What they said when the Volvo S80 was new… (Oct 20 2003)
VOLVO used to have an image problem. Reliable and incredibly safe, but about as dull as a re-run of The Price Is Right.
The models were bulky with all the subtlety of an aircraft carrier, but with less manoeuvrability.
With a name like the S80 you could be forgiven for thinking I tested a naval destroyer, but Volvo's flagship motor was more like a cruiser. And a real sexy one at that.
No image problem here. The slick Swede was silver, silent, smooth and rapid and it got more admiring, or was it enquiring looks, than a Freddie Ljunberg haircut.
Driving a Volvo was not something that had me hopping mad with excitement - until it arrived.
For style and comfort the cruiser can compete with the best on the road. The new S80 is something of a revelation.
Having sorted the looks, Volvo has also continued in leading the field in what they do best - safety. The Swedish company is truly premier league in the safety division and this tradition is continued in the big boy of the fleet. It may be a dangerous theory to test, but you would even fancy your chances against juggernauts in this model.
This powerful car certainly moves when it needs to, with a 0-60 dash completed in around eight seconds, yet you feel safer in the S80 than you would feel tucked up in bed with a cup of cocoa.
This car oozes executive class. Size and comfort are very big features and when planners decided to build this in the mould of an executive saloon, they must have thought the chief executive would be meeting the board inside the car.
For the gadget freaks, this test version had more toys than Toys R Us. But for those who don't want all the extra bits and pieces, you'll also be glad to hear that Volvo is more than generous with fitting high spec features on all the S80 models.
CD-changer, cruise control and air-conditioning are just three fitted as standard. But for those who just love to build, you can customise your version with building blocks that will take you back to the days of Lego. Volvo claims the S80 can be totally personalised, to ensure yours is different from the one that rolled of the production line in front.
The test car pack was more than generous, but you can go further still with DVD screens in the headrests and even a fridge with glasses in between the back seats.
The cabin of the S80 is a driver's dream, even though it has more buttons and dials than a real-life cruiser.
My personal favourite on the interior has to be the remote control, pop up GPS screen, which doubles up as a TV. There is a fixed phone, built in with added phone controls on the dash, heated seats and heated, lighted mirrors which can be folded at the touch of a button.
But beware of that trick, it may look very clever to passing pedestrians, but it's a good idea to check over your shoulder before you swing open the door, because even a rigidly built Volvo is not impregnable against a speeding bus.
Security joins safety as a top feature including a panic button, which activated in the event of an attack, turns the car into a hooting Christmas tree.
This cruiser has the potential to blow competition out of the water. If you don't want the leather seats and all the extras I was totally spoilt with, take nearly £10,000 off the price listed below and you'll see a price even non-members of the board may be willing to stretch to.
Words: Bill McCarthy
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