Volvo S80 3.2 Sedan

Current Volvo S80

The Volvo S80 is only midsize in dimensions, which means it can seat four adults comfortably but doesn't have yards of legroom to spare. It has about the same footprint as the Acura RL, the competitor it most closely resembles in personality and performance.

Volvo sells three versions of the S80. The entry-level S80 3.2 is front-wheel drive and is motivated by a 3.2-liter inline six-cylinder rated for 235 horsepower. Drawing upon the services of a six-speed automatic transmission, the 3.2 moves the S80 along adequately in most situations.

However, buyers seeking a more authentic luxury experience will undoubtedly prefer either the midrange S80 T6 or the high-line S80 V8. The T6 model uses a turbocharged, 3.0-liter inline-6 good for 281 hp. It uses the same transmission as the base S80, but power goes to all four wheels via a standard all-wheel-drive system. True to its name, the S80 V8 has a 311-hp 4.4-liter V8. As on the T6, the six-speed automatic drives all four wheels. This is a potent combination, even in a car that weighs more than 2 tons; we've timed the S80 V8 at 5.9 seconds for the 0-60-mph run.