Volvo S80 D5 : FIVE TORQUE-ING

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Can the latest D5 diesel engine propel Volvo's S80 into the executive car big league? Steve Walker takes a look.

Attempting to make headway in the executive car market without a competitive diesel engine is like setting out from Mount Everest base camp wearing flip-flops and a sombrero. You're unlikely to be taken seriously and run a serious risk of coming a cropper. The Volvo D5 diesel engine fitted to the S80 saloon was a good unit in its day but had been falling further off the fierce pace set by the class leaders for a while. Things needed to change and Volvo's engineers were tasked with changing them. The result of their efforts is still called the D5 but it's different in virtually every other respect.

When the Mk2 Volvo S80 first appeared, most saw this vehicle as a facelift instead of the all-new car it actually was. They spotted the reassuringly familiar proportions, the solid, dependable Volvo design cues and the emphasis on safety and assumed that all was pretty much as before. It would be easy to make the same mistake with the D5 engine now fitted to the S80. The name might remain the same but like the car it's fitted to, this unit represents a large step in the right direction. The 2.4-litre capacity and five-cylinder layout is shared with the old Volvo D5 engine but that's where the similarities end. This is a modern all-aluminium engine with twin sequential turbochargers, piezoelectric fuel injectors and an advanced Exhaust Gas Recirculation system. The power output of 205bhp is accompanied by a meaty 420Nm maximum torque that's achieved from 2,900rpm right up to 5,000rpm. The twin turbos help deliver the engine's broad spread of muscle. The smaller one boosts acceleration at lower engine speeds, giving the larger unit time to get into its stride and help out at higher revs. The aim is to eliminate the narrow power band and turbo lag that afflicts less advanced engines, providing a seamless flow of power through the gears.

"Fitted to the S80 executive saloon, the D5 can achieve some impressive results."

The fuel injection system is also crucial to the S80 D5's performance. The piezoelectric injectors are precisely controlled by the engine management computer firing optimum quantities of atomised fuel into the combustion chamber at exactly timed intervals. This produces a highly efficient combustion with improvements to performance and fuel economy as well as engine refinement. It's only when you get the Mk1 S80 next to the current generation model that you'll see quite how far it has evolved. Yes, many of the primary design cues are still much the same. The car retains the distinctive shoulders that run all the way back to the tail lights that look like a piece of ornate marquetry. The roofline is still arched in an almost coupe-like manner and there's still a rather bluff grille up front. Where the biggest changes have been made is in the vehicle's stance and its fine detailing. Compared to the latest model, the Mk1 S80 looks notably less athletic. It seems to ride higher and the front and rear overhangs are longer. The interior pursues a different set of design goals than many of the S80's direct rivals. It's refreshing that a premium manufacturer has the nous to go its own way in terms of design and the S80's `Scandinavian Luxury' take differs from the increasingly prevalent Teutonic themes offered by the majority of the other premium brands. Volvo claim their `design language' radiates a simpler, more stylish and modern feel by combining aesthetics and technology in a more inviting and intelligent way. The interior design offers a blend of no-nonsense Scandinavian style with a slim 'floating' centre stack, quality materials for upholsteries and a choice of inlays and colour schemes that blend smoothly together. As ever, Volvo is highly committed to providing safety leadership in its class. Safety technology for the S80 includes clever active safety systems - Collision Warning and Brake Support - with Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), active Bi-Xenon headlights and a patented body structure developed at the Volvo Safety Centre. The S80 includes an optional key fob offering 'keyless drive' and incorporating a world first innovation - the Personal Car Communicator (PCC) which features intelligent technology to remotely check if the car is locked or not, alert you if the alarm has been activated and a heartbeat sensor which warns if there is anyone in the car. The advanced features in the latest Volvo D5 diesel are as much about increasing efficiency as they are about providing smooth and abundant performance. With a 45.6mpg combined economy figure for the S80 D5, they seem to be doing their job. Nitrogen oxide emissions are reduced by the clever EGR Exhaust Gas Recirculation system which cools the exhaust before feeding it back into the engine to be burned again. Together with a 164g/km CO2 emissions rating, this helps make the car one of the cleanest executive saloons out there. Powerful V8 petrol engines are all very well but in the real world of the executive car market most people by small diesels. A genuinely competitive engine matching that description can be the difference between success and failure but Volvo is confident it's got one in the shape of its latest D5 unit. Fitted to the S80 executive saloon, the D5 can achieve some impressive results. The S80's appeal as an alternative to the usual Germanic suspects has grown stronger with the introduction of the D5 engine. Now the car can couple its excellent safety credentials, and attractive Scandinavian design with a diesel engine that can genuinely hold its own against the sector's big players.

Facts At A Glance
CAR: Volvo S80 D5
PRICES: £27,000-£40,000 - on the road [est]
INSURANCE GROUPS: 15-16 [est]
CO2 EMISSIONS: 164g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 8s / Max Speed 143mph [est]
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 45.6mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags, side airbags, side impact curtains WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE ?: Length/Width/Heightmm 4850/1860/1488