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Introduction

2009 Volvo S80

Big and luxurious, the Volvo S80 is Volvo's flagship sedan. It's fast, comfortable and roomy. It rides nice around town and it's powerful and tracks straight as an arrow at high speeds. It is without question a worthy competitor to comparably sized luxury sedans from Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Lexus, Acura, and Cadillac.

The S80 offers a choice of engines, headlined by a 4.4-liter, 311-horsepower V8 built by Yamaha. The V8 sounds like a Corvette engine when it first starts up then settles to a smooth idle. It's smooth and creamy when cruising and very responsive. At high speeds the S80 V8 is quiet and smooth. Its performance (0-60 in 6.0 seconds, with a top speed electronically limited to 155 mph) stretches beyond what anyone can realistically use. But where the V8 really shines is in foul weather, where buyers will appreciate its standard all-wheel drive.

Steering effort and chassis settings are adjustable, allowing the driver to set the chassis for smooth, soft sailing or taut control for more responsive handling. We found the car handles quite well for a large luxury car.

Even the base-level, six-cylinder, front-drive-only S80 3.2 can sprint to 60 mph in 7.4 seconds, and risk arrest with a top speed of 130 mph. In between is the S80 T6, with a turbocharged six, all-wheel-drive, and a somewhat longer option list compared to the base model.

Inside is a sumptuous cabin with comfortable seats, sophisticated audio, and an available navigation system. Optional adaptive cruise control allows the driver to maintain set following distances with the cars ahead: the system will accelerate or slow the car as needed.

The S80 is loaded with safety equipment, from its protective structure to its state-of-the-art active and passive safety features. We think the S80 is the best car overall ever to come out of Sweden: slick, modern, pretty but understated, quick and powerful. It's relatively sporty and there aren't any rough edges on this package anywhere.

Changes for 2009 are minimal. Some models have new wheels. There's more standard equipment at very level, including Bluetooth, and the various options and option packages have been rearranged a bit.

The 2009 Volvo S80 is a luxury sedan. Three engine/driveline combinations are available: an inline-six with front-wheel drive, a turbocharged six with all-wheel drive (AWD), and a V8 with AWD. All come with a six-speed automatic transmission and Geartronic manual override.

Model Lineup

The S80 3.2 ($39,600) is powered by a 3.2-liter 235-horsepower inline 6-cylinder engine driving the front wheels. Standard are a power glass sunroof; dual-zone automatic climate control with pollen filter; AM/FM/6CD/MP3 160-watt audio with eight speakers and auxiliary input; real wood trim; leather seats; leather-wrapped tilt-and-telescope steering wheel with audio and cruise controls; leather-wrapped shift knob; eight-way power driver's seat with memory; split folding rear seat; power windows; central power locking (including the fuel filler door) with remote keyless entry; power trunk release; power heated outside mirrors with memory; auto-dimming inside mirror, an outside temperature gauge; four reading lamps; two 12-volt outlets; and 225/50R17 tires on 17-inch alloy wheels. New for 2009 are a Bluetooth hands-free phone interface, Rainsensor automatic windshield wipers, and a blueband tinted windshield.

The S80 T6 AWD ($42,050) comes with a 3.0-liter turbocharged version of the same engine, producing 281 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, and driving all four wheels. Content-wise, T6 adds a standard electric parking brake.

A Convenience Package ($1,995) consisting of Volvo's Personal Car Communicator (PCC) with Keyless Drive (more below); Interior Air Quality System (IAQS) with humidity sensor; front and rear park assist; and Dynaudio 650-watt, 12-speaker stereo with Dolby Pro Logic II Surround Sound, rear headphone jacks, and rear audio controls. Climate Package ($825) includes heated front and rear seats, heated windshield washer nozzles, and high-pressure headlight washers. Xenon headlights with Active Bending Light ($800) and 18-inch alloy wheels ($750) are now stand-alone options, along with navigation ($2,205) and Sirius Satellite Radio ($395, including six-month subscription).

The Executive Package ($2,495) adds more and upgraded wood trim, premium soft leather seats (ventilated in front, with massage), power passenger seat, IR-protected windshield, leather front center armrest, aluminum console storage cover, bright lower door moldings, and an analog clock in the center control panel.

The S80 V8 AWD ($51,850) develops 311 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque, and also drives all four wheels. Standard equipment comprises most of what's listed above, including the complete Executive and Climate packages, plus Sirius Satellite Radio, front and rear park assist, and 245/40R18 tires mounted to 18-inch alloy wheels. Exclusive to the V8 is a Technology Package ($3,300) that adds navigation, speed-sensitive steering, xenon ABL headlights, and the Dynaudio sound system. Those seeking to further enhance the ambience of executive transport can specify an optional rear seat refrigerator with two crystal glasses ($695).

Optional on all models is a rear-seat entertainment system ($1,800), now with larger eight-inch screens integrated into the backs of the front-seat headrests.

Safety equipment on all S80 models is world-class, starting with the patented body structure and including ABS with a sophisticated hydraulic brake assist, dynamic stability control, traction control, dual-threshold front airbags, dual-chamber side airbags (with one chamber for the hips and one for the chest), side-curtain airbags, next-generation WHIPS rear-impact protection, tire pressure monitor, daytime running lights, and front and rear fog lights. And those are just the highlights.

Volvo cites studies suggesting that up to 90 percent of all traffic accidents are caused by driver fatigue and/or distraction. Based on this finding, Volvo introduced a Collision Avoidance Package ($1,695) for the S80 in mid-2008. The package includes Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Collision Warning with Brake Support (CWAB), Distance Alert (DA), Driver Alert Control (DAC), and Lane Departure Warning (LDW). Also optional is the blind-spot information system, or BLIS ($695), that senses vehicles in the right and left blind spots and delivers a warning if there's something there.

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