The Volvo brand is practically synonymous with safety, and the 2009 Volvo S80 midsized luxury sedan is no exception. In fact, the S80 has received top marks in all categories from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) since 2001.

Redesigned in 2007, the S80 may not be the most stylish luxury sedan on the market, but it boasts a dizzying array of safety technology that makes even the most paranoid occupant feel secure.

The S80 features standard dual stage front airbags and dual chamber side airbags, which inflate from the vehicle seat to better protect the occupant against a lateral impact. The S80 also comes standard with a blind-spot warning system and a NASCAR-like whiplash protection system. The optional Collision Avoidance Package gives you adaptive cruise control and an audible alert that warns you if you are about to rear-end the car in front of you. It even applies the breaks if you don’t. Together with the Lane Departure Warning, which signals when the car crosses road markings without