2010 Volvo S80 - Styling Review

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Shopping for a 2010 Volvo S80? MSRP: $39,200 - $50,950

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The S80 has a conservative look from the outside, with a profile and details that play it a little too safe, in the opinion of the editors.

Volvo has taken a different direction with its vehicles for a decade or more now, but it's no longer a new look on the outside. Cars.com says that although with the S80 "Volvo has shaken the boxy look it made famous, the S80 is still unmistakably Volvo." Another reviewer at Cars.com is less impressed with the rear styling, describing it as "dull as a doornail." Kelley Blue Book praises the outside appearance of the Volvo S80, reporting that the "subtle wedge shape is effectively reinforced by a sweeping roofline and prominent shoulder ridges."

According to Edmunds, the "2007 model year brought a full redesign for the S80," but it "didn't change drastically in size or appearance." The '07 redesign brought a "much larger grille opening, a sporty bumper and under-grille treatment, larger headlamps...and body sides that are free of moldings," according to Automotive.com. Since then, changes on the outside have been minor; a new grille, more chrome accents, and a more visible dual exhaust system help update the outside look for 2010.

The interior of the 2010 Volvo S80 is stark and Scandinavian, but the materials in recent years have given a pleasing warm contrast and a more balanced overall look. With a thin center stack that resembles a high-end audio system, including extra storage just behind for smaller items, it's overtly stylish yet also functional. Kelley Blue Book points to the S80's "well-appointed cabin," which "reflects a Swedish-modern mentality," and Edmunds says that "the understated wood trim has the look of paneling versus the usual shiny veneer." Kelley Blue Book likes the S80's "elegant slim-line center stack that houses the audio and climate control switchgear."

For 2010, the S80 gets other minor changes inside, including silk-metal inlays and new door panel stitching.