Talk about a Swedish massage! Volvo's S80 flagship sedan range recently welcomed quite a high-profile member into its ranks.
It's a new three-litre, six-cylinder engine with forced induction that makes it the second-most powerful in the S80 range that was launched at Geneva in 2006 next to the 4.4-litre V8. With 210kW and 400Nm on offer, the 3.0T is only 22kW and 40Nm shy of big brother but has the same all-wheel drive capability (not to mention the sixty-five grand saving).
The new engine was derived from the 2006 3.2-litre but now has twin-scroll turbo technology (and a narrower cylinder bore with a shorter stroke).
The turbo is fed exhaust gas through two ducts so maximum grunt is available from as low as 1500rpm up to 4800rpm. The Swedes say this allows one turbo to do the work of two.
And, to make sure the car never gets hot under its collar, there are two fans and cooling fluid is circulated through the turbo after the engine's been switched off. (Read that sentence again, all you overheating Ford Focus ST owners.)
Apart from the engine, there's a new rear spoiler, optional sun curtains for the back-seat drivers, narrower front head restraints an optional walnut inlay and a choice of grey or green pearlescent paint.
Lookswise, there's not too much to be said: understated was probably the design brief. Get inside, though, and things change significantly.
There are a few bugbears but comfort levels are indeed significant. The seats are like sitting in those expensive massage chairs they try to sell you at the Rand Show. The S80's don't have the massage function but you sink into them like you would your Laz-e-Boy for that e-tv midnight special. I'm sure they're the comfiest in the business; the only other that comes close is Merc's S-Class.
Complimenting the seats is a soft right pedal that you nudge to get going, no stomping required. Wind noise was just about zero in the cabin and at low revs you'd be forgiven for thinking you were at the helm of a hybrid, so absent was engine noise.
But there were a couple of issues. Cream everything in the car I drove: seats, carpets, fascia, alles.Don't even consider it unless you drive in socks and don't have toddlers.
BOOT PROBLEM
The start button's also not up to scratch. The driver has to insert the key then hit the button but why not make it keyless or simply push the key in the slot to start?
I also had a problem opening the boot (it's cavernous - golf clubs no stress). For some reason it wouldn't open from the remote unless the doors were all open.
Oh, and our test car, with all its bells and whistles, had no satnav. Two options here, more than R20 000 for the factory-fitted unit (it pops up above the fascia) or around R6000 for the Garmin (installed with no exposed wiring and a built-in harness).
I liked the slimline centre console ( likethe C30) but the display size is half the width of your palm with limited information on offer. I'm used to the big screens found in German sedans.
BIT ROWDY
The engine's a gem. There's really no lag worth tapping my keyboard over, it boosts smooth and hard as soon as your big toe connects with the loud pedal and its refinement means that more often than not you're going a lot faster than you think - perfect get the metro cops smiling.
The S80 can be driven hard but neither you nor the car enjoys it. The option is there for so-called manual changes but the auto Geartronic box won't hold the gear at redline, the engine gets a bit rowdy very high up, and it just doesn't feel right.
Leave it in normal Drive, stomp it if you have to, and just enjoy the box managing the boost and changing when necessary. You'll find this way the car is kept in optimal boost and running like a steam locomotive.
Until, that is, you get to a corner. The all-wheel drive system keeps the tyres on the tar but there's a fair amount of body roll. The softish suspension made the car feel less like a sports sedan when driven under pressure.
A WORD ON SAFETY...
Most S80 buyers will confine me to a padded cell for bringing it up, as they'd probably never tackle the esses with their hair on fire, but being all-wheel drive you should be allowed to play a bit and you'll find that the Nikes on the hippo don't change the weight they carry.
And I can't write a Volvo story without touching a little bit on the safety, even though my word count's getting a bit long. So let me say that buyers can expect varying steel thicknesses in the body to absorb an impact, a side-impact protection system that includes curtain crash bags, a whiplash protection system and a collision warning system with an auto-brake function - to name a few.
VERDICT
You know, I really liked it. When my hair starts graying and my mother-in-law's been reincarnated, I think it's a car I could really get used to.
Even though we didn't get some official figures, I reckon it gets to 100km/h in a shade under eight seconds (I smoked a 177kW Opel Zafira OPC off the line, if that's an indication), will hit 250km/h with no fuss and really is a pleasure to drive.
If I were Volvo I would put in that DSG-style Powershift transmission that went into the S40 and V50 and with steering-wheel paddles - that should really get that turbo to sing off the Swedish blonde song sheet.
It's fast, it's smooth, it's really comfortable and safe, and it's a well-priced alternative to the German brigade. - Star Motoring