19" alloys, more chrome trim than you could possibly eat in one go, a sleek and sporty-looking car with a very 'Sunday Best' look about it and a certain authority and presence is what came to mind when I first saw the S80 Executive.
It's the CEO or MD, not the sales manager.
Having recently had the pleasure of driving the magnificent new V70, I was expecting a similar experience. I certainly wasn't disappointed. The S80, with the impressive and surprisingly frugal D5 diesel engine literally 'eats' the miles with effortless ease. It is one of those cars that you can simply point in the right direction and it does the rest for you.
A good run down from Cardiff to Bournemouth on what must have been the wettest weekend of the century so far would be a challenge in any vehicle. However, the one thing the S80 has is the ability to dissolve any stress that may be there into a serene and relaxed experience, irrespective of the conditiions at the time. Even on a busy M4 in the pouring rain, the adaptive cruise control kept things smooth and relaxed. Clever stuff this 'adaptive' bit! Using a radar-based sensor on the front of the car, once cruise control has been set to your required speed, the little brain does its bit and dutifully keeps you there with the minimum of fuss. However, should the vehicle in front be travelling at a speed below that which you've selected, the little radar gizmo kicks in and does its best to keep you at a set distance from the car or vehicle in front, even if it is travelling at a speed well below that set into the cruise control. A little indicator on the dash shows you that you are no longer deciding your own speed, but rather copying that of the car in front. Yet another thought process removed from the mind-clutter of today's driver.
To make the already laid-back relaxed ambience of the S80 even more pleasant for the driver there's a 'hot-bot' seat heating system, an absolutely superb audio system, sumptuous leather upholstery, sat-nav, a climate control system with individual settings for driver and passenger and - yes - there's even a fridge! What more could the executive traveller want?
All this aside, the S80 isn't just for 'executives'. It is a very practical family car. Safety plays one of the biggest roles in the car's design. Arrayed with a real smorgasbord of airbags, pretensioners, isofix child seat mounts and such, you'd be hard-pushed to find a more safety-designed vehicle to be in should the worst ever happen. The luggage space is cavernous, allowing buggies, highchairs, potties, baby baths, kitchen sinks and such to be stowed with ease, and still allowing for a mother-in-law's luggage!
The Volvo S80 Executive is a big luxurious car that piles the luxury on you in very generous portions. It is relaxing, easy to drive and it really puts the pleasure back into motoring.
Nigel Crawford
December 2007
Model driven: Volvo S80 D5 Executive with Adaptive Cruise Control and Blind Spot Information System.
Price on the road £39,905 at the time of the review. |
The Ford Kuga
