2007 Volvo S80 V8 Road Test

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By Alborz Fallah | September 11th, 2007

2007 Volvo S80 V8 Road Test

CarAdvice rating:

Recommended Retail Price: $95,950 (plus ORC)

Options available:

Sunroof – $2150 – why not!
Active Cruise Control, $2950 – worth it
Clean Zone Interior Package, $250 – worth it
Metallic Paint, $1350 – needs to be standard
Volvo SatNav, $3590 – a little expensive.
BLIS, $1200 – worth it

- by Alborz Fallah

Picking up the Volvo S80, I couldn’t help but to feel as though I was going to have a boring and slow week, sure Volvo had booked me into the top of the range 4.4-litre V8 All-Wheel-Drive variant, but still, it’s a Volvo, how much fun can it be?

You’d think I’d learn after falling in love with the C30 T5, that Volvos are not all destined for 20km/h-below-the-speed-limit-highway-merges or random and unpredictable lane changes, but no, a small part of me still felt a little embarrassed by the thought of driving around in a Volvo.

Thankfully, that small part was quickly put to death by the sound of the Yamaha built V8 and Volvo’s latest weapon in the fight against soccer mums, bling wheels.

Honestly, there are no words that can capture the feeling of driving a V8 S80, but imagine this, cream leather seats with a beautifully crafted interior that give everything you could ask for, coupled to Volvo’s relentless quest for the latest in-car technology and occupant safety… attached to a jet engine.

It’s hard to imagine that a big Volvo sedan can accelerate so hard that it can leave you with neck pain, but the S80 does just that.

In my entire week with the S80, I only turned on the stereo once to test the sound system, why? Because the sound of the V8 is truly mesmerising, with 232kW and 440Nm, it sounds more like an Aston Martin V8 Vantage than an HSV R8, but best of all, it goes like a rocket.

Volvo claims the V8 S80 goes from 0-100km/h in 6.5 seconds, but unlike other manufacturers, Volvo seems to understate its figures, testing revealed 0-100km/h in just 6.2 seconds, and those 6.2 seconds of acceleration, are pure bliss.

The S80 offers three different settings:

COMFORT – sedate, comfortable ride quality
SPORT – controlled body movements, faster steering response
ADVANCED – firm damper control, maximum road holding

There is no denying that Volvo has struck gold with the V8 S80, not only is it powered by an engine that you can listen to for hours on end, but it’s mated to an All-Wheel-Drive setup, ensuring phenomenal handling. It should come at no surprise that the S80 was crowned New Zealand’s Car Of The Year.

I headed up my usual mountain road to put the S80 through its work out. As per usual, the winding roads were full of AWD turbos and bikes, and having seen the Volvo badge, many were quick to overtake me (safely), anticipating my slow climb up the mountain.

Of course they were too busy making Volvo jokes to see the small AWD V8 badges, but it only took a few minutes before they realised this Volvo was not on its way to pick up the kids.

The way the S80 drives, you’d almost think Volvo had started by designing a race car and then decided to fill it with luxuries. The AWD system is a work of art, even your grandmother will look like the Stig in this car, just point the car in the right direction and the gadgets will do the rest.

Braking is taken care of by ventilated 336x28mm single-piston discs for the front and solid 302x12mm discs for the rear. The S80 is mated to a six-speed auto, while Dynamic Stability & Traction Control takes care of any unexpected surprises. Fuel economy is 11.9L/100km for a combined city/highway cycle.

The S80 is enhanced by every bit of safety technology imaginable. There are too many to list, so I’ll name a few interesting ones.

My favourite is Volvo’s Personal Car Communicator (PCC). Instead of your usual remote central locking, the S80 comes with a slightly larger remote control that can do a whole variety of truly amazing things.

Firstly, like most European cars, the key (if you want to call it that, there isn’t actually a key so to speak) simply needs to be near the car and you can unlock the doors by simply pulling the handles and start the car by pressing the start button.

Walk away a few meters and if you’re unsure about the car, just have a look at the key, the LEDs will tell you if it’s locked or not.

But wait, there is more, a whole lot more, you can press a button on the remote control and the S80 will switch on all of it’s exterior and interior lights.

If you’re paranoid, you can find out from a distance of up to 100 meters whether or not the car is locked, unlocked, broken into, and best of all, using an internal heartbeat sensor, you can find out if someone is hiding in your car! (The PCC will flash red). James Bond technology in a Volvo!

The S80 also comes with Volvo’s Intelligent Driver Information System (IDIS). IDIS works by monitoring the level of throttle, braking, steering and even indicators and wipers to determine whether or not the driver is hard at work concentrating on the job, if inputs pass a certain threshold, the system limits all incoming phone calls and SMSs to limit distractions. Needless to say, I missed a few calls going up the mountain.

