2011 Volvo S80 3.2 FWD

The S80 provides what long-time Volvo fans expect: a comforting feeling of being protected from potential harm. The S80 seems to have been designed specifically with the safety-obsessed consumer in mind, and that's probably not a bad philosophy given the increasing numbers of "distracted" drivers on the roads nowadays. Available safety features run the gamut from a blind-spot monitoring system to driver-fatigue and lane-departure warning systems. 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. In crash testing conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Volvo S80 earned the top rating of "Good" for both frontal-offset and side collision protection. In brake testing, the last S80 Edmunds tested (the now-discontinued V8 model) came to a stop from 60 mph in 118 feet, which is an above-average result for this class.