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4
Handling
Performance
Usability
Feelgood factor
Readers' rating
3
By Ben Barry
First Drives
14 August 2009 09:00
Chances are the Volvo S80 won’t be on your exec saloon wishlist, but, with a light re-style, sharper chassis and punchier engine, the Swedes have transformed it into a proper contender.
No but, the S80 is the sleeper of the segment, a comfortable companion with – in the D5 SE Lux Premium spec we’re driving – a surprising turn of speed and an unexpectedly capable chassis.
A light re-fresh is the tip-off to those in the know: a new grille with larger badge, plus chrome detailing on the air intakes, lower part of the doors and below the rear lights.
Glass half-empty types could dub it dull, but my glass is looking half-full today, so I’ll call it a more subtle alternative to the aggressive German oppo.
It’s a cracker. The 2.4-litre, twin turbo, five-cylinder engine sits at the top of the diesel model range, and the stats are impressive: 202bhp and 310lb ft torque goes to the front wheels, while you’ll still reap 45.6mpg and spew a respectable 164g/km – while the auto knocks that to 178g/km and raises the 62mph dash from 8.0 to 8.5sec.
There’s loads of puff lowdown and an engagingly thick and vocal gurgle as you pile on the revs. It’s a quick way to cover ground and no mistake. Impressively, torque steer is all but banished too.
We only tried the manual option, but it was a decent ’box and certainly didn’t feel out of place in a 5-series/A6/E-class rival.
>> Click 'Next' below to read more of our Volvo S80 D5 first drive
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Volvo S80 D5 (2009) new CAR review
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padraigobriain says
RE: Volvo S80 D5 (2009) new CAR review
The XF comparison is a killer for the whole sector really. Price, quality and performance- blows away everything
26 January 2011 18:34
a t o m i c says
Johnboy, would you REALLY spend thirty grand on the slug pictured above? Entirely the wrong choice of colour for such an amorphous entity. It looks like a grey leather slip-on shoe.
20 August 2009 22:05
V12 Migaloo says
Interesting point Batty, for me the noise was a highlight! Having moved on from a 4 pot petrol to the Volvo I always managed to convince myself it sounded like a quattro! Really a great car and again I have to ask myself why I opted for a 5 series over one've these. It always allowed me to slip in and out of clients car parks unnoticed, whereas the 5 always raises eyebrows and depending on who your seeing the 5 could easily break a deal!
20 August 2009 09:23
Batty says
Personal taste V12 Migaloo and no doubt it is a strong engine, I just find my wife's D5 engined bus (albeit the older engine), to have a rather coarse sound and quite too vocal. It is perhaps the sole disappointment with the car in truth.
18 August 2009 22:53
JohnboyMac says
Atomic: Valid point, but if one wants less flash surely one would give great consideration to the Volvo, I would for one.
18 August 2009 18:22
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