Then there is Volvo’s $2,950 optional Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), which uses a radar sensor to help the driver maintain the distance to the vehicle in front. For example, on a long trip you can program the S80 to keep 10 meters away from the car in front and you can pretty much forget about touching the brake and accelerator pedals. Extremely useful.

Let’s not forget BLIS ($1,200 option), Volvo’s award winning blind-spot checking system that uses tiny camera’s in the car’s side mirrors to warn of a vehicle in the driver’s blind spot. A feature that should be mandatory on all cars.

Saving the best till last, Volvo’s collision warning with brake support will not only warn you of an imminent crash, but it will also brake for you incase you don’t act fast enough. This system did provide a few dramas with quick overtakes as the car was positive it was about to have an accident, while all I was trying to do was get past the person infront.

As with most Volvos, if safety is a concern, the S80 has all the bases covered with standard features such as:

ABS anti-locking brakes with EBD, EBA
Driver and passenger dual-stage front airbags
Inflatable Curtain (IC) front, rear seats
Side Impact Protection System (SIPS)
SIPS airbags, front seats, protect head and chest
Front safety belts, automatic height adjustment and belt tensioner
Three-point pyrotechnic pretensioner seatbelts, head restraints (all seats)
Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS)
Dynamic Stability Traction Control (DSTC) w/yaw sensor w/yaw sensor

From the inside, the S80 comes with IAQS (Interior Air Quality System) which Volvo claims reduces the amount of particles, pollen, gases and certain unpleasant odours in the air that enters the passenger compartment.

For an extra $250 you can opt out for the Clean Zone Interior Package (CZIP), an advanced system that automatically ventilates the passenger compartment for about a minute once the car is unlocked.

Safety and air quality systems aside, you really have to admire what Volvo has achieved with the interior of the S80, from exquisite leather seats to a practical and useful layout of all the controls, plus an absolutely superb 12-speaker stereo system, you have to force yourself to find a fault.

Standard features include Active bi-xenon headlights, dual zone electronic climate control, power adjustable driver and passanger seats, heated front seats, retracting side mirrors, rain sensing wipers and 18-inch “Venator” alloys (but optioning out the bling chrome wheels is a must).

Comparing the interior to a German car, I actually managed to turn on the stereo, program the cruise control and activate a variety of the car’s gadgets without consulting the manual.

Throughout the car there are lashings of superb brushed aluminium and wood inlays, which along with some very fluid lines, lift this car to a position well and truly alongside more expensive offerings.

In fact, my only issue with the S80 was the six-speed automatic transmission, leave it in D and it goes like a rocket, but push the gear stick to the left for some manual shifting and the party is spoiled. Once instructed, it takes nearly a second for the car to change gears and you really feel as though you can do it faster manually!

The S80 range starts at $71,950 for the 2.4-litre diesel and goes all the way to $95,950 for the 4.4-litre V8 (model tested).

Comparing it to its German rivals (BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class), the S80 is an unbeatable package offering not only high levels of comfort and safety, but also remarkable amounts of power as well as good looks and excellent driving dynamics.

Jason

Hmm,
interesting review, I always thought these things were slow, I guess looks can be very deceiving,

although as an E-class owner I am not sure if I can trade it in for one of these, just like you, I am still a little reluctant to drive a Volvo, maybe I should go in for a test drive…
The Axe

Maybe all prospective luxury car buyers should take a look.
It is hard to look past that badge, although these days I view Volvo as a maker of stylish safe cars rather than a maker of a performance sports/luxury sedan.
MrBean

I dont think its suppose to be a sports/luxury, I think it an excellent luxury car (just look at that interior and all the safety features) that (by the sounds of this review) happens to be exceptionally well powered.

Good to see Volvo kicking some German butts.
Tony M

Could this be the way of the future in car design.

East-west engine layout with 4 wheel drive with 440 Nm of torque. Had Mitsubishi allowed supercharging on their 4 wheel drive TJ Magnas maybe we might have experienced this earlier. Or is it that we have been programmed by motoring journos to only look at high powered rear wheel drive cars and not high powered 4 wheel drive cars.
The Europeans seem to be focus on this type of car (high output E-W engine with 4 wheel drive) which allows them to maximise cabin space and boot space.
Al Juraj

With great looks, Ford handling and a price under $100K, it’s certainly worth considering. But I believe Ford ownership can also be a drawback. The Focus XR5 borrows its engine from Volvo, and with its 5-star safety, it’s hard to justify an S40 over this car, which shares many chassis components.

