Volvo S80

The Volvo S80 is safe, smart and comfortable but short on fizz.

• Comfort

  You settle back into great seats, get carried along by supple suspension in near silence, wind up the terrific stereo then notice how superb the ergonomics and control layout are. The S80 is a comfy place to be.

  

• Performance

  No engines lead the pack, but the new six-cylinder is torquey and smooth, and keeps pace with similarly priced rivals. The 2.0 petrol takes 11sec to get to 100kmh which is embarrassing at this price, and the lack of a high-performance diesel is disappointing.

  

• Cool

   Somewhere between 'anything but' and 'not really'.

  

• Quality

  The cabin is fantastic: lovely minimalist design, fine modern materials, beautiful lighting at night. But complex Volvos aren't proving entirely bulletproof.

  

• Handling

  There's nowt actually wrong here. The S80 is secure and easy to push smoothly through a bend. The V8 AWD model has loads of traction and even more composure. But it doesn't inspire you with enough feedback.

  

• Practicality

   It's a big sedan, and swallows heaps of baggage. Practical ergonomic touches help the driver too. But of course people who want practicality from their Volvos buy the wagons.

  

• Running costs

  They're high, and you'll be hit by company car tax because though the S80 is cheaper than lots of the competition its CO2 isn't as good.