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Volvo S80: a grown-up car for overgrown executives.

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PositionBrief Article - Evaluation

You know you've got somewhere in life when you're driving the Volvo S80. It's a grown-up's car, an executive's dream and an understated piece of luxury.

The S80 is also not a typical Volvo. The new saloon is described as "nothing short of a revolution" by its marketing people, who argue that it is "as far removed from the conventional image of Volvo's large cars as it is possible to be".

The car has been designed to appeal to a new, young audience, and the styling is eye-catching. But a Volvo is still a Volvo, and the security measures and workmanship is as evident in the S80 as in the sloane ranger's favourite estate.

And this emphasis on safety means that the S80, while powerful, is never going to be the car of choice for frustrated racing drivers. Acceleration isn't as fast as you'd expect from a 2.5 litre engine, road handling is, well, sedate, and the leather interior (optional) is nice but not strokably soft. The upside is that you won't feel safer in another car. Safety lighting, virtually unbreakable side glass and deadlocks protect the S80 from theft, while anti-lock brakes, electronic brake distribution and stability and traction control, along with WHIPS (Volvo's anti-whiplash device) means you feel as secure as it's possible to feel on the road.

The car is also well stocked with gadgets and extras (not all available in standard specification). Need directions? Turn on the information centre, a pop-up screen that tells you whereto go. Want to fill the silence (the S80 is second only to the Lexux for quiet engines)? The eight-speaker system should do the trick. If you share it with another driver, the car...

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