Volvo S80 2.4 D5
Volvos Common Rail Diesel Engine Is Impressive. Andy Enright Takes A Look At The S80 Variants.
Amongst classmates, a D5 was the ultimate mark of respect. It denoted the lowest grade for effort and the highest for achievement. If your report card had solid D5s all the way down you were the very icon of teenage cool. That title probably wont apply to the
Volvo S80 D5, but heres a car that doesnt need to try very hard to get results.
Therefore it comes as quite a surprise to hear the normally reserved Swedish manufacturer proclaiming that they "belong among the very elite in diesel technology." Hold your horses a second, Hans-Olov Olsson, President and CEO of Volvo Cars. Thats fighting talk, especially when the D5 is the first ever in-house manufactured Volvo diesel engine. Yes, weve seen Volvo diesels before, but they were relatively rudimentary units compared to the all-singing/dancing D5 unit and were based on designs from other companies such as
Renault. The old Volvo humility emerges when Olsson goes on to note that "Knowing what we know now, I must admit that we should have focused on our own diesel engines earlier", but then becomes overcome with excitement and goes all
BMW on us, "It combines the sort of dynamic driving characteristics, comfort and economy that will place it well and truly in the lead." So much for the big build up, what do we actually get beneath the bonnet of the S80? Based on their 2.4-litre all aluminium five-cylinder engine, the D5 has received additional strengthening to cope with the torque loading and stresses of a diesel unit and Volvo seem to have got things admirably right first time. Talking torque, the D5 generates a healthy 340Nm at just 1750rpm, which is more than a 250bhp T5 petrol unit and comfortably more than a Mercedes E320. Dont be tempted to think that this amount of lugging power comes at the expense of refinement.
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Twist the key and youll get a slight thrum thatll remind you which pump to pull up at but nothing thats going to make you invest in an uprated stereo system to drown out the din. On a par with the better diesels from
Audi and Mercedes, if not quite
BMW standard, engine noise is well controlled even when ascending the rev range, when the engine takes on an impressive, albeit muted, induction roar like a very powerful petrol engine.
"The S80 D5 is, however, a car for the grand tour, its 15.4-gallon fuel tank giving it a cruising range of over 900 miles"
Unleashing all 163bhp is certainly an impressive exercise, as unlike so many diesel engines, theres a useable amount of flexibility to be had near the top end of the rev band, although a bit of a hole exists at the bottom end. So, a diesel that revs like a decent petrol engine and sounds like one too does it have the performance to match? To be frank, no it doesnt. Those chaps at
Volvo may be clever but they cant manage the impossible, especially when you factor in the S80 D5s 46mpg average economy figure. Still a sprint to 60mph in 9.
8 seconds is hardly lethargic and a top speed of 130mph will be enough for all but the most gimlet-eyed autobahn stormers. The S80 D5 is, however, a car for the grand tour, its 15.4-gallon fuel tank giving it a cruising range of over 900 miles - a distance that could be covered for less than £65 in petrol! The engine features a number of firsts. Not only is it Volvos first stab at an oil burner, but its also the first to use Boschs second-generation common rail fuel injection system boasting higher injector pressures.
This means a more consistent injection cycle, better fuel economy and fewer emissions. Two variants are available, with £25,538 SE Lux version being the main seller and the Executive (£34,265) model being for those at boardroom level. Both feature an equipment list that includes satellite navigation, 16" alloy wheels, a CD player, cruise control, wood-effect trim and an upholstery upgrade. If you really want the plush option, the Executive version is the one to go for. As for safety, well, this is being billed as the world's safest car - and it's hard to argue. There are airbags everywhere: two at the front and two at the side, all of which have been programmed to activate less aggressively. Plus there's an inflatable curtain which covers the side windows and protects the occupant's head in a lateral impact. On top of all that and class leading side, front and rear impact protection, there's also WHIPS (Volvo's new 'whiplash protection system'). In the event of an impact, the whole
seat moves backwards to absorb the initial impact and prevent the body being catapulted forwards. Simultaneously, the upper part of the seat moves up and forward to protect the neck and spine. The result should reduce the likelihood of whiplash injuries by as much as 50%.
Since the S80 is front, rather than rear wheel driven, you shouldn't expect it to handle like a BMW - nor does it. There's little to choose however, between the Volvo and its rivals at Audi and Mercedes when it comes to hurling the car round the twisty stuff. Refinement and ride quality are equally outstanding and Volvo's Stability Traction Control System (STC) is standard on all models. The Volvo S80 D5 doesnt need the big build up to succeed. The solid engineering and impressive value that it represents means that this is a car that doesnt need to try too hard. When youre this good, success just falls into your lap
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Volvo S80 2.4-litre D5 diesel range
PRICES: £24,860-£34,265 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 13
CO2 EMISSIONS: 172g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 9.8s / Max Speed 130mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 33.6 (extra urban) 58.9 (combined) 46.3mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags, side airbags, side impact curtains WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE ?: Length/Width/Heightmm 4820/1830/1450
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