The upcoming Orion Fairmont Ghia will likely be just as big and handsome as the S80 and offer similar power and luxury equipment at a much lower price. This might make the midsize Volvo more of an upscale Falcon than a true German rival. It’s no doubt very safe, but has yet to match BMW fun and dynamics and Mercedes comfort in order to establish itself as a bona-fide European luxury sedan.
Azza

I’m impressed, sounds like all you need to do it sit inside and turn it on, and it’ll do the rest…
Andrew M

its a pity they cant do something about the front end that screams “hey im a boring ugly Volvo”
they arent doing themselves any favours in trying to improve that image.
i was in a top of the range Volvo prob like 6 yrs ago (mate had it as a service loaner from dealership).
tell you what from inside it you wouldnt know you were in a volvo (very nice) and being a loaner i can tell you it went!!!!plenty of power and oh so comfy /classy. im guessing this one would be only better now. but still pity about the “Volvo” looks the only thing i can pin on it.

on another note perhaps manufacturers should do special edition loaner cars because i swear they go a hell of a lot better than what they sell to the public
Bavarian Missile/ 502/50?

Hey Andrew yep Volvo still have that Volvo thing happening look outside to a degree, but I bought one over a 5 series wagon 7 years ago near new at the time and top of the range .Beautiful interior and sound system xxxxx{kisses} grunt wasn’t too bad 2.5 turbo ,auto let it down but I would think they have since addressed. If I was looking in a price range and not badges I would consider again,oh plus I had an Antique shop at the time and I could fit 6 chairs in the rear seats folded down including 2 carvers {arms on them}I gave it a mighty hard time as I give everything and the auto was the only thing that gave up on me.
Luke

Andrew and barvarian Missile, you’re both miles off the mark, and very much a minority, as all Volvo’s now make the new BMW range look like tarted up Hyundai’s, and most people agree.. I own a red Volvo S40 with the factory body kit and 18 inch alloys, and it makes the german cars pathetic to look at. Everyone I know acknowledge that the germans have dropped the 8 ball in styling to Volvo, Lexus and Alfo now. Anyone who knows anything about cars would know that Volvo hasn’t made anything other than great looking cars for over 10 years now (from the 1997 C70). And with their build quality, characterful 5 cylinder engines, and now great dynamics (S40′s make Audi A4′s look pre-historic in terms of handling), why the hell would you look past one for an overpriced, yet ugly and now poorly built 3 series. People with ill-formed misconceptions, that’s who!
http://. Colonel Klink

Sorry bizarre bland silly front end and ditto tops of rear tailights. If anyone thinks that is standard, attractive and acceptable must live on Mars! Andrew M and Missile are right!
Keefa

I think most Aussies havent figured out what build quality means. Us Aussies are used to our throw away cars like Holden, Ford and those cheap Asian cars. Volvo will always be a superior quality manufacturer. Those who are pretentious enough to consider exterior styling to be the main reason why they buy their car should go get a Mazda 6 or BMW (they have the same build quality as each other) and give it away to someone you hate after five years when the style changes. Volvo is for people who actually choose their own car, not what everyone else says to buy. Test: Give your dashboard a bash, listen to the creaking and snapping a Volvo just gives you a sore hand. The S80 is a great vehicle and will perform like new for Volvo’s usual 15 years before its time for trading in.
Tom

I quite like the look of the S80, and the C30, and almost all their cars except the V70. And I’m happy living on earth thank you. I’m glad that the likes of volvo and jaguar and all those other brands that are starting to get their shit together after 20 odd years of disgusting cars. They bring a different take on car design that isn’t german and that refreshing after the last 20 years of everyone copying german design. Its refreshing, and I reckon better. Its also different, so if have that kind of money you can potentially be an individual and not drive the same BMW or merc as everyone else in that social-economic success bracket of society. I remember when Jeremy Clarkson went on about that if you want to be considered a human being then you didn’t buy a BMW. That was in relation to the mondeo vs BMW 3 series, because more people bought the BMW because it was a more yuppy badge, despite the fact it had become so common. Volvo isn’t so much a yuppy badge but a quirky badge, and I’d rather drive a car thats a bit different and unique. BMW’s aren’t exactly dime a dozen in australia because of the exchange rate, but I’d rather drive a volvo and proof people wrong about volvo drivers than drive a BMW and proof I don’t have an original thought in my body when it comes to cars.
Tom

of course, thats if said BMW and volvo were roughly as good as each other. I wouldn’t buy a shit car just to be different, but if a BMW and a Volvo or Jaguar or whatever rare brands car were equal, then I’d go the less common option.
Bavarian Missile

