The 2012 Volvo S80 represents a more cost effective alternative to more ostentatious luxury sedans, although no matter how much have Volvo have tried the S80 may still lack the charisma of some of its rivals. However there is no getting away from the S80's comfort and safety levels matched with the use of advanced technology levels.
The Volvo S80 sedan underwent a complete interior design renaissance for 2012 being bestowed with what has now been recognized as the Volvo's iconic floating centre stack instrument panel with a brushed aluminum background.
The 2012 Volvo S80 sedan comes with a choice of two trim levels -- the standard 3.2 level and a slightly more generous T6 AWD version.
The 3.2 base model comes with front and rear fog lights, heated exterior mirrors, genuine hide upholstery, leather covered tilting and telescoping steering wheel, power adjustable front seats, automatic climate control, trip computer, six CD changer, satellite radio and HD radio combination hooked up to an eight speaker sound system, auto dimming rearview mirror, split folding rear seat finished off with seventeen inch alloy wheels with 225/50R17 all season tires as standard. Options available for the 3.2 base trim are a sunroof and eighteen inch alloy wheels.
As the case with all of their 2012 models Volvo prefer to present the S80 options in packages. For the S80 there are no less than four packages available, and these are the Climate, Premier Plus, Technology or the Inscription. Each of these option parcels presents the buyer with a wide range of upgrades, with each of them considerably elevating the S80's levels of opulence and ease of use.
As you would expect, safety features abound on the Volvo S80 sedan beginning with front seat side airbags, side curtain airbags and whiplash reducing front seats, a stability control City Safety feature, "Auto Brake" and the latest driver fatigue monitor that will track the driver's awareness levels and will alert them if the system recognizes sufficient signs that the driver is liable to fall asleep at the wheel.
Fuel consumption for the Volvo S80 saloon powered by a 3.2 liter 6 cylinder engine, according to the US EPA, averages at 24 miles per gallon, with 20 miles per gallon in the city and 29 miles per gallon on the open road, while the 3.0 liter turbo-charged six cylinder engine burns up an average of 22 miles per gallon with 18 miles per gallon in the city and 26 miles per gallon on the highway being reported in most reviews.
With the market for luxury medium sized sedans on the up , there is a lot of competition around with the Volvo S60's principal rivals for the buyer's heart and pocket book being the Acura TL, Cadillac CTS, Hyundai Genesis, Audi A6, BMW 5 Series, Infiniti M and Mercedes-Benz E-Class.