Volvo of Santa Monica

• Introduction  »
• Interior / Walk Around  »
• Driving Impressions  »
• Summary

Walk Around

It may look similar to the previous model, but the 2007 Volvo S80 is all new on the outside. The new S80 features a much larger grille opening, a sporty bumper and under-grille treatment, larger headlamps, a domed hood, a whole new rear end treatment with larger taillamps and a sportier bumper, a redesigned roof that works better in the wind tunnel, and body sides that are free of moldings.

While the overall length is the same as last year's car, the 2007 S80 is taller and wider. It also rides on a longer wheelbase and wider front and rear track, which yields more interior space, especially in the rear seat, and less overhang for improved stability. The new S80 sports a drag coefficient of only 0.29, among the very best in the class.

Interior

2007 Volvo S80

The interior is all-new for 2007. The general shape of the instrument binnacle has been retained, with the traditional Volvo trapezoidal shape, wide at the bottom and narrow at the top. The freestanding center stack that connects the dashboard to the console was borrowed from the smaller S40 and V50 models and upgraded accordingly, adding a measure of Bang & Olufsen elegance to the interior design.

The switches, controls and instruments all follow traditional Volvo design themes, but everything is new, including the redone tachometer and speedometer, more classic and less industrial than the previous design. The navigation system, when ordered, pops up out of the dashtop, either by using the new steering-wheel-mounted controls on the right rear of the wheel or the provided remote control, which stores in the console. We found the steering wheel controls a bit fussy at first, and hard to use, but owners will figure them out quickly.

A menu system tailors the seats, rearview mirrors, climate control, audio, navigation, and, the amount of steering wheel feel in the car's speed-dependent power steering system.

The sumptuous surroundings in the new S80 are amplified by the wonderfully comfortable seats and the extra front and rear legroom that Volvo hopes will help to put the new car squarely into the luxury class. The seats are available plain, heated, or heated and cooled.

The 160-watt, eight-speaker sound system will play MP3 files and has an auxiliary input for iPods and other players. Volvo will also offer a five-channel, 13-speaker Dolby Pro Logic II surround-sound system developed in-house with Bang & Olufsen and Dynaudio.

Go to Driving Impressions