2002 Volvo S80 Road Test
Volvo's flagship S80 is the oldest of the current crop of curvaceous Swedes, having been introduced way back in 1998. Still, with its fifth year getting underway it hardly looks dated. But under the lithe lines is the old girl fresh enough to take on a strong line-up of midsize sport/luxury competitors? Its base 2.9-L inline 6-cylinder is smooth while not overly powerful. At 197 hp and 207 lb-ft of torque it'll accelerate the 1,584 kg (3,682 lb) sedan adequately, but hardly soul stirring. But apples to apples, or European sport sedans to European sport sedans, it's not too bad. BMW's 1,565 kg (3,450 lb) 525 makes only 184-hp and 175 lb-ft of torque while costing $805 dollars more. Hmmm, something to think about isn't it. What about Mercedes-Benz? At 215-hp and 221 lb-ft of torque the E320 is definitely more powerful and lighter at 1,615 kg (3,561 lb), but the prestigious sedan starts a significant $13,955 higher. Again, the comparatively light 1,621 kg (3,573 lb) Jaguar S-Type costs quite a bit more than the Volvo, $5,555 more to be exact, but at least its base engine electrifies with 240-hp and 221 lb-ft of torque. The only premium competitor that comes close to trumping the Volvo for power and price is the heaviest of the lot at 1,710 kg (3,770 lbs). The Audi's A6 costs $160 less and produces a quantifiably stronger 220-hp and 221 lb-ft of torque. But I almost forgot about fellow Swede Saab, weighing in at a sprightly 1,565 kg (3,450 lbs) while offering a turbocharged 4-cylinder with 185 hp and 194 lb-ft of torque for only $41,500. Now that's hard to beat, at least on paper.
