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 Acura TL and Audi A6.
Volvo adds standard headlight washers, rain-sensing windshield wipers and push-button start to the S80. In addition, the Premium Plus trim gains adaptive xenon high-intensity-discharge headlights.
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
- Standard rain-sensing windshield wipers
- Standard headlight washers
- Optional heated windshield-washer nozzles
- Optional xenon high-intensity-discharge headlights with articulating lenses
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
- Optional leather-covered dashboard
- Optional navigation system with real-time traffic info
In 2011, Volvo cut back on the number of engine and drivetrain combinations available and has stuck with that plan since. 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
Available safety 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
