Volvo S80 reviews

2003 Volvo S80 Driving Impressions

Volvo S80 is smooth, comfortable, and quiet. Turn the ignition key and the starter motor barely whispers. The engine purrs at idle. Only by listening carefully can you hear the pleasant mechanical whir of overhead cams, and the tapping of busy valve gear.

Once underway, the S80 hums softly, even while pulling steadily uphill at 80 mph with good momentum. Wind noise and tire noise are heard as much as the engine; both are light, but more noticeable, because the engine is so quiet. You don't hear the engine at all when the transmission downshifts. All you see is the upward twitch of the tachometer needle.

Last year, Volvo re-tuned the basic 2.9-liter inline-6 for improved response and quicker acceleration; still, it's a bit of a lightweight compared to the twin-turbocharged T6. The naturally aspirated 2.9 delivers just 207 foot-pounds of torque at 4200 rpm. By comparison, the T6 develops 280 foot-pounds at just 1800 rpm, and maintains it up to 5000 rpm. More torque at lower revs means stronger power for accelerating away from intersections or making passes on long, steep grades.

With its more powerful engine, the T6 is a rocket. Mash the throttle and the response is instantaneous. It has lots of power at the low end, enough to light up the front tires, assuming you've pressed the STC button to shut off the traction control. S80 T6 can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in less than 6.5 seconds, quicker than a Lexus LS430 and much quicker than an Acura RL. Variable-valve timing enhances the performance of Volvo's T6, but most of the credit belongs to its two small turbochargers, which feed three cylinders each. Two small turbos spool up quicker than one larger unit, delivering maximum thrust at low rpm. As a result, the T6 is quite responsive when cruising at moderate speeds, say 25-50 mph. Leave the traction control system turned on when you stand on it, and the computer steps in to ensure the front tires lose their grip only momentarily. The system was updated last year with a more powerful processor.

The four-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly and precisely, most notably at higher loads. But occasionally at lower speeds, a quick stomp on the gas causes it to trip over itself, so that it momentarily bogs down before downshifting, and then lurches as it finally finds the right gear.

Both base and T6 turbo models ride comfortably. The suspension absorbs bumps effectively, eliminating road imperfections. It rides and handles well even with a full load of passengers and luggage. The steering is a big vague at the center, and the S80 wanders ever so slightly, requiring small steering corrections. Also, the power assist is tuned so that the steering is on the light side for our tastes. That makes it easy to manage the S80 in parking lots, but we'd like a little more feedback in the steering. In Volvo tradition, the steering is a bit on the slow side, demanding more steering input than other cars in this class. Overall, the S80 doesn't have the handling precision and poise of some of its competitors, such as the BMW 5 Series or the Jaguar S-Type.

S80's brakes are easy to modulate for smooth stops. The suspension does a good job of keeping the S80 level under hard braking: Nosedive during an 80-mph stop was minimal. Braking distances are long for the class.