The Volvo S80 has always been an
understated luxury sedan amongst its more flamboyant German counterparts. In
truth, it is that understated nature that has contributed to its charm. In fact
if we look at its brief history, the car has remained relatively similar to its
original form unlike the S60 which has undergone major changes over the years.
The
S80 is an understated and elegant luxury saloon car that does its job well
Volvo has now introduced its new refreshed
S80 for 2014. Though, the new S80 is a facelift over the previous car, the
minor changes have made a difference in the overall feel of the car.
Aesthetically, the car has undergone minor design changes such as a redesigned
bonnet which has lent a slightly muscular look to the luxury sedan without
going overboard.
The
front seats are reputably the best in the business, and there does not seem to
be any reason to dispute the claims
The old fog lamps have been replaced by
LEDs and the daytime parking lamps too are LEDs. The grille too has been
widened slightly. Now you also get twin exhaust layout which lends the car a
sporty appeal along with all LED tail lamp cluster.
The
twin exhausts lend a bit of sportiness to the otherwise understated design
Step inside and you’ll be greeted by a
typical Volvo interior with polished wood centre console. The gear lever though
is new and the analogue clocks have been replaced by the same LCD screen layout
now seen in the XC60 and the V40 and honestly it makes the car look very today.
The materials used inside are top notch and it has a feel good aura in the
cabin.
The
polished wood on the dash adds a dash of elegance to the interior
We got the S80 D5 variant for our drive
which is powered by a 2.4-litre straight five turbo-charged diesel engine
producing 215bhp. The engine has the typical big sedan engine sound as it wakes
up from its slumber and though it is audible on the move it does sound sporty.
The 6-speed geartronic gearbox too does its job well in keeping the revs in
check and upshifting and downshifting smoothly.
The
engine has enough power and torque on tap
However, push the gear lever into S mode
and the beast within starts to show its teeth. As the revs cross the 3,500 rpm
mark the car does a very un-Volvo thing, it starts to growl. The sound is
literally music to the ears. Shift down via the newly added paddle shifts which
confirm its newfound sportiness and you are pushed back into the seat as the
car darts forward. The shifts are good but a tad latent. The downshifts take
time and are a bit jerky. Also, the car tends to be a bit jerky under engine
braking as well.
Passengers
in the rear are well provided for, with ample leg space as well as dedicated
air-conditioning vents that cocoon them in comfort
The handling is good, the large Volvo can
certainly hold its line but there is a bit of body roll though not enough to
cause a hindrance in the driving pleasure. The ride is plaint and comfortable
though the bigger ruts do make themselves heard.
