DriveTech

2007 Volvo S80 is a true dream car!

I always enjoy driving Volvos and the S80 is a true dream car. It doesn't matter whether you're a Fuller Brush salesman or a real estate agent who needs to get brushes or clients around town, the Volvo S80 fulfills the bill with ease.

There's nothing fancy about the Volvo, but I must comment on the ignition system. I don't take directions from the sales staff at the dealership where I'm picking up a test vehicle because I like to find out how the car works - just as you would.

So when I visited San Diego Volvo, I declined any assistance but then found starting the S80 took a little exploring. If you look close at the picture of the dash, you'll see a key fob in the top of the dash. You insert the key fob, push the start/stop button to start and push again to stop the engine. To get the key fob out, you push the key fob in once more. Once I figured it out, starting and stopping wasn't a problem.

The rest of the interior is pretty basic and that's the way I like it. Volvo kept its climate control on the dash so you know exactly where the heat or cool air will end up. With dual controls, picky passengers can control their climate preferences.

The front seats are very comfortable and can be adjusted to meet any stature. The backseat is also very comfortable and if you need a little extra trunk space, the seat backs flip forward with no bending over trying to release them. Another feature I like is if no one is in the backseat, you can flip the oversized headrest forward to give you better rear vision. Remember, safety is what drives Volvo. It has been using safety as its guide for as many years as Volvo has been around.

The power plant in this S80 is a peppy little 3.2-liter six-cylinder with enough technology to confuse a backyard mechanic. It has systems such as variable valve timing, variable intake system and cam profile switching. With all these features, the Volvo S80 is classified as an ultra-low emission vehicle, which is outstanding when it comes to helping clean the air we breathe. You're looking at 235 horsepower and 236 pound foot of torque all driven into a Geartronic six-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission with adaptive shift and winter mode - all standard. As a bonus, it gets 19 miles per gallon in the city and 28 MPG on the open road.

Looking at the suspension, you can see Volvo has had its hands in motor sports, especially rally racing. Because of that, the very sophisticated suspension system allows it to take turns in the mountains safely and with total control. These systems include front independent strut suspension with anti-roll and anti-dive geometry, fully independent rear multi-link suspension, four-wheel power assisted anti-lock disc brakes, electronic brake assist, electronic brake distribution and ready alert brakes, just to name a few. Volvo has done everything in its power to keep drivers and their passengers safe.

Speaking of safety, I must mention that the S80 has a unibody construction with an integral high strength steel occupant safety cage. Plus it has inflatable curtain side impact head protection for front and rear occupants, side impact protection with driver and front passenger dual chamber side impact airbags, front airbags, as well as Volvo whiplash protection system in the driver and front passenger seat.

The S80 boasts an excellent AM/FM/in-dash six-CD player with active sound control, scan and auto store. Plus, there are eight well-positioned speakers and a 4 X 40 watt amplifier with MP3 capabilities. The sound is superb.

When was the last time you drove a Volvo? If you're looking for a great four-door sedan that's safe and costs less than $40,000, put the S80 on your list. It even has options such as a heart monitor and a whole lot more. If you need a V8, just ask a sales rep at San Diego Volvo in Kearny Mesa.

Next week, I'll review a vehicle from Brecht BMW.