Fields Volvo Northfield

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Driving Impressions

The Volvo S80 is a rock-solid sedan, a wonderful steed for covering large swaths of highway quickly and comfortably.

We were impressed with the V8 engine, which sounds like a Corvette when first fired up in the morning then settles down to a nice, smooth idle. This engine is a Yamaha-designed 60-degree V8 with balance shafts, so it doesn't sound like a conventional 90-degree V8. It's smooth and creamy all the way up the rev range to 6500 rpm, and for its relatively small displacement, it pulls very well and can easily sustain speeds of 135 mph on the open road. (Maximum speed is electronically limited to 155 mph.) The V8 gets an EPA-rated 15/22 mpg City/Highway.

The base six-cylinder engine with front-wheel drive now rates an improved 18/27 mpg. The turbocharged T6 is also rated better than last year at 16/24 miles per gallon. Maximum torque with the turbo is on tap from just 1500 rpm and remains available all the way up the rev range.

In some areas a PZEV (Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle) version of the base model is available, which trades 10 horsepower (down to 225) for lower emissions and better fuel economy. On these vehicles the six-speed automatic transmission is also recalibrated for maximum efficiency with the PZEV engine.

At high cruising speeds, we found the cabin of our V8 test car quiet, with a bit of wind noise and a bit of tire noise coming in.

The Volvo chassis system underneath the S80 is an evolution of the 4C chassis, with adaptive shock absorbers changing second by second according to inputs from the road and the car itself. The system offers three different settings: Comfort, Sport, and Advanced.

Steering effort is adjustable, and we found the firmest setting to be ideal for our tastes: hefty and solid, the way we like our steering. With the steering set this way and the Advanced settings plugged into the chassis system, the Volvo was a paragon of driving for the sheer fun of it, taut, quick to react, and flat in the corners, with the V8 engine always ready to play.

The Dynamic chassis promises crisper response via shorter and firmer springs, modified shock damping, firmer anti-roll bars and stiffer subframe bushings. It also includes Nivomat automatic leveling.

We experienced the adaptive cruise control system, which worked as advertised to maintain our preset distance to the car ahead in the fast lane, and we heard and saw the collision warning system mounted directly in front of the driver on the dashtop, a system which we quickly silenced on the crowded two-lane roads.

We found the brakes powerful and quick and positive when used hard from high speeds (100 mph).

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