Volvo S80 EXECUTIVE RANGE
Volvos Range-Topping S80 Executive Models Aim To Offer A Genuine Luxury Alternative To The German Mainstream. Andy Enright Reports
How we love shopping at IKEA. That sparsely designed look, the trendy minimalism that demonstrates to guests how cosmopolitan and European we are hits all the right buttons with some folk. If hitting buttons is your thing, then youll love the
Volvo S80 Executive range. Packed with equipment, its not so much chuck out the chintz as chuck in the entire options list and then some.
Minimalism doesnt get too much of a look in here, crowded out by brazen, unapologetic luxury.
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The S80 Executive range does stop to make you wonder whats going on at
Volvo. First, we had the gorgeous C70 coupe and convertible models. Then, in more recent times, Gothenburg gave us the S80 saloon, its most serious attempt ever to challenge the luxury executive establishment normally dominated by cars like the Mercedes E-class,
BMW's 5 Series and
Audi's A6. No easy task of course, which is why the S80 range, and the Executive models in particular, come armed with an awesome portfolio of virtues. Model for model, you'll find them bigger, faster and more environmentally friendly than any of their Teutonic rivals. Oh, and less expensive too, with prices in this case starting from a not inconsequential £39,943 for the 163bhp D5 diesel before topping out at £39,648 for the 272bhp 2.8-litre turbocharged T6 engine. As with all S80 variants, they come equipped with a package of items that include satellite navigation, alloy wheels, a CD player, cruise control and wood-effect trim.
This, however, is not how the Executive models differentiate themselves.
"The S80 Executive is more than your average luxury barge with the contents of Comet and Kingdom Of Leather levered into it"
Theres more to this car however, than simply an extra level of equipment. To cater for chauffeur-driven applications, rear passenger legroom has been improved, and the rear seats themselves have been upgraded to heated armchair-style numbers, trimmed in leather. If youre the sort of person whos accustomed to turning left upon entering a 747, youll know what to expect. To facilitate entry to the back, the doors hingeing system has been modified to let the doors open wider.
The ambience in the back is given the perfect gentlemans club quality by the addition of genuine walnut trim, which tends to be a rare sight these days. Injection-moulded walnut, a species imported from Japan sometime in the early seventies, thankfully doesnt appear. The piece de resistance in the back is the fitment of a refrigerator to chill your GandTs as youre hustled to the Executive Lounge. A rear console is fitted which houses a power outlet, electric rear window sun curtain switch, ashtray and additional storage cubbies.
Plus theres the Volvo Road Traffic Information system and integrated telephone, remote control front and rear TV/video monitors and a DVD player. Other electronic gadgets include a Dolby Pro-Logic sound system and a WAP dual band phone that lets you check your share prices or book pizzas on the go. If you want the genuine Euro-Commissioner effect, why not specify the dark-tinted rear windows, soft leather upholstery and armoured protection? Back in the real world, youll find the S80 Executive is more than your average luxury barge with the contents of Comet and Kingdom Of Leather levered into it. Take the styling - which incidentally looks better in the metal than in the photographs.
You certainly won't mistake it for anything else. "We didn't want to keep designing 850/S70 shapes just so people knew it was safe,'' says Volvo's ex-design chief Peter Horbury, firmly relegating the familiar slab-sided look to the history books. At least one thing hasn't changed. 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 '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%.
The long wheelbase allows for a bigger passenger compartment. Indeed, take a long trip in an Executive after spending time in one of its German rivals and it isn't long before you appreciate the fact. Wherever you're sitting, there's more room for arms, legs and shoulders. You could almost be in a car from the next class up. All Executive models boast suitably powerful engines. Most buyers will choose the D5 oil-burner (0-60mph in 9.
8s and 130mph all ends up) though some may opt for the flagship 'T6', which boasts an impressive 272bhp 2.8-litre twin-turbo six, with performance equivalent to a V8. Here, sixty is 7.2s away en route to 155mph.
In summary, the Executive models build upon the success enjoyed by the most credible luxury saloon Volvo has yet made. If the thought of a genuinely luxurious Swedish car is something that doesnt sit entirely comfortably with you, take a test drive in the S80 Executive and then reflect whether anything similarly priced from BMW, Audi or
Mercedes-Benz comes close. Then compare their residual values after three years. You could be in for a shock.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Volvo S80 Executive range
PRICES: £34,943-£39,648 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 13-16
CO2 EMISSIONS: 172-266g/km
PERFORMANCE: [2.9] 0-60mph 8.2s / Max Speed 146mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [2.9] (combined) 27.9mpg
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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