2012 Volvo S80 Overview Change Vehicle

This 2012 Volvo S80 review explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2012 S80, and includes Volvo S80 safety, reliability, and fuel economy ratings.

Serving as Volvo’s flagship sedan, the Volvo S80 is value priced to compete against mid-level models from other luxury manufacturers. With a base price of less than $40,000, the S80 isn’t much larger or more expensive than the S60, but is styled more traditionally and conservatively than its smaller sibling. It competes most closely with the Acura TL, the Buick LaCrosse Touring, the Lexus ES 350, and the Lincoln MKS.

Volvo makes a number of significant changes to the 2012 S80 in an effort to renew interest in the slow-selling model. First, the lineup is adjusted. The S80 3.2 and S80 T6 AWD are each offered in new base, Premier Plus, and Platinum trim levels. As a result, the former optional Multimedia Package is dropped, while remaining option packages gain a few items of equipment. The Technology Package adds Queue Assist and Full Auto Brake on both models, while the Inscription Package now includes a leather-wrapped dashboard for an even more upscale look and feel. The S80 T6 AWD model’s Dynamic Package now has dynamic sport seats and Sanded Silver cabin trim.

In addition to these changes, every 2012 Volvo S80 is equipped with City Safety technology, designed to avoid low-speed impacts with objects and pedestrians when creeping through city traffic. New alloy wheel designs debut this year, the side mirrors now include LED turn signal indicators, and genuine Walnut wood inlays are standard for 2012. Every S80 also has a seven-inch Volvo Sensus color high-definition touchscreen installed in the dashboard, and the Bluetooth hands-free connectivity system includes audio streaming capability this year. Finally, Biarritz Blue is a new paint color choice for 2012.

Volvo sells the 2012 S80 in two different models equipped with standard, Premier Plus, or Platinum levels of trim.

The S80 3.2 is the least expensive model, but comes equipped with leather, genuine Walnut wood dashboard inlays, dual-zone automatic climate control with a pollen filter, power windows with express operation for the front glass, power heated side mirrors with integrated LED signal indicators, power door locks with remote keyless entry, and a tilt-and-telescopic leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio, phone, and cruise control buttons. Bluetooth hands-free connectivity with streaming audio capability is also included, along with a Volvo Sensus high-definition color in-dash touchscreen and an eight-speaker sound system with a CD changer, HD Radio, satellite radio with six free months of programming, an auxiliary audio input jack, and a USB port.

The Volvo S80 3.2’s driver’s seat features eight-way power adjustment with three memory settings, the rear seat headrests can be powered down from the front seats for improved visibility when no passengers are aboard, and the S80 is equipped with an auto-dimming rearview mirror, illuminated visor vanity mirrors, and an outside temperature display. City Safety technology is also standard, and is designed to reduce low-speed impacts with other vehicles and pedestrians while driving in city traffic.

Next up is the new 3.2 Premier Plus model which, in exchange for $1,000, adds a Homelink universal transmitter, a compass, and front and rear park assist sensors. If you’re interested in getting a navigation system with real-time traffic reports, a reversing camera, and a 650-watt premium surround sound system with 12 speakers, you’ll need to spend another $1,700 for the S80 3.2 Platinum model.

For greater power and performance, buyers may wish to try the 2012 Volvo S80 T6 AWD. Representing a $4,000 upgrade over the base S80 3.2, the S80 T6 includes a more powerful turbocharged engine, an all-wheel-drive system with Instant Traction, and a power sunroof. The S80 T6 AWD is offered in Premier Plus and Platinum trim level upgrades, just like the S80 3.2.

In addition to the new trim levels, Volvo offers four different option packages on the 2012 S80. Both models can be equipped with a Climate Package (heated front and rear seats, heated windshield washer nozzles, rain-sensing wipers, headlight washers, Interior Air Quality System), and a Technology Package that includes numerous safety-related features (Adaptive Cruise Control with Queue Assist, Collision Warning and Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake, Distance Alert, Driver Alert Control, Lane Departure Warning).

For greater luxury, try the upscale Inscription Package for its Sovereign Hide premium leather, leather-wrapped dashboard and center armrest, Walnut wood steering wheel, Walnut wood and leather shift lever, ventilated front seats, unique floor mats, and special doorsill trim. For greater handling, the S80 T6 AWD is exclusively available with a Dynamic Package that includes dynamic front sport seats, a sport suspension with a lower ride height, active bi-Xenon headlights that swivel to help see around dark corners at night, unique 18-inch wheels, and special interior trim.

