Volvo S80 T5: Nordic wonder

THE S80 is an executive express loaded with safety features.

Volvo is one of those quirky manufacturers that seem to attract equally quirky people. Owners swear by them and are typically averse to the usual German offerings, preferring the unique and understated Swedes over their brash Gothic counterparts.

The S80 T5 is powered, interestingly enough, by a 4-cylinder 2.0-liter engine and a tiny turbocharger. Volvo claims it’s the smallest one you’ll find in an engine of this size, producing 240 hp and 320 Newton-meters of torque. Attached to it is Volvo’s own Powershift dual-clutch transmission, developed in conjunction with Getrag. Aside from offering imperceptible shifts, it’s more fuel-efficient by 8 percent, compared to the conventional Geartronic automatic transmission, and offering faster shifts to boot.

Attached to the front wheels, it’s more than enough to propel the comfortable 1623-kg limousine spearing down the road to the 100-kph mark from rest in 7.5 seconds. It feels faster as the turbocharger’s small size means the T5 has virtually no perceptible lag and offers amazing low-to midrange grunt, power tapering off only toward the end. But in a Volvo, who drives like a maniac anyway?

At low to medium speeds, and especially in traffic, the S80’s heft means it’s a very comfortable place to be stuck in. Bumps and ruts are pounded into submission. Its persona is confident but not loud, people don’t mind it much and that’s how Volvo owners prefer it. The excellent multi-zone climate control really chills the interior on a very hot and humid Saturday afternoon, and the equally excellent audio system (unfortunately no Dynaudio System here found on other Volvos) plays my garbage-quality MP3 tracks via USB and aux-in connectivity through the powerful surround sound system. Car systems, safety warnings, the climate and cruise control information are displayed on the Volvo’s center-mounted Infotainment System, with a smaller screen directly on your line of sight on the instrument cluster.

It wouldn’t be a proper Volvo if it didn’t have an array of safety features included, perhaps Volvo’s strongest selling point despite its recent campaign to move from simply safe, to very sexy. Of course, there’s the Volvo WHIPS and SIPS systems (whiplash protection and side impact protection system), 6 airbags (dual front, front occupants and curtain airbags), dynamic traction and stability control, ABS-EBD brakes with brake assist, the list goes on.

Parking is also very handy thanks to the sonar-based proximity Park Assistance System. Of course, Volvo’s patented City Safety is available on the S80, as is a standard Blind Spot Indicator System (BLIS) that has a camera mounted on the side-view mirrors monitoring your blind spots and alerting you with flashing lights and a warning on the Infotainment system. Suffice to say, there are far fewer things safer to be in than the S80, which is reassuring at high speeds, and even in traffic, with the recent road rage of city buses rampaging on our busy thoroughfares.

The back seats aren’t as roomy though, and while legroom is decent, it’s on the small side given a car this size for anyone over 5 feet, 8 inches tall. OK, I guess for the average Filipino but for someone as big as me, there are roomier back seats in a smaller package. Nonetheless, it’s comfortable, the leather covered seats providing good relaxation to my tired back. Up front, the S80 has very good seats, and an even better driving position afforded by the electronically adjustable driver’s 12-way seat. I like sitting very low as my 230-lbs frame provides a sizeable difference in driving feel when set all the way down and lowers the center of gravity further in a big car such as the S80. Despite its exterior dimensions, the S80 has no problem slicing through slow-moving traffic, and the responsive engine matches my rhythm perfectly in slice-and-dice driving. The steering’s light, but with decent feel and quite quick. Flooring the throttle elicits minimal torque steer and the S80 catapults forward at a rate you’d expect from an engine with an even bigger displacement. There’s more than enough oomph for 95 percent of all driving situations and conditions, but with a conscientious engine and fuel consumption.

Out on the highway, the S80 prefers a more sedate cruising speed. Above 140 kph and you have to pay a little more attention to the steering, which tends to weave and follow the surface imperfections more so than other cars. The ride gets a bit choppy as well. Perhaps a change in tire model can improve this? At perfectly legal speeds, the Volvo S80 is in its element, and allows you to carry a decent conversation with your passengers.

Fuel consumption is a somewhat impressive 7-7.5 km/liter in combined driving. It is impressive, given the amount of traffic I drove through during the time I had it. But out on the highway, the S80 can deliver an indicated 14 km/liter, based on the fuel consumption and range indicator on the dashboard’s Infotainment System.

The S80 is six years old and is due for a replacement, given that most cars only last between 5-7 years before they end their life cycle. It also bridges the gap between the newer S60 and XC60 SUV and its older, more boxy and traditional Volvos of yore. But make no mistake, the S80 is still a highly capable yet understated executive express for well-heeled enthusiasts looking for a bargain limousine. It’s also quite rare in a sea of German cars, and has enough panache to wow those in the know, loaded with safety features to the hilt.