2004 Volvo S80 Review

Specifications

Upscale Style and More Performance

Before talking road test details, I just need to say that I find Volvos interiors to be among the most attractive and logically laid-out of any mass produced vehicle, regardless of pedigree or price. In the recently updated S80, form and function come together like peanut butter and toast, or bacon and eggs - its just that good.

Volvos reputation for safety is even more renowned - and thats notoriety that every car company ought to strive for. But it wasnt until the introduction of the 1999 S80 that the Swedish brand developed a reputation for style. The S80 broke Volvos square as a brick design language, which drew much criticism from many journalists and a large segment of the motoring public. I must say though, that Id always admired Volvos courage for being unique in the styling department; there is no mistaking a 740 for a Ford Taurus!

Now that youve conjured up an image of the ovoid midsize sedans lines, lets compare the 2004 Taurus to the latest S80 in terms of size. Believe it or not, the substantial feeling Volvo requires approximately 7 fewer inches of curb space in order to parallel park. In spite of the Volvos brevity, its wheelbase is close to 1.5 inches longer than that of the Taurus. The elongated wheelbase, relative to the vehicles overall length, serves the S80 well. Not only does it improve handling by reducing the front and rear overhangs; it enables interior dimensions similar to those of the Taurus. But thats where the comparisons come to a screeching halt.

Before we leave the issues of size and style at the curbside, I want it on record that I continue to admire the exterior styling of the S80. Given that no significant revisions have occurred since its 1999 introduction, its design remains as fresh, distinctive and appealing as it did some five years ago. In the automotive world of fickle fashion, that alone is an achievement worthy of praise.

Perhaps the most meaningful amendment since its inception is the recent introduction of all-wheel-drive. This hardware fundamentally alters the S80s relevance in the marketplace, instantly transforming it from a better than average front-wheel drive sedan with luxurious pretensions into an all-wheel drive, weather-beating premium sport sedan. And depending in which jurisdiction you reside north of the equator, this can be a very good thing.

In fact the S80 brings many good things to the midsize luxury category. It didnt take long, after picking the vehicle up on a rainy night, to figure that out. Upon climbing into the car with my nine-year old know-it-all in tow, I was immersed in its sense of tranquility - imparted primarily by a high level of solidity, comfort, plus the brands respected reputation for safety. Before driving away in an unfamiliar vehicle, I always take a few minutes to familiarize myself with the controls, dash layout and options. Then I adjust the seating position, mirrors and steering wheel in order to maximize safety and comfort. The finale in this ritual is the setting of the radio presets, usually a straightforward process but not so in the S80.

Now dont get me wrong, not being intuitively designed should not be interpreted as burdensome. Once I figured it out, the process became very straightforward. I point this out because I think the audio controls in the S80 are a perfect example of how Volvo doesnt necessarily follow the flow, if you will, when it comes to engineering and design. Like a kid who could care less about peer pressure, I got the sense that Volvo could care less about the pressure to copy what is either status quo or trendy in the automotive world.

For example, there isnt a glitzy LCD screen glowing annoyingly in the dash of Volvos flagship sedan. Just the same I couldnt find a myriad of little buttons lined up row upon row on the dash. What is found, are easy to use dials for adjusting the temperature, fan and audio settings. Also present is one of the best HVAC control panels in the industry. Printed across the three large buttons comprising the panel is the outline of a body and head, in the seated position. By pressing the button that represents the area of the body that I wanted ventilated, the system silently reconfigures and fulfills the request.

So now that weve dealt with air delivery, and other pre-drive matters, lets fire up the 208 horsepower, light pressure turbocharged and intercooled inline 5-cylinder with continuously variable valve timing (CVVT), and head onto the dimly lit, wet city streets. The transversely mounted 2.5 liter (153 cu-in) DOHC engine runs quietly and with remarkable smoothness within normal operating parameters.

Under hard acceleration, its easy to hear the distinctive sound of the low-pressure turbo doing its part to motivate all 3,626 pounds of luxury down the road. Regrettably, its 208 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque wont completely satisfy enthusiast drivers, those that more often than not look to one of the German marques or the new Infiniti G35x AWD with its 280 horsepower to satisfy their accelerating needs.

But didnt I say that Volvo is the automotive equivalent of the kid who could care less about peer pressure? With the AWD S80, I dont think Volvo is going after the Michael Schumachers among us. More so the pragmatic, commonsense individuals that seek a vehicle capable of all-weather driving and superior safety. For such owners, the S80 is more than adequately powered. The horses are released from the stable in a smooth and progressive fashion, although the tachometer will read in excess of 4,000 rpm before power reaches its performance potential. That being said, the low-pressure turbo is lag free and non-intrusive.

I have a minor quibble with the I-5 though. Theres a vibration that works its way to the steering wheel when the engine is at idle. I know, I know - vibration has been the bane of all 5-cylinder engines since Audi made them popular in the first generation 5000, but even the German brand managed to virtually eliminate this gremlin in its final years. I find it disappointing that in a premium level car, such an irritation hasnt been properly put to bed. A slight increase in idle speed may be all that is needed to eliminate the low rent feel created by the vibration.

Whats not low rent is the way the 5-speed adaptive automatic transmission deals with the engines output. Shift points are nicely spaced and gear changes occur with accuracy and grace. The setup is oriented toward being unobtrusive as opposed to sporting.

