The best time to take Volvo’s 315bhp S80 V8 out for a spin is when the roads are empty, suggests AutoCar (October 2008). The large Volvo slips effortlessly into the night, despite its formidable weight of nearly two tonnes and the S80’s suspension seems to skip lightly over the bumps, as the V8 tugs it forward at just a hint of a throttle.
Though the S80 doesn’t have massive torque, there’s enough enthusiasm in the motor to get you to 2500rpm double-quick. As you mash the throttle further, the gearbox jumps a couple of gears down, dropping the motor right into the powerband at 500rpm and the Volvo shoots forward like an arrow. And this rate of acceleration just keeps going and going and going.
The secret of its virility, supposes AutoCar is its short stroke and large piston bore. The pistons don’t need to travel a long way up and down and that means they can respond faster. Engines with long strokes make better torque, but with almost four-and-half litres and eight cylinders there’s more than enough torque at hand.
It’s also hard not to notice how comfortable you are in the cabin. Sporting some very high quality leather with attractive stitching and piping, the seats are at least 15 percent larger than even a Mercedes E-Class.
While the dark tan seats, cream piping, dark wood trim and the sliver ring around the thick wooden steering wheel all look suitably upmarket, the best bit is the Dynaudio music system. And you get DVD screens for the rear seats as well.
Of course the S80 V8 is not for everyone warns AutoCar (October 2008). It’s not likely to give you a better average than six kilometres per litre and fuel bills will be forty percent higher.
Costing as much as the six-cylinder Merc E280, BMW 530i and Audi A6 3.2 FSI, the V8 ups in comfort, excitement and thrill and of course given Volvo’s obsession for safety features (352 airbags among them), it will be the safest too.
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