MANY modern car makers are being pushed well out of their comfort zone to maintain sales in an increasingly competitive market.

Not so long ago, the idea of a Chevrolet badge appearing on a tiny city runabout; Aston Martin producing an 'affordable' car, or BMW turning out a whopping great 4x4 would have been unthinkable.

But there is little doubt that when a manufacturer produces a car in a sector in which it is truly at ease, that sense of relaxed well-being shines through.

So it is with Volvo and big luxury saloons. The new S80 underlines Volvo's supreme confidence in producing an elegant, luxuriously equipped premium-badge alternative to big-selling German executive cars.

The second generation S80, like its predecessor, offers space, power and superb build quality. Its overall length is identical to the first generation S80, though it is wider and taller, giving a more imposing stance and greater presence.

The all-new Volvo S80 is more spacious than the outgoing vehicle - legroom is improved both front and rear, and shoulder and headroom are also enhanced.

The result is that the new Volvo S80 is one of the most spacious vehicles in the luxury car class.

The space on offer is more than matched by the power under the bonnet.

Power for the test car came from a thoroughly adequate, five-cylinder, 200 horsepower, 2.5-litre turbocharged unit, but for those who hanker after yet more performance there is a new six-cylinder, 3.2-litre, 238 horsepower engine and a 4.4-litre, 315 horsepower, V8 with all-wheel-drive to add to the extensive petrol and diesel range. Ride and handling have been tightened and Volvo says much of the development of the S80, a big seller in the US, was undertaken on UK roads, where it was benchmarked against German rivals.

Safety is synonymous with Volvo and the car's structural design, side-impact airbags with separate chest and hip chambers; whiplash protection system and a raft of advanced braking systems combine to make the S80 a very safe and comfortable place to be. The seats on the Volvo S80 are new and the electrically-operated front seats can be upholstered in perforated and ventilated leather. The front seat ventilation is supplied by the car's air conditioning system, and the air flows through the upholstery and seat cushion, reducing any warm weather stickiness.

The system also comes with heated front seats and heated rear seats are also available. Comfort is clearly a priority for Volvo's best equipped and most luxurious car yet.

Auto facts Volvo S80 2.5T SE

  • Price: £24,995
  • Ins group: 16E
  • Fuel consumption (Combined): 28.5mpg
  • Top speed: 143mph
  • Length: 485cm/191in
  • Width: 149cm/58.6in
  • Luggage capacity: 14.9 cu ft
  • Fuel tank capacity: 15.4 gallons/70 litres
  • CO2 emissions: 236g/km
  • Warranty: 3 years/60,000 miles