2007 Volvo S80 Review

Volvo S80 – Review: You see a Volvo driving down the road and automatically you assign a persona to the driver: Smart; safety-minded. Glasses over contacts; organic over Albertsons. Maybe, in fact, you think the driver cares a bit too much for substance, the kind of person who drinks carrot juice – and likes it. For Volvo, that's not the case, at least not as much anymore. Like the nerd who starts working out, dumps his Spock costume and gets laser eye surgery, Volvo has emerged into a new identity: still smart, but a whole lot more fun and better looking, starting with the 2007 S80. Thoroughly redesigned, the S80 offers power, safety innovation and a sexy style – but at a high price tag that's definitely more German than Swede.

What We Drove

There's a big valley behind Lake Perris, California, and that's where we began our test of the 2007 Volvo S80. After more than 300 miles of driving, we came away warmly impressed...but wanting for more. That's unfortunate, for our Electric Silver Metallic S80 can't offer much more: this mostly loaded car had a base price of $48,045, including a $695 destination charge. Add-ons included the Sport Package, with 18-inch Zubra Alloy wheels, ventilated/perforated leather seats, BiXenon Gas Discharge Headlamps and speed-sensitive steering, for $2,495; a Climate Package ($725), Audio Package ($1,550), Adaptive Cruise Control ($1,495) and Volvo's Blindspot Information System (BLIS) for $595. Add it up and our tester cost a whopping $56,025. About the only thing missing was the navigation package, costing $2,120.

Performance

You've really got to tell this powertrain what you want, in no uncertain terms. But when you do, when you put your foot into it, the S80 comes to life and provides a spry, sporting drive, the 4.4-liter V8 engine pumping out 311 horsepower and 325 lb. ft. torque. The six-speed transmission offers up smooth and predictable shifts, though the gearing felt pretty short. When you slip it into manual mode and hold the gears for a longer period, the S80's power really come to life, and the driving experience improves significantly. What didn't improve during our week of driving, however, was the S80's fuel efficiency: 16.4 miles per gallon in mixed driving is much too low.

Handling

It's due in part to our tester's 18-inch performance tires and a sport suspension with Sport, Comfort, or Advanced Modes, but we were surprised at the S80's jarring ride, even in Comfort mode. It didn't really pay dividends with a tight, aggressive handling character either. Good, but a little vague in the corners and not very tossable what with all-wheel drive and stability control keeping things straight. Then there's Adaptive Cruise Control with Collision Avoidance (ACC): You drive down the road, and the car in front slows to a stop. As you brake, you get closer and the ACC makes a sudden, loud noise and flashes a red light. At the same time, it primes the brakes for maximum stopping power. Yikes.

Visibility

If only all automakers treated visibility as seriously as Volvo. This S80, for example, is one of the easiest sedans to maneuver in traffic, thanks to narrow pillars, headrests that set down into the rear seats, and the wonder of Volvo's Blindspot Information System (BLIS). Dare we say it? The little lights located on the A-Pillar beside the rearview mirrors, are, uh, a BLISsful bit of technology. The lights blink when a car enters into the blindspot zone on either side, silently and subtly notifying the driver. Add to this the turn signal indicator lights on the rearview mirrors themselves, and it's hard to imagine a lane change accident. The BLIS system helps even more so, because the rearview mirrors themselves are a bit small.

Fun to Drive

At almost $60,000, any fun you have with the Volvo S80 is tempered by the price you paid at the dealership. Look beyond that, however, and its 311 horsepower and 325 lb.-ft of torque does provide for a fun ride. Add the Adaptive Cruise Control with collision avoidance (ACC) – that's a whole level of adrenaline shot fun you can usually only get at Seaside Sammy's Carnival Rides. Just smile for the red light...

Front Comfort

Riding on a longer wheelbase than the 2006 model, the 2007 S80 actually feels smaller inside, especially for legs. Front seats are comfortable, however, though they could use more thigh support, and driver memory controls are awkwardly placed above the eight-way power controls on the bottom left side of the seat, and why manual lumbar for a $60,000 car? Hmmm. Otherwise, the seats and cabin are nicely done. Foot room is compromised slightly, though, as the foot well limits space at the side and the dead pedal positioned too high. Overall, a cockpit that's slightly too small, but comfy enough to spend a commute or a long drive, thanks to a smart layout and quality materials. Getting inside is a little awkward, as driver ingress is impeded by a large steering wheel. Sure, the wheel tilts and telescopes, but the mechanism is hard to use.

Rear Comfort

For 2007, the Volvo S80 is taller than the outgoing model. While you can't tell by getting into the car, you can tell when you sit inside: There's plenty of head and shoulder room. For a sedan this size, however, it's pretty tight for feet and legs in the back row. The back doors are also small, making it harder to get inside and to climb out. We expected more leg room and hip room in back as well, though the seats are nicely upholstered and comfortable.

Interior Noise

A quiet car in terms of tire and wind noise, the Volvo S80 did exhibit a number of rattles and audible vibrations over a week of driving over various road surfaces, most of which sounded as though it emanated from the rear of the vehicle. This was most evident either on rougher than normal asphalt or when the S80 was high in the rev range. With an almost $60,000 price tag attached to the bumper, that's a little disappointing.

Loading Cargo

Trunk liftover is nice and low – no back trouble here – but the opening is too small for large and square packages, thanks to the design of the trunk lid. That trunk lid also seems hard to manipulate with one hand, an important thing, say, if you're attempting to load groceries. There's a small pass through that's good for long items, and the trunk is quite roomy and lined with quality carpeting. Inside, there are plenty of cargo areas up front, though the area behind the center control waterfall is a bit useless.

Build Quality

Volvo has a well-earned reputation for building quality cars, and the S80 looks to be no exception. The interior build is excellent; gaps are tight, knobs and controls have a nice heft, stitching is consistent and all around nicely executed. Everything feels nicely tapped down inside, save for too much noise while driving. On the outside, "Volvo" sill plates were nicely constructed and not likely to loosen, while the Adaptive Cruise Control sensor up front was big and garish on the grille. We noticed a few minor flaws and gap variances, notably around the trunk lid. That's a small complaint compared to what it provides in terms of safety, however.