The AWD system operates quite invisibly too. Its an electronically controlled system, over which the driver has no governing ability. In normal driving, the front wheels propel the vehicle. If spinning is detected, power is automatically shifted to the rear wheels in lightning time. When either of the front or rear wheels begin to spin, Volvos TRACS traction control system shifts the torque to the opposite wheel on the same axle while using braking force to slow the spinning wheel.

Unfortunately, I wasnt able to find the icy road conditions that would permit a proper assessment on the S80s AWD system, however, hard cornering and acceleration on wet roads failed to generate any cause for concern. The S80 remained in contact with the pavement at all times. Wheel spin was nonexistent and control was never compromised. There is no doubt that the AWD and TRACS technology, working together, do what Volvo claims. When confronting mountain passes and Mother Natures worst offerings, I believe I would feel very secure in the S80, regardless of road conditions.

Of course much of the S80s secure road manners can be attributed to chassis engineering and suspension design. The big Volvo utilizes an independent front suspension with MacPherson struts, coil springs and hydraulic shock absorbers. The rear of the S80 is suspended on independent multi-links and coil springs, bolstered by hydraulic shock absorbers and a rear stabilizer bar. This arrangement rewards drivers with very flat, predictable handling dynamics. By spooling up the turbo when cornering hard, the S80 will hunker down and dig its Pirellis into the pavement while holding a perfect arc as the G-forces rise and fall. Slight understeer keeps the car on-line, while the rear wheels remain firmly planted. There is little to no tendency for the rear of the S80 to swing out and cause a loss of control or significant oversteer.

My test vehicle was equipped with the optional Touring Package, which strikes an excellent yet often elusive balance between handling and comfort. Accepting that the S80 is a luxury sedan, a firmer setup would defeat its purpose by excessively degrading ride quality, anything softer and the sporting soul of the S80 would be overshadowed by lethargic handling. Throughout my week of driving I found that it accomplished both highway driving and in-town bumbling with admirable composure and agility.

The antithesis of acceleration is braking. Here again the Volvo engineers have burnt the midnight oil, or should I say the midnight brake fluid. The S80 is equipped with large, powerful 4-wheel vented disc brakes. The braking modus operandi features antilock and electronic brake force distribution. Little braking effort is required to bring the S80 to repeated sure-footed stops. In fact, I found the pedal a little too sensitive for my liking, however that may not be the case for drivers with smaller ham hocks than mine. Thanks to its well-engineered chassis, emergency brake maneuvers in the S80 did not result in nosedive or forward pitching that could otherwise jeopardize control by causing a vehicle to become unsettled or destabilized.

ABS brakes form part of the modern-day safety package available on many cars. In addition to ABS and a body shell engineered to absorb impacts without compromising the high-strength passenger safety cage, Volvo has added a number of other safety features to the S80. They include WHIPS, short for Whiplash Protection System; driver and front passenger, dual threshold airbags; side impact airbags and inflatable side curtains.

Although Volvo may be fixated on safety, and whos going to complain about that, they are also well attuned to comfort and convenience. As previously mentioned the S80 is their flagship sedan, therefore it rides the luxury car gravy train when it comes to occupant assuagement.

The S80 is nicely equipped in base form. In addition to the regular “bells and whistles” expected in a premium level car, the S80 arrives with such goodies as dual-zone climate control, ABS based traction control, 8 speaker audio with single in-dash CD, tilt/telescopic wheel, remote entry with memory settings, homelink, power driver seat with lumbar and rain sensing wipers.

Major option packages include a Premium Package that delivers a power glass moonroof, leather seats and front passenger power seat. The Touring Package will add an electrochromic rearview mirror, leather parking brake handle, side break resistant security glass, grocery bag holder, interior air quality system and interior air filter. An upgraded traction control system is also available. Upgraded from the ABS based traction control system is the Dynamic Stability Traction Control (DSTC) system, which is operated via the ABS brake system in coordination with engine power reduction. DSTC measures wheel speed and yaw rate in determining which wheels require braking and which require additional torque to maintain vehicle control.

For owners that may be geographically challenged, the S80 can be equipped with Volvos DVD-based Navigation System, featuring a 6.5-inch screen. An upgraded audio system is also available.

Regardless of how one might choose to outfit an all-wheel-drive S80, the resulting vehicle will impress. Even to the most critical eye, the S80 is a very well put together vehicle. I found fit and finish to be superb in my test sample, with Volvos selection of interior materials and finishes way above average. Actually, I couldnt find a single surface lacking or displeasing to touch. It really felt like I was riding in a much larger, more substantial vehicle than its taut exterior dimensions disguised.

But thats all part of the Volvo experience. Safety, security and comfort rank among the top of all Volvo attributes. With the addition of all-wheel-drive, the S80 has taken these ideals to a new level of performance and handling competence. In addition to being a wonderful car to drive, the S80 achieves a “better than most” rating by JD Power in the area of mechanical quality. After all, whats safety worth without reliability?

In the end, although this particular model is soon due for a complete makeover, its still a worthy contender in the midsize luxury market. Its not cheap, especially considering that for a few thousand more its possible to buy into a BMW 5-Series or Mercedes-Benz E Class, but thats a few thousand more over a fully loaded S80 - the German cars are just getting started. Really the Swede offers more car for the money when compared to these two. Maybe its not that expensive after all?