Volvo S80 DRIVe road test
A 1.6-litre engine in a car the size and scale of the Volvo S80 may seem like a recipe for very slow progress, but this Swede pulls off the striking feat of being the best car in its range. The 1.6-litre turbodiesel in question produces 108bhp and 177lb ft of oomph at 1750rpm, and it’s also been tuned for maximum economy as part of Volvo’s DRIVe low emissions programme. Granted, 0-62mph in 12.4 seconds and a 118mph top speed are not going to set tongues wagging in the company car park, and nor is the manual gearbox-only choice of transmission. However, chatter will centre on 57.7mpg combined economy and carbon dioxide emissions of just 129g/km, which marks out the S80 DRIVe as one of the smartest executive decisions to make if you want to save money. The five-speed manual gearbox has a deliberate and light action, as does the clutch, and the S80 DRIVe easily maintains its pace on the motorway without resorting to a lower gear for overtaking, so it’s a relaxed way to travel.
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While the Germans compete with each other to come up with the sportiest offering in the executive class, Volvo has continued to plough its own handling furrow with the S80. It’s not going to set hearts racing with the way it negotiates bends, but nor is it going to upset anyone with a dicky ticker when it comes to comfort either. The steering is weighted to make low speed manoeuvres easy, though this does come at the expense of greater feel at higher speeds. On the other hand, the ride soaks up most interruptions and emphasises the S80’s relaxed, long distance nature. With excellent refinement, competent handling and comfort, the Volvo S80 is a sound way to travel long distances, which it can thanks to the DRIVe’s near-900-mile potential tank range.
Read the full Volvo S80 DRIVe road test
RoadTestReports.co.uk provides road tests reports written by members of the Guild of Motoring Writers. These reports are complemented by car reviews submitted by the members of the public who drive the vehicles day in day out.
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