The Volvo S80 is a mid-size executive saloon/sedan from Swedish automaker Volvo Cars, and was introduced in 1998 to take the place of the rear-wheel drive Volvo 960/S90 saloons in the model range. The Volvo S80 was built at the Torslanda Plant (Torslandaverken) in Gothenburg, Sweden. Unlike most Volvo models, it did not have a estate / station wagon version for its first generation. Now, the third generation V70 wagon is marketed as the estate version for the second generation S80 saloon. This is a part of a major product overhaul at Volvo, including a most luxurious large estate and saloon.

The first generation was notable for being one of the first Volvos to depart from the company's traditionally very boxy, conservative styling. The S80's styling, with its pronounced beltlines and tail lights that narrow and go from curves to points as they go up, was later adopted throughout the Volvo line, especially on the S60 and S40 saloons.

The first generation Volvo S80 had one of the highest crash test ratings in the world for five years.[citation needed] The second generation Volvo S80, in June 2007, scored the highest "good" rating in the IIHS crash test performance for frontal, side, and rear impacts,[4] continuing in the success of the first S80 sedan, earning it the IIHS Top Safety Pick. The second generation S80 is better engineered than the previous model, in part due to a more rigid chassis.