ASK THE MAN in the street to name some large executive cars and the answer would undoubtedly include the BMW 5 Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class and, if the street in question leads to a medical centre, perhaps the Audi A6 and Lexus GS 300 as well.

This is the problem the old Volvo S80 faced. It wasn't a bad car by any stretch of the imagination, just one that had problems etching itself into buyers' consciousness. Unlike the smaller S40 and S60 sedans, which have firmly established themselves as serious players in their respective classes, the S80 was always a bit of a left-field choice.

Enter the second generation model, which was designed around a theme Volvo calls 'Scandinavian Luxury'. Basically, this is the Swedes realising they needed to play to their strengths, of which creating genuinely appealing interiors is certainly one.

That the car doesn't look radically different from its predecessor on the outside reflects Volvo's confidence in the styling formula it has applied throughout its model range. If anything, the new S80's shorter overhangs and more heavily sculpted flanks make it seem more compact, even though it's exactly the same length as the old car.

As you'd expect, there are plenty of safety features - some fairly fundamental, others high tech - incorporated into the car's design. All the available engines are mounted across the nose to improve crashworthiness, for instance, while some bewildering new acronyms have made their way onto the specifications sheet.

Joining the familiar ABS, DSTC and WHIPS are BLIS, CW and PCC. Describing these in detail would probably take up all the space in this magazine, so here's what they basically are: a camera-assisted blind spot warning system, a radar-guided collision warning system that sounds an alarm if you close in too quickly on the car in front, and a high-tech remote key that can tell you if someone's broken in and is hiding inside the car.

DRIVING IT

It's good to discover that Volvo has paid just as much attention to sorting the S80's dynamics. It's built on a new platform that's far stiffer than the old one, and the effects of this are immediately obvious. Turn the steering wheel with vigour and the front tyres bite correspondingly sharply, the car going round corners with none of the floppiness that characterised the previous model.

There's little body roll too, and what's particularly impressive is the way the suspension continues to soak up bumps effortlessly even in the middle of fast corners. The S80 may be a big front-wheel drive car with its engine lying ahead of the front wheels, but it disguises this fact amazingly well.

For all that, it's still no sports sedan. The steering is the main culprit - its weight can be adjusted through on-board computer, but there's little in the way of feedback in any of the three settings.

This matters little when the S80 is doing what it does best though, which is munching miles on the highway. The six-speed automatic gearbox gives the car an easy, long-legged gait that is appreciated on long journeys, especially since wind and road noise are kept well under control.

The new 3.2-litre engine is also remarkably quiet at cruising speeds, although those hoping for it to rev with the turbine smoothness of a BMW straight-six will be disappointed. It does have a very even spread of torque though, and the car needs just 7.9 seconds to reach 100km/h from a standstill.

INSIDE IT

Here's where Volvo plays its trump card. Stepping into the S80 is always a mood-lifter, especially if you've just spent some time in a more claustrophobic car. The cabin feels extremely airy even with the darker trim options, while the sparingly applied silver trim panels spruce up the otherwise minimalist dashboard design.

The front seats prove to be some of the most comfortable in the business, so you can drive this car for hours on end without worrying about fatigue setting in. The crystal-clear set of dials, organised switchgear layout and superb stereo complete the feel-good package.

A word of caution, though: choose the beige interior and everything, down to the column stalks and seat belts, gets colour-coded. This makes it look like a thousand tins of condensed milk exploded inside the car while it was being built and, as you can imagine, it's not a pretty sight.

There's enough head- and legroom for five adults to fit without becoming too familiar with one another, and the luggage compartment is a decent size too. Versatility is boosted by a front passenger seatback that folds down, allowing long items to be laid flat all the way from the dashboard to the back of the boot.

DOLLARS AND SENSE

The S80 range kicks off with a 2.5-litre model, which uses a 200bhp version of Volvo's excellent turbocharged five-cylinder engine. We didn't get to sample this car, but its official performance figures are only slightly down on the 3.2's and the powerplant should be a treat for the ears. There's also a 4.4-litre V8 available, although it?s hard to see much demand for this version locally.

Pricing hasn't been announced as the car is only scheduled to hit Singapore showrooms in the last quarter of this year, but Volvos have always boasted a high equipment-to-cost ratio and there?s no reason to expect this to change.

CONCLUSION

The S80 isn't one of those cars that blows you away the first time you get acquainted with it, but it's so well-conceived and executed overall that its deep-seated appeal won't fade as the years go by.

At a time when an increasing number of car manufacturers are obsessing over entertaining the person behind the wheel, Volvo's deliberate focus on keeping everyone on board happy might just pay big dividends.

NEED TO KNOW

Model Volvo S80 3.2 (A)
Engine Type 3,192cc, 24V in-line 6
Max Power 238bhp at 6,200rpm
Max Torque 320Nm at 3,200rpm
Gearbox 6-speed automatic
Top speed 240km/h
0-100km/h 7.9 seconds
Price To be announced
Warranty To be announced
Contact SM Motors at 6473-1488

PLUSES

Retains the old model's comfort while delivering a sharper drive

MINUSES

New 3.2 engine sounds bland, interior is very colour sensitive

VERDICT

By sticking to its strengths, Volvo has delivered a well-rounded executive sedan with a strong Scandinavian identity

SIMILAR CARS WE HAVE DRIVEN

Lexus GS 300 (A) $174,888 with COE
The latest GS has been selling consistently well here and it's not hard to see why. It's keenly priced, superbly put-together and boasts a comfortable (if not particularly spacious) cabin.

Saab 9-5 Aero (A) $183,888 with COE
Volvo's Swedish counterpart Saab badly needs a new flagship model, although the recently facelifted 9-5 still has plenty to recommend it if space and punchy performance are priorities.