VOLVO is no force in the medium luxury sedan sector, as its original S80’s inability to lure enough buyers from 1998 to 2005 reveals. But the second-generation version is a very different animal, sharing DNA with Ford’s impressive Mondeo as well as the Land Rover Freelander II, to take on a more dynamic, refined and flexible persona. Perhaps the base S80 – the diesel-powered D5 – is the best of the big Volvos, offering luxury, safety, performance, economy and space in a value-for-money package. Of course the S80 D5 isn’t perfect, but it makes for an interesting, fresh and unique alternative to a BMW, Mercedes, Audi and Lexus.
Volvo S80 2.5T sedan
October 2004-July 2005
The first S80 was built off Volvo’s premium front-wheel drive platform, and lacked the dynamic sophistication to take on the established German opposition. Nevertheless, a spacious and luxurious interior, high equipment levels and Volvo’s unwavering commitment to safety were in the S80’s favour. The 2.5T was a short-lived base model and a replacement for the previous S80 2.9, powered by a 150kW/280Nm 2.9-litre in-line six-cylinder petrol engine. As the 2.5T’s name suggests, it used the familiar 154kW/320Nm 2.5-litre in-line turbo five, mated to a five-speed automatic. But sales were sluggish so Volvo withdrew the whole S80 line-up from the middle of 2005.
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