) of Volvo has been a very good thing. As it did with recently divested Aston Martin, Ford has kept its distance from Volvo, coordinating platforms and sharing subsystems where it made sense (the S80’s all-wheel-drive uses the Haldex differential that appears in the Land Rover LR2) but allowing Gothenburg to steer its own course. Volvo has been left free to develop a distinctive corporate identity with a consonance and harmony that rival BMW’s.

This is most obviously true in the portfolio’s styling language – the gently chamfered shoulder lines that run from nose to tail, the light taper at the trunk lid, the rake of the windshield – but it reaches down into some of the subtlest tactile signals these cars give out: the heft and weight of the steering, the machined precision of the switchgear, the conformation of the seats. The S80 – like the coming-soon C30 coupe, some $20,000 cheaper – uses the distinctive central console for the audio and climate systems, a graceful bit of Nordic design to rival bentwood furniture.

Above all, the S80 feels safe. As in, one of those things with a combination lock and the word Diebold on it. A point of personal privilege here: There is an excellent chance that my wife and I are going to have a couple of children in the next year, and I have to tell you that fact seems to have transformed my appreciation for Volvos. It’s sort of like an automotive nesting instinct. Anyway, the S80’s immanent, bronze-cast solidity is very appealing. The car is heavy, to be sure – 4,065 pounds with a V8 engine – but it feels like it’s got nuclear survivability.

The S80’s complement of standard safety gear includes front, side and side-curtain air bags and front knee bolsters; five padded head restraints; tire-pressure monitoring system; Volvo’s whiplash protection seats (WHIPS); and the additional side structure to protect the passenger cell (SIPS). All the smart brake technology, traction and stability control you could want are built in.

The Volvo also has smart taillights that flash to alert drivers of a panic stop. Our full-boat tester included a raft of safety options: the BLIS Blind Spot Information System ($595), which uses mirror-mounted sensors to scan the rear periphery and alert drivers with door-mounted indicators; the parking-assist system ($495); and the adaptive cruise control with collision warning and brake support ($1,495).

You may have seen the S80 commercial in which the driver and his wife are out for a late-night run to Pink’s hot dog stand. He’s not looking where he’s going and runs up on a slower vehicle. The system flashes. She laughs and looks at him lovingly. Not in real life she doesn’t.

Attuned to the fact that women think of safety not just in terms of crash protection but personal security, Volvo offers the optional Personal Car Communicator (PCC), a high-tech keyless entry device that tells you if the car’s alarm has been activated while you’re away; the car even has a heartbeat sensor to tell you if anyone is hiding in the car. Cool.

Volvo sedans once had a reputation for being kind of solemn and lubberly to drive. The S80 V8 should put a stake in that idea. This is a powerful, fluid and agile car. Of course, it helps that our test car was shod with Pirelli P-Zero 245/40 18’s, Z-rated tires that would make a dump truck corner. The tires are part of the Sport/ZUBRA package, which includes speed-sensitive steering and the adjustable damping chassis. The Comfort suspension setting is just that, while the Advanced setting gives the car a tensed and confident cornering posture. The V8 spins the dial to 311 hp and 325 pound-feet of torque at 3,950 rpm. Fed through the leggy Geartronic six-speed, the engine is capable of pushing the car along at 80 mph at a whispering 2,400 rpm. Onramp acceleration is quite sufficient to put you in triple digits before the merge lane ends.

So now I have to reorder my favorite cars in this class. The Volvo – which has the added advantage of being neither German nor Japanese, a nonaligned nation in a segment where nationality matters to a lot of buyers – nudges the Acura RL from the top spot. Coolly Euro, quietly indifferent to its competitors, understated and overachieving, this V8 powered son of Gothenburg is most definitely a good idea.

*

—————– dan.neil@latimes.com

*

(INFOBOX BELOW)

2007 Volvo S80 V8

Base price: $48,045

Price, as tested: $58,490

Powertrain: 4.4-liter DOHC V8 with variable-valve timing; six-speed automatic with manual-shift mode; permanent all-wheel drive.

Horsepower: 311 at 5,950 rpm

Torque: 325 pound-feet at 3,950 rpm

Curb weight: 4,065 pounds

0-60 mph: 6.5 seconds

Wheelbase: 111.6 inches

Overall length: 191.0 inches

EPA fuel economy: 17 miles per gallon city, 25 mpg highway

Final thoughts: Get groceries, now!

