2011 Volvo S80

The 2011 Volvo S80 lineup loses the V8 AWD model, gains more power and sees a shuffling of standard and optional equipment. Make no mistake, this flagship sedan boasts all the latest high-tech luxury and safety features expected in this class. Available safety features run the gamut from a blind-spot monitoring system to driver-fatigue and lane-departure warning systems.

Volvo has discontinued the 311-horsepower 4.4-liter V8, but compensation comes in the form of more power for both the standard inline-6 (an increase of 5 hp) and the turbocharged inline-6 (an increase of 19 hp).

The 2011 Volvo S80 is available in 3.2 and T6 AWD trim levels.

The 3.2 comes standard with 17-inch alloy wheels, eight-way power front seats, driver memory functions, a tilt-and-telescoping steering column, leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, Bluetooth and an eight-speaker stereo with a six-CD changer, auxiliary audio jack, iPod/USB audio interface, satellite radio and HD radio. The Climate package includes heated front and rear seats, heated windshield-washer nozzles, headlight washers and automatic wipers. The Multimedia package includes a DVD-based navigation system (with traffic reporting), a rearview camera and a 12-speaker Dynaudio surround-sound system with rear seat headphone jacks and controls.

The Technology package includes adaptive cruise control, collision warning alert, distance alert, driver-fatigue alert and lane-departure warning. The Inscription package includes upgraded leather upholstery, ventilated front seats and real wood accents throughout the cabin, including on the steering wheel and gear selector. Stand-alone options include adaptive xenon headlights, a dual-screen rear-seat DVD entertainment system, a blind-spot warning system, front/rear parking sensors and the Personal Car Communicator (includes keyless ignition/entry).

The front-wheel-drive 2011 Volvo S80 3.2 is powered by a 3.2-liter inline-6 that produces 240 hp and 236 pound-feet of torque. Matched with a six-speed automatic, fuel economy is 19 mpg city/27 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined.

The 2011 Volvo S80 comes standard with antilock disc brakes, front-seat side airbags (featuring separate chambers for chest and hip protection), side curtain airbags, anti-whiplash front head restraints and seatbelt pre-tensioners in all five positions.

Additional safety features are available, such as a blind-spot monitor as well as the aforementioned Technology package that adds adaptive cruise control, collision warning with "Auto Brake" (which reduces brake reaction time by snugging the brake pads up against the brake discs), a driver-fatigue warning (monitors a variety of factors including the driver’s face to determine whether he or she is dozing off) and a lane-departure warning.

The S80′s interior layout features Volvo’s trademark "floating panel" center stack, a slim control panel suspended between the center console and the dashboard. The S80′s trunk capacity stands at 14.9 cubic feet. The 2011 Volvo S80 3.2 provides decent power for most situations, though it sounds a bit coarse.