In addition to these option packages, the 2012 S80 is offered with extra-cost metallic paint, a Blind Spot Information System, power retractable side mirrors, active bi-Xenon headlights, and a Keyless Drive push-button ignition system. The S80 3.2 can be equipped with a power sunroof and 18-inch wheels, while S80 T6 AWD buyers can downgrade to smaller 17-inch wheels if they desire.

The Volvo S80 3.2 features adequate power from a 3.2-liter inline six-cylinder engine that makes 240 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 236 pound-feet of torque at 3,200 rpm. This engine is available in a Partial Zero Emission Vehicle (PZEV) state of tune in some states, and in PZEV format is expected to generate 230 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 221 lb-ft of torque at 3,300 rpm.

In either case, the S80 3.2 is equipped with Volvo’s Geartronic six-speed automatic with a manual shift gate, which drives the front wheels. The EPA says this luxury sedan gets 20 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway while burning regular unleaded.

For more performance, or to obtain all-wheel drive for travel in inclement weather, Volvo offers the S80 T6 AWD. It has a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine good for 300 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 325 lb-ft of torque between 2,100 and 4,200 rpm. Designed to operate on regular rather than premium unleaded, the S80 T6 AWD is expected to get 18 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. Power is delivered to all four wheels through Volvo’s Geartronic six-speed automatic.

Designed first and foremost to be a safe method of transportation, the Volvo S80 comes standard with six airbags, a stability and traction control system, and four-wheel-disc antilock brakes with brake assist, ready alert, and fading brake support. The S80 is also engineered with SIPS and WHIPS – Side Impact Protection System and Whiplash Protection Seating System – and Volvo’s City Safety technology is standard, designed to compensate for distracted drivers by recognizing when a low-speed collision might be about to occur with another vehicle, object, or pedestrian, and braking to slow or even stop the S80 before impact. In addition to these standard features, the S80 is available with front and rear park assist sensors, a reversing camera, rain-sensing wipers, a Blind Spot Information System, and active bi-Xenon headlights.

Volvo also offers an optional Technology Package loaded with safety equipment, including a Lane Departure Warning system and an Adaptive Cruise Control system with radar and camera units responsible for gathering information about traffic conditions ahead. For example, the system’s data powers the new Queue Assist feature, which allows the S80 to be driven in stop-and-go traffic without the driver using the brakes. It also provides Distance Alert warnings, and can determine if the Driver Alert Control system needs to remind a drowsy driver that it’s time to take a break. The S80’s Collision Warning and Pedestrian Detection system, which includes Full Auto Brake for 2012, also relies on the radar and camera units. With Full Auto Brake, if the driver is unresponsive to visual and audible alerts regarding an impending collision, the S80 will automatically brake in an effort to stop the car, or reduce impact speed.

In the event that a collision cannot be avoided, it is comforting to know that the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety calls the S80 a Top Safety Pick, reflecting best-possible ratings in four different safety tests. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had not performed crash tests on the S80 as this review was written.

When it comes to reliability, Consumer Reports expects the S80 to perform at average levels while J.D. Power and Associates most recently predicted the S80 would prove better than average over time. If you’re concerned about these favorable but not top-notch ratings, perhaps you can be assuaged by five years or 50,000 miles of complimentary scheduled maintenance and roadside assistance service, in addition to the standard five-year/50,000-mile warranty, which also covers wear-and-tear items.

By Volvo’s stopwatch, the Volvo S80 3.2 accelerates to 60 mph in 7.4 seconds (7.9 seconds in PZEV tune), and can achieve a top speed of 130 mph. Upgrading to the S60 T6 AWD produces a zero-to-60 time of 6.3 seconds on the way to a top speed of 155 mph. Yeah. 155 mph. From a Volvo S80.

The Volvo S80’s trunk measures 14.9 cubic-feet. This is on par with most mainstream midsize sedans.

Safe, dependable, comfortable, conservatively appealing, and representing genuine value in the luxury sedan class, Volvo should be selling more S80s than it does.

By Christian Wardlaw