Factory warranties

New car program benefits

Basic
4 years / 50,000 miles
Corrosion
12 years
Powertrain
4 years / 50,000 miles
Roadside Assistance
4 years

Certified Pre-Owned program benefits

Age / mileage
Less than 5 years / less than 80,000 miles
Basic
5 years / unlimited miles , upgradeable up to 10 years
Dealer certification
170- plus point inspection

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Consumer reviews

4.8 / 5
Based on 35 reviews
Write a review
Comfort 4.9
Interior 4.8
Performance 4.6
Value 4.6
Exterior 4.8
Reliability 4.6

Most recent

  • Best car ever made

    My Volvo S80 is 2007, now as I am writing this review it is year 2020. Simple put, the best car ever made. I owned Mercedes, Toyota and Mazada. All fine cars but got rid of them within a year or two. This one I kept over a decade and has no plan to part with it. In these 13 years it only required oil change, new tires and scheduled service. Only just replaced battery last year. The newly redesigned Volvo has only V4. Better for the environment but just don’t feel the same.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    24 people out of 24 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Get the V8 for reliability

    Great car all around, very pleased with my S80 V8 awd. The engine is so strong it’s in a Super exotic sports car. The engine is made by Yamaha Ooo Wee. Tones of passing power. Awesome in the snow as well. Very safe car as well. Amazing sound system that will wake up the dead.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 3.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 3.0
    Reliability 4.0
    8 people out of 9 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Rock solid car!

    Loaded with options and low miles this is a heavy, very solid car! Volvo leather is supreme and the car has a great safety rating. Loved having this one! Time for us to downsize but lots of life left in this one!
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    6 people out of 6 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Most reliable car I have ever owned

    These S80 Volvo's are truly the greatest cars that you can buy for the money as this car will "SAVE YOUR LIFE" in an accident. Everyone knows these cars are the best engineered cars beating Mercedes, Audi, BMW, & Volkswagen for reliability. Volvo's are made with handling, integrity, perfection, and brilliance that only comes from this Swedish company.
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    2 people out of 2 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • I am in awe of how great the 2007 Volvo S80 is...

    I was shocked at how powerful, luxurious, comfortable, "TRICK", & clever the Volvo S80 is, as it just blew away the Other European cars I tested. The interior is awesome too.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    2 people out of 2 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Best test drive I have ever had

    I drove one just today, and was pleasantly surprised to see how incredible the ride & handling was. Great power from the 6 cylinder engine that was quiet & responsive. The AC was instantly cold, & all the options were so comfortable. The handling was the biggest surprise of all. I have test driven BMW's, Jag's, Benz's, & Audi's, but this 2007 Volvo S80 was by far the greatest car I have tried out. I am definitely buying one.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    3 people out of 3 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • The best Euro car made

    These cars have been overshadowed by Mercedes Benz when in fact they are superior to a Benz in every way. They have less problems because they are 100% reliable, as well as better handling. If you touch the wheel the car begins to tightly turn. The engine is superior to the Benz, as well as the electrical system. They are faster & so much more safe in an accident. No car in the world does better in hard accidents than the Volvo S80 series. They get the finest mileage & look so awesome. This cars push button ignition is outstanding. They run all day as cool as possible because of the superior cooling system.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    3 people out of 3 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • Beautiful, fun to drive

    Beautiful styling, classic in appearance. Heated and cooled leather seats, fun to drive and gets you there in style and comfort. Used to get compliments from folks in the car wash. Had 218,000 miles when I gave it to my stepson.
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    3 people out of 3 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Safest car on the road to date

    No sat nav only bad point. Other than that can beat most cars on the road. Ive owned them all. JAGS MERCS BMW AUDI SAAB FORD HOLDEN ETC
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 4.0
    2 people out of 2 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Sleeper Status

    It?s not as big as the other European full size sedans but it is certainly more comfortable. The V8 is a total sleeper, the I6 is slightly under powered. Interior is bland but the seats are the most comfortable you can get. If you want an understated, but comfortable and super reliable car this is it.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 3.0
    2 people out of 2 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • Too Attached to This Car

    This car is beyond comfy. She rides well and feels safe. Probably not a selling point, but I feel like I'm riding in a tank, but with great road performance. This car also made me a fan of Volvo because its design aesthetic is clean and forward thinking. People always are shocked to learn my car is 11 years old. I've noticed with other brands, they change the body styles so frequently that a new car can soon look outdated and old. I've gone on to purchase a new Volvo and finding that it will be hard to get rid of my S80 because of my attachment. I'd recommend this to families who seek safety, style and reliability.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    2 people out of 2 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Luxury defined. Safety a must.

    Car fit for a queen or king. Heated seats, smooth ride, safety features, sedan, luxurious and collision detection. Auto climate, clean, loaded, and a moonroof.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    2 people out of 2 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No

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FAQ

What trim levels are available for the 2007 Volvo S80?

The 2007 Volvo S80 is available in 2 trim levels:

  • I6 (2 styles)
  • V8 (2 styles)

What are some similar vehicles and competitors of the 2007 Volvo S80?

The 2007 Volvo S80 compares to and/or competes against the following vehicles:

Is the 2007 Volvo S80 reliable?

The 2007 Volvo S80 has an average reliability rating of 4.6 out of 5 according to cars.com consumers. Find real-world reliability insights within consumer reviews from 2007 Volvo S80 owners.

Is the 2007 Volvo S80 a good Sedan?

Below are the cars.com consumers ratings for the 2007 Volvo S80. 97.1% of drivers recommend this vehicle.

4.8 / 5
Based on 35 reviews
  • Comfort: 4.9
  • Interior: 4.8
  • Performance: 4.6
  • Value: 4.6
  • Exterior: 4.8
  • Reliability: 4.6

Volvo S80 history

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