Volvo S80 2.5T – Driver Optional
Before the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and the BMW 5 Series established themselves as the de facto choice of lawyers, businessmen, and anyone else who wants to show the world they have made it, there had existed a third alternative, which was the Volvo 240.
Yes, you remember them do you? Every neighbourhood had one alongside the Mercedes 230 E, itself a very robust and reliable car. It was a time when the BMW 5 Series did not carry as much clout as it does today, and Volvo had already cemented its reputation as the most safety-obsessed manufacturer out there.
The Volvo 240 came from an era where cars were built like tanks and engineered with a bottomless pit of money. Its contemporaries included the W123 and W124 generation Merc E-Class, both of which, like the 240, are almost indestructible.
Here’s my theory, because these cars were, by default, bulletproof, the successful businessmen who bought them drove them for long periods of time, until they retired. So, when we see all these retirees driving them, it led to people labeling them as “Uncle’s cars” – a moniker which stuck to succeeding models in the range as well. BMW’s late emergence to the market served them very well indeed.
At a glance, the newly facelifted Volvo S80 might lead you into thinking that it’s another “Uncle’s car” offering from Sweden. Well, don’t let the toned down looks fool you into thinking that, because I can pretty much assure you that you won’t be finding too many of these cars parked in pensioners houses.
Launched just half a month ago, the S80’s conservative-looking shell is actually packed to the brim with technology. To show us what this car is made of, Volvo Car Malaysia recently rounded up nearly three dozen journalists and sent us on our way to Penang to put the S80 through its paces.
What’s been updated?
I don’t know if there was ever such a saying, but I believe it’s fair to say you can’t go to war expecting to win without having your flagship armed to the teeth. When your enemy has cars like the BMW 5 Series and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, you’ll need some serious metal parked in your showrooms.
On paper, the S80 certainly does not disappoint. An output of 200hp and 300Nm from a 2,521cc blown five-pot is decently respectable for daily use, but that’s not quite good enough to stand heads and shoulders with the Germans.
So, for this new facelift, Volvo upped the ante – the S80 in its sole 2.5T guise now produces 231hp @ 4,800rpm and 340Nm @ 1,700 – 4,800rpm. In case you’re wondering, we have already checked these figures with Volvo’s international press site to confirm that they weren’t confused with those produced by diesel variants. Completing the drivetrain package is a 6-speed auto sending drive to the front axles.
The key selling point of the S80 is its array of safety features that will have even Mercedes and BMW owners green with envy. Some of the features that would really make their presence felt in your day-to-day driving will include the Blind Spot Information System (BLIS), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Driver Alert Control (DAC), and Collision Warning with Auto Brake.
What’s not very new on the S80 however, is its interior. Tech junkies may liken its older, no-LCD screen dash to yesterday’s news, we beg to differ. While German dashes overwhelm you with enough buttons to fly an aircraft, the simpler and more elegant console of the S80 sets up a very welcoming ambiance for the cabin.
The Drive
If having the driving dynamics of, say, a BMW 3 Series means a great deal to you, this is not the car for you. Driving engagement is not the forte of this car, and nor has it ever been advertised as such.
The truth is, the S80 takes a great deal of the driving off your hands. During our media drive, the PLUS highway was infested with speed traps, necessitating the use of its Active Cruise Control system as we crawled our way back from Penang.
After setting your preferred speed into the system, all you have to do is steer the car on your lane. When you’re closing in on slower traffic, it slows down and keeps a safe distance. Once traffic clears, it goes back up to your preferred speed. It really made me wonder was I even needed on the driver’s seat.
However, if you wish to take the initiative and handle the driving yourself, the 2.5-litre lump up front helps bring you up to speeds of 150-160kph with great ease. Hitting the double ton is possible, but we won’t advise it. Despite what felt like a firm suspension tuning, the S80’s chassis setup is not geared for hard driving.
Along the twists of our trunk roads, the S80 handled hard driving reasonably well. The four Continental SportContact-2 tyres had more than decent grip when pushed, but if you were to really hammer it, it’s not going to feel too comfortable. This is a car best driven at a sedate pace.
The aforementioned multi-acronym safety features, meanwhile, all add up to a car that really takes care of itself; it makes sure you know about that motorcycle hiding in your blind spot, that you’re drifting into the next lane, that you need an espresso, or even that you’re getting to close to the car in front. It communicates with you via a series of beeps and blinking red lights.
While there is no doubt that these features were designed with the best of intentions, they can also form a double-edged sword. Over-reliance on technology detaches us from the driving experience, making us relying more on circuits than common sense when navigating the currents of traffic and pedestrians.
Conclusion
In terms of driving enjoyment, the S80 does not offer a lot. The array of technologies puts an electronic barrier that prevents you from getting a wholesome interaction with the car. I found the less powerful and less-equipped V50 2.0 Powershift which I also tried during the trip to be a more engaging drive than the S80.
If things like feedback and feel does not feature too high on your priorities, then the S80 represents excellent value for money. Its cosy interior deserves particular credit, cocooning occupants in a relaxing and welcoming ambiance. It’s worthiness as a purchase depends on how seriously you take Volvo’s assertion of the S80 being a 5 Series rival – it has the kit count to match, offered at 3 Series money.
 |
Writer’s Note: K.I.T.T. Fantasies
 |
| A convincing fan-made replica of KITT auctioned on eBay in 2007 (Image: ohgizmo.com) |
Those of you who grew up in the 1980s will distinctly remember the popular TV series Knight Rider, which starred David Hasselhoff as the hero Michael Knight and a 1982 Pontiac Trans Am playing the role of the talking car K.I.T.T. – the Knight Industries Two Thousand.
Seeing the S80’s Active Cruise Control in action brought back memories of episodes where K.I.T.T. actually drove himself (yes, the car assumed a male personality) around. At that time, it was all special effects, but now, 30 years on, it might not be long before we have cars that gradually incorporate more of K.I.T.T’s then-fictional abilities in their repertoire. – KON
)
