Category: Executive 
Price Range: £22,245 to £36,745
Comfortable ride, powerful yet quite economical, a good car for chauffeurs.
Engine not that quiet, wallowing of comfort chassis, slow-reacting auto gearbox, lacks flair, not as desirable as Volvo's estates.
Great to be driven in, not so great to drive.
Minor irritations include the electric handbrake - operated via a push/pull button under the steering column - but otherwise the S80 is an easy and undemanding drive. The dash is well laid-out, the operating system is straightforward (mostly using old-fashioned dials, levers and buttons) and the driving position is good; both front seats are multi-adjustable, well-shaped and supportive for long journeys.
Rear-seat legroom isn't quite in the limousine category, but betters that of the new E-Class, for a start. Rear headroom is good, as is elbow-room and boot-space, and the S80 makes for a fine high-end taxi or executive shuttle.
The well-finished cabin is nicely styled and trimmed in good-quality materials, and while conservative, does incorporate a few individual yet subtle touches: curved wood trim strips in the door panels and a minimalist metal-framed central instrument stack, for example.
Equipment levels for the UK are now badged SE, SE Lux and Executive, and Volvo promises better value for money. SE models have textile upholstery, 17" alloy wheels, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, heated/power-adjustable door mirrors, cruise control and an eight-speaker audio system with USB inputs.
SE Lux versions add a power-adjustable passenger seat, active-adaptive headlamps with washers, rear parking sensors, heated front seats, leather upholstery, luxury floor mats and walnut trim, and Executive versions have 18" wheels, ventilated seats with massage function, an uprated audio system, satellite navigation and optional rear-seat entertainment system.
