Review

The 2011 Volvo S80 models are more powerful than last year's versions. Both use six-cylinder engines.

The 2011 S80 3.2 delivers 240 horsepower, a slight increase over last year, while meeting stricter ULEV emissions standards. The S80 3.2 comes with a 3.2-liter six-cylinder and front-wheel drive. Volvo says it can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in a respectable 7.4 seconds while the federal government says it gets 19/27 mpg City/Highway.

The 2011 S80 T6 AWD has been boosted to 300 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque, a substantial increase over last year. The T6 comes with a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 and all-wheel drive, which can propel it from 0-60 in a very quick 6.3 seconds. The S80 T6 is EPA-rated at 18/26 mpg. The T6 Dynamic Package delivers crisper response with the sport chassis with shorter and firmer springs, modified shock damping, firmer anti-roll bars and stiffer subframe bushings.

The S80 is at its best hurtling down the highway where it's a stable, comfortable platform. It's quite fast. It handles winding roads well for a large luxury car.

Inside is a sumptuous cabin with comfortable seats, sophisticated audio, and an available navigation system. Optional adaptive cruise control allows the driver to maintain set following distances with the cars ahead: the system will accelerate or slow the car as needed. The S80 is loaded with safety equipment, from its protective structure to its state-of-the-art active and passive safety features.

The current-generation version was launched as a 2007 model. For 2011, Sirius Satellite Radio comes standard. The V8 model has been discontinued."

Line-Up
"The 2011 Volvo S80 3.2 ($36,950) comes with a 3.2-liter inline-6 and front-wheel drive. Standard are dual-zone automatic climate control with pollen filter; AM/FM/6CD/MP3 160-watt audio with eight speakers, Sirius Satellite Radio, auxiliary input, and USB connection; Bluetooth telephone interface; real wood trim; leather seats; leather-wrapped tilt-and-telescope steering wheel with audio and cruise controls; leather-wrapped shift knob; eight-way power front seats with memory for the driver; split folding rear seat; power windows; central power locking (including the fuel filler door) with remote keyless entry; power trunk release; power heated outside mirrors with memory; auto-dimming inside mirror; outside temperature gauge; four reading lamps; two 12-volt outlets; and 225/50R17 tires on 17-inch alloy wheels. Options include a power sunroof ($1,000) and 18-inch wheels with 245/40R18 tires ($750).

The S80 T6 AWD ($40,700) comes with a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 and all-wheel drive. The sunroof and 18-inch wheels come standard, along with an electric parking brake. The Dynamic Package ($1,400) upgrades to the Sport Chassis, xenon headlamps with Active Light Bending, and 18-inch Fortuna wheels.

Options include the Multimedia Package ($2,700) with HDD navigation, real-time traffic, rearview camera, Dynaudio 650-watt, 12-speaker Dolby Pro Logic II Surround Sound system, rear headphone jacks, rear audio controls, remote control, and Map Care. The Inscription Package ($1,800) features Sovereign Hide full soft leather seating surfaces, classic walnut wood steering wheel, ventilated front seats, classic walnut wood inlays (upper dash and door panels), leather and classic walnut wood gearshift lever, leather center armrest cover and special trim. The Climate Package ($1,000) upgrades to heated front and rear seats, heated windshield washer nozzles, high-pressure headlight washers, Rainsensor windshield wipers, Blueband IR-protected windshield, Interior Air Quality System (IAQS) and a humidity sensor. Stand-alone options include Volvo's Personal Car Communicator with Keyless Drive ($550), dual xenon headlights with Active Bending Light ($800), Front and Rear Park Assist ($500).

Safety equipment on all S80 models is world-class, starting with the patented body structure and including ABS with a sophisticated hydraulic brake assist, dynamic stability control, traction control, dual-threshold front airbags, dual-chamber side airbags (with one chamber for the hips and one for the chest), side-curtain airbags, next-generation WHIPS rear-impact protection, tire pressure monitor, and front and rear fog lights. All-wheel drive enhances safety in adverse conditions.

Volvo cites studies suggesting that up to 90 percent of all traffic accidents are caused by driver fatigue and/or distraction. Based on this finding, Volvo offers the Technology Package ($1,850), consisting of Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Collision Warning with Brake Support (CWAB), Distance Alert (DA), Driver Alert Control (DAC), and Lane Departure Warning (LDW). Optional is the blind-spot information system, or BLIS ($700), that senses vehicles in the right and left blind spots and delivers a warning if there's something there. These features are a good idea and we recommend them, along with front and rear park assist and the rearview camera that comes with the navigation system."

Walk Around
"The Volvo S80 is a handsome sedan with distinctive styling, though it's getting a bit long in the tooth. The S80 shares the semi-fastback profile of the smaller Volvo S60.

The S80 is comparable in size to the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Cadillac CTS, and Lexus GS.

Wheels on the S80 3.2 are a 17-inch design Volvo calls Cassini, with a bright-finish, nine-spoke pattern; they are available for the T6, also. The T6 comes with 18-inch wheels in a pattern called Balius. The 18-inch Fortuna Diamond Cut, optional for the S80 3.2, has seven spokes with machined surfaces at the tips."

Interior
"The sumptuous surroundings in the S80 are amplified by the wonderfully comfortable seats and the generous front and rear legroom that helps to put the S80 squarely in the luxury class. The seats are available plain, heated, or heated and cooled. For 2011, new Toscana Tan/Off Black and Espresso Brown/Soft Beige interior colors are available with the Inscription Package.

The instruments in the S80 are mounted in the traditional Volvo trapezoidal binnacle, and Volvo's watch dial instrument faces are standard on all S80 models. The freestanding center stack that connects the dashboard to the console is a key design element. The switches, controls and instruments follow traditional Volvo themes, but everything is contemporary, including the tachometer and speedometer, more classic and less industrial than in previous designs. A menu system tailors the seats, rearview mirrors, climate control, audio, navigation.

The navigation system pops up out of the dashtop, either by using the steering-wheel-mounted controls on the right rear of the wheel or the provided remote control, which stores in the console. We found the steering wheel controls fussy and hard to use, but owners will figure them out quickly.

The 160-watt, eight-speaker sound system will play MP3 files and has an auxiliary input for iPods and other players. Sirius Satellite Radio is standard. A USB port is provided. Also available is a five-channel, 12-speaker Dolby Pro Logic II surround-sound system developed with Dynaudio.

The Personal Car Communicator is an electronic key fob that can lock or unlock the S80 from distances up to 110 yards, and can tell you what state the locks are in. It can activate the alarm, and can sense the presence of a human heartbeat inside the car."

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

Fuel economy for the base S80 with the 3.2-liter six-cylinder engine with front-wheel drive is an EPA-rated 19/27 mpg City/Highway.

The turbocharged T6 is rated 18/26 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.

At cruising speeds, we found the cabin 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.

The Dynamic chassis promises crisper response via shorter and firmer springs, modified shock damping, firmer anti-roll bars and stiffer subframe bushings.

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 in action and preferred to turn it off when on the crowded two-lane roads.

We found the brakes powerful and quick and positive when used hard from high speeds."

Summary
"The Volvo S80 is a good choice among luxury sedans. It comes with Volvo's well-deserved reputation for safety engineering, so it's a very safe car. It has an understated grace. On the road, it's quick and powerful, surefooted and solid. The all-wheel-drive system that comes on the T6 enhances safety in slippery conditions.

NewCarTestDrive.com correspondent Jim McCraw reported from Sweden, with Mitch McCullough reporting from Charlottesville, Virginia."