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The new S80 is Volvo's flagship saloon, competing directly with serious players like the BMW 5-Series, Mercedes E-Class and the Lexus GS. I have tested all three of these competitors and found the task of comparing them against the big Swedish car fairly daunting. You see, these are all stunningly good cars in their own right, right at the cutting edge of an extremely competitive executive saloon segment. The newly evolved S80 really needs to shine in some way to compete with the big boys.

The tested car was the S80 D5 185 Executive Geartronic variant, powered by a very capable five cylinder 2.4 litre diesel engine, which generates 182 BHP. Across the range, the S80 is available in both six-speed manual and the six-speed automatic gearbox in the test car, which also has a sequential mode allowing manual selection as well as three automatic settings. The top speed of the tested car is 143 MPH. The new car is faster, quicker and more powerful than its predecessor.

Evolution
The Volvo S80 looks great, restyled and refined but unmistakeably a Volvo although it's a brand new car the DNA is obvious from every angle, but mostly from the front and rear. Lamp clusters have evolved, but have retained styling cues the rear lamps are nicely contoured and unmistakeably cued from the previous generation. The bonnet retains similar graceful arcs, sweeping from the radiator but the profile of the car hasn't changed significantly but then, it looked good to start with. The headlamps are self-adjusting blue-tinted Xenon units, whilst the rear lamps are lit by longer-lasting and brighter LEDs instead of bulbs.

The cabin interior is spacious, luxurious and bristling with equipment. The test-car was finished in sumptuous cream-coloured full stitched leather and matching thick carpet. The Volvo satellite navigation System is easier to use than at least one of its competitors and when summoned by the touch of a button, the display screen rises eerily from the centre of the dash. Controls are ergonomically placed, on the multifunction steering wheel and console and the instrument panel efficiently displays all of the relevant information from the advanced on-board computer, all conveniently accessible from the control stalk. The general quality of the materials is good, easily matching similar cars in its class with pleasingly co-ordinating colours. Boots space is respectable enough for a saloon - 407 litres increasing to 902 litres when the rear seats are folded.

Standard equipment includes

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