Volvo S80 D-5 (Old)

Step inside the S80 and everything feels well-built, with all the switches working with a nice tactile feel. It doesn’t feel plush, but you notice that the seats are fantastically supportive and comfortable – maybe even more than those in the E-class.

You also notice that the steering has a huge range of adjustment and that the dials are very clear. There is one button too many on the centre console, but the main dials for the audio and air conditioner are within easy reach. There are about 15 buttons more than one would ask for on the unique ‘floating’ centre console, and this makes finding the right button on the move a bit tricky. Four large rotary knobs control the audio system and the air con, so these are easy to operate on the move.

It’s a very elegant cabin – black leather, brushed aluminium and chrome. The simple dials with the floating needle are probably some of the clearest and easiest to read ever.
What the S80 has by the bucketload is comfort, very high levels of it. The front seats are soft and hugely comfortable and this is true of the rear seats as well, which have the feel of an oversized sofa.

The S80’s cabin is functional. Classy? Yes. Understated? A bit too much for its own good though. Beautiful? Not really.