The 2015 Volvo S80 is the brand’s flagship sedan.FAST FACTSModel: Volvo S80 T5Exterior color: Bright SilverInterior color: BlackEngine: 2.0-liter turboHorsepower: 240Transmission: eight-speed automaticFuel economy: 37 mpg highway, 25 mpg cityDealer: Chattanooga VolvoPrice (as tested): $48,119
Volvo’s stated corporate strategy is to ask itself: “What can we do to make the customer’s life better, easier or more comfortable?”
The company’s flagship S80 sedan has enough features to satisfy the want-list of a whole focus group. It has class-leading safety features, improved fuel economy, a tasteful interior and a flowing silhouette that belies the company’s boxy-car legacy.
New for the 2015 model year is the S80 T5 model, which comes equipped with a turbo-charged four-cylinder engine that boosts highway fuel efficiency to a mind-blowing 37 mpg, which was hybrid territory just a few years ago for a car this size. A turbocharged V-6 is available for those who want, or need, a larger-displacement, 300-horsepower engine. All-wheel-drive is also optional on the V-6 models, and it adds another layer of safety and utility to a car that’s already a virtual rolling fortress.
Our Bright Silver test car is provided by Chattanooga Volvo product specialist Randy Francisco, and has a stickier price of $48,119, including about $8,000 in options and destination charges.