Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Volvo S80 2.5T


VOLVO is no force in the medium luxury sedan sector, as its original S80’s inability to lure enough buyers from 1998 to 2005 reveals. But the second-generation version is a very different animal, sharing DNA with Ford’s impressive Mondeo as well as the Land Rover Freelander II, to take on a more dynamic, refined and flexible persona. Perhaps the base S80 – the diesel-powered D5 – is the best of the big Volvos, offering luxury, safety, performance, economy and space in a value-for-money package. Of course the S80 D5 isn’t perfect, but it makes for an interesting, fresh and unique alternative to a BMW, Mercedes, Audi and Lexus.

Volvo S80 2.5T sedan
October 2004-July 2005
The first S80 was built off Volvo’s premium front-wheel drive platform, and lacked the dynamic sophistication to take on the established German opposition. Nevertheless, a spacious and luxurious interior, high equipment levels and Volvo’s unwavering commitment to safety were in the S80’s favour. The 2.5T was a short-lived base model and a replacement for the previous S80 2.9, powered by a 150kW/280Nm 2.9-litre in-line six-cylinder petrol engine. As the 2.5T’s name suggests, it used the familiar 154kW/320Nm 2.5-litre in-line turbo five, mated to a five-speed automatic. But sales were sluggish so Volvo withdrew the whole S80 line-up from the middle of 2005.

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