Skip advert
Advertisement
In-depth reviews

Volvo S80 saloon (2008-2016)

“The Volvo S80 is a well-equipped and extremely comfortable saloon car, but it’s due to be replaced soon and rivals are far better to drive.”

Carbuyer Rating

2.2 out of 5

Owners Rating

4.3 out of 5

Read owner reviews

Pros

  • Very comfortable
  • Premium-quality cabin
  • DRIVe version is very economical

Cons

  • Dull styling
  • Limited driver appeal
  • Very poor resale values

The Volvo S80 is a large saloon car that’s priced to compete with mainstream family cars like the Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall Insignia, as well as premium saloons like the BMW 5 Series an the Mercedes E-Class. Despite offering a beautifully designed cabin and some of the most comfortable seats available in any car, the S80 seems expensive next to the Mondeo, while rivals from BMW and Mercedes have more badge appeal and offer a more enjoyable driving experience.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Despite these reservations, the luxurious interior ambiance and comfort-focused suspension of the S80 makes it an appealing car in which to while away motorway miles. Note that it’s due for replacement soon, however: the new S90 arrives in September of this year and Volvo is already taking orders.

MPG, running costs & CO2

The S80’s 2.0-litre diesel engine offers impressive fuel economy

Because it’s due for imminent replacement, the S80 is only available with a 2.0-litre diesel engine, and this returns an impressive 68.9mpg thanks in part to stop-start technology. CO2 emissions of just 108g/km of CO2 leave S80 owners liable for an annual road tax bill of just £20.

Engines, drive & performance

Feather-light controls make the car relaxing to drive

Volvo designed the S80 with comfort, rather than handling or driver involvement in mind. As a result of this the S80 is very easy to drive, with light steering and soft suspension that soaks up motorway miles with ease as you relax into the comfortable seats. The trade off for this comfort, however, is that the S80 has too much body lean in corners, while the light steering is actually too light, leading to a slightly disconnected feeling for the driver.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Performance from the 2.0-litre D4 diesel engine is reasonable rather than exciting, and its 0-62mph time of 8.4 seconds means that while it easily keeps pace with traffic, those after swifter progress should look elsewhere; the BMW 5 Series is renowned for its enjoyable driving experience, for example, while a Ford Mondeo is also more involving despite being significantly cheaper.

Interior & comfort

Soft suspension is good at soaking up bumps

Drivers of the Volvo S80 are treated to a luxurious and well-equipped interior, complete with Volvo’s trademark ‘floating’ centre console – so-called because it’s very thin and has a storage cubby behind it – although this is slightly awkward to access. The S80’s seats are as comfortable as car seats get, and the interior remains extremely hushed when cruising on the motorway.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Soft suspension means the S80 bounces slightly over more pronounced bumps, but potholes and poor road surfaces are nicely smoothed out. The D4 diesel engine, meanwhile, provides adequate power and doesn’t have to be worked too hard, adding to the relaxing driving experience.

Practicality & boot space

Expect plenty of cabin storage space

Volvo has made good use of the S80’s large size, meaning wherever your passengers sit they’ll have plenty of space to stretch out in. The boot’s 480-litre capacity lags slightly behind the BMW 5 Series’ but it’s a good shape and has a wide opening. Volvo has also put some thought into interior storage: there are plenty of cubbyholes dotted around the cabin, including a large glovebox and centre console storage bin.

Reliability & safety

The S80 majors on safety and build quality

While the S80 feels solidly built, Volvo has taken a dip in terms of reliability lately: its 19th-place finish (out of 32 manufacturers) in our 2015 Driver power customer satisfaction survey is worse than its 2014 result, while the S80 sells in too few numbers to have featured individually. Still, one of the benefits of the S80 being somewhat elderly is that any kinks in production should have been ironed out by now.

In terms of safety, the S80 hasn’t gone through Euro NCAP safety tests since 2000, but Volvo’s excellent reputation for safety should provide peace of mind. The S80 features plenty of safety technology, such as automatic braking, electronic stability control and a pedestrian-detection system, which will alert you if someone walks into the car’s path.

Price, value for money & options

Alloy wheels, climate control and electric windows are standard

In the course of winding down the S80’s production, Volvo only offers two trim levels: SE Nav and Lux. Both of these come with sat nav, leather seats, alloy wheels, climate control and electric windows as standard, while Lux model features a power-adjustable driver’s seat, as well as an upgraded dashboard trip computer.

Some may see the S80 as a luxuriously equipped prestige saloon that’s significantly cheaper than a similarly equipped BMW 5 Series or Mercedes E-Class; others may feel that Volvo’s brand appeal doesn’t quite justify the price tag and consider a Ford Mondeo to offer better value for money.

Whichever of those camps you fall into, one thing is for certain: the S80 will depreciate faster than a similar BMW or Mercedes, and that‘s more true than ever with the new S90 looming large on the horizon.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Richard is a former editor of Carbuyer, as well as sister site DrivingElectric.com, and he's now Deputy Editor at Auto Express. Having spent a decade working in the automotive industry, he understands exactly what makes new car buyers tick.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe: details and first drive of the sleek executive four-door
BMW M235 Gran Coupe front quarter
News
26 Nov 2024

New BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe: details and first drive of the sleek executive four-door

Best new car deals 2024: this week’s Black Friday offers
Carbuyer best new car deals hero
Deals
29 Nov 2024

Best new car deals 2024: this week’s Black Friday offers

New Audi Q5 Sportback lands with SUV stance and a swoopy roof
Audi SQ5 Sportback front quarter
News
26 Nov 2024

New Audi Q5 Sportback lands with SUV stance and a swoopy roof

More on S80

Show me:
Top 3 used luxury saloon cars for £15,000
Top 3 used luxury saloon cars for £15,000
Tips and advice
27 Mar 2020

Top 3 used luxury saloon cars for £15,000

“Dear Carbuyer, I want to buy a large luxury saloon car but want to avoid the ‘usual suspects.’ What can I get for £15,000?”
New Volvo S90: prices, specs and on sale date
News
22 Jun 2016

New Volvo S90: prices, specs and on sale date

The new Volvo S90 executive saloon is on sale now with prices starting at £32,555
Volvo V90 estate: full prices and specs revealed
News
22 Jun 2016

Volvo V90 estate: full prices and specs revealed

Full details of the new Volvo V90 executive estate have been announced

Tips & advice

View All
Car dashboard warning lights: what does each symbol mean?
Car dashboard symbols and meanings
Tips and advice
21 Oct 2024

Car dashboard warning lights: what does each symbol mean?

Electric car charging stations: public networks, charger types, apps and maps
Charging station
Tips and advice
23 Jul 2024

Electric car charging stations: public networks, charger types, apps and maps

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?
PCP vs HP
Tips and advice
17 May 2022

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?

Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Tips and advice
21 Mar 2024

Average speed cameras: how do they work?

Best cars

View All
Top 10 best car interiors
Peugeot 208 hatchback
Best cars
25 Jun 2021

Top 10 best car interiors

Top 10 best electric cars 2024
Best electric cars
Best cars
16 May 2024

Top 10 best electric cars 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024
The best cheap-to-run cars 2023
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024
Fastest hot hatchbacks hero
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024