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Volvo S80

Swedish marque’s 5-Series rival gets facelift.

Overall Auto Express rating

3.0

How we review cars

Some cars are best defined by what they aren’t, not what they are. The fact that the S80 isn’t a BMW, Audi, Jaguar or Mercedes is integral to its appeal. It is a comfortable long-distance cruiser, but the chassis improvements and lusty new twin-turbo add much needed driver appeal, too – although it’s still no sporting saloon. The facelift means the S80 should now be seen as a serious class competitor.

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What do the Bentley GTC and Volvo’s latest S80 have in common? They both feature twin-turbocharged engines!

The Swedish firm has brought in a range of changes to pep up its BMW 5-Series challenger – chief of which is an uprated 2.4-litre five-cylinder diesel.

As a result of the extra turbo, power is up to 202bhp from 163bhp, yet the engine is eight per cent more economical, at 45.6mpg. It’s sublimely refined – only under heavy throttle is the five-cylinder warble noticeable. And the 420Nm of torque makes for an effortless drive, too.

Other upgrades include several chassis set-ups. Comfort gives a supple but bouncy ride and overly light steering, yet the Lowered Dynamic Chassis is a real improvement. Shorter springs, improved dampers and harder bushings offer sure-footed handling. The S80 is better on twisty roads as a result, although not as sharp as a BMW.

Completing the changes are a more prominent grille and additional chrome trim to give the handsome Swede extra presence. Inside, the cabin gets a new steering wheel and classy Swiss watch-inspired dials. It all adds up to a luxury car that offers an interesting, desirable alternative to the mainstream.

Rival: Merc E220 CDI
standard adaptive dampers and a sharper chassis make the new E-Class better than ever to drive – but it’s still a brilliant luxury car with a great ride. BlueEFFICIENCY tweaks make it amazingly economical as well.

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