Gee Tom and just when I starting to like you hahaha,………but it seems you have redeemed yourself, to a point! Yep I agree a lot of people buy the badge when it comes to BMW,I would prefer any Volvo any day over the poverty pac 3 series or 5 series…….but above that it becomes more serious. No one in the world can match BMW for their engine building skills yer the quality has gone down but I am a performance girl and that’s why I buy the badge! The quality is a little better in the top end of the market I feel anyway,too a point! Volvo seriously do have great quality ! I gauge a cars quality by how it ages ,my M3 is 9 years old now and yer its only done 70 klms but it is like new under the bonnet ,no oil leaks everything fits still ,no rattles …….I do look after it yes but I do all my cars ,I am sad to say that the V70 2.5T I had was a good car to but I went through 2 transmissions in it,numerous computer faults window switches faulty ect and that was new. Fantastic interiors and the worlds best sound systems!

I will keep this M3 once I have finished paying it off and get a E46 M3 after that more likely than not from the UK ,when I bought my M3 3 years ago it was always going to be the start of my collection and even though I paid $66,000 for it I hasn’t devalued that much at the same time I could have bought an E46 M3 from the UK for the same money but wasn’t prepared to wait 12 months till I could bring it over……I will with the E46M3 more than happy to wait to save the money.

Final words are I evaluate what my needs are and check all manufacturers to that price I can afford to pay!

But yer I hear where your coming from!
Tom

Hah yeah I’m not having a go at BMW, glad you saw that, articulating my ideas has never been one of my strengths. My main point was if the car is as good as the review said it is (sadly I’m not rich enough to ever know first hand any time soon) then it would definitely appeal to some people who mightn’t want a BMW on account of them being very common in that high end market. Of course the reason for that is they are very good, but if this goes almost as well, some people (me included, if I was in the position to buy it) would be interested and not put off by the volvo badge. If anything it gives it the underdog status, as everyone expects the BMW to be awesome, whereas people expect a volvo to be shit on wheels.
Bavarian Missile

Yep……..I think Prius has taken over as the boring drivers car and certainly has all the old Volvo drivers in them. I don’t think Volvo will take long to rid of that old farts car stigma!Not with what there producing these days anyway!
Pious

Good to hear something nice about Volvos for a change. I have a manual S60R that had a little ECU work done and is now unbelievably quick (stock they supposedly did 0-100 in 5.6 secs), and it is absolutely beautiful inside. The only downside is an enormous turning circle. It certainly has dented the pride of many Aussie muscle car owners. My wife has an s40T5, also a great car (although it had a lot of teething problems new). I had the s80 for a day, and while I liked it, it is not as plush as the R (nor as quick, but you wouldnt expect it to be), although it was great off the line. All told though, after driving the XC90V8 for a day as well, the latter grabbed me more.
Mike from the Commonwealth of Virginia!

G’day to all of you Down Under!

Very much enjoyed the posts. They helped me decide and I went and bought a fully tricked out S80 AWD V8 as a certified pre-owned vehicle. It had ~12,000 miles on it and was purportedly an executive car for Volvo US.

I have had it for several weeks now. Driven it from DC to Philly and perhaps 500 miles out and about.

Faster than I had anticipated. Early on Sunday morning I was swapping leader/follower with a BMW 7 Series as we bulleted down Rt 301 through Maryland. It is a heavy car, about 4000 pounds, and simply hugs the road as if on rails. No scary moments, no kissing the guardrail – just point it where you want it and that’s where she goes. The Beamer owner gave me a big grin and a thumbs up as we parted company at I-95.

Solid, fast, quiet, comfortable, great stereo, and nice looks. No “buyer’s remorse” here!

All the best,

Mike
Robert

I have bought a low milage used full spec S80 V8 AWD. After several friens tried it that have MB S-class and the new BMW X5 latest model they all where inpressed and said I can a car like this next time, goes like a rocket. And the Yamaha made V8 after Volvos specification are even better than the bimmers V8. Yes BMW runs smother but it can not compate to the sound and feeling! Here in Sweden we feel like Volvo-BMW-Audi-MB is all high qualtity. And the germans are way after when talking security, no whiplash protection and othre important safety parts. In perfromance I beleive BMW is slightly better but not S80 will in quality or safety. Just my thought, I had a V70 XC before and after 3 years noting ever repaired and now I will see if the will do the same.
Robert

Sorry for bad spelling my borrowd laptop has bad working keys.
Ruben G.

I bought a 2007 S80- V8 with 29000 miles Pre-Owned-Certified to a 100.000 miles bumper to bumper.$0.00 Deductable+ The way this car handles,drives.,and feels just right..In the past I have owned several BMW’S Actually they DO handle better.,however once the experience of Owning a volvo settles At my age (63) I have done the right thing.@ the right price.
The V8 Volvo is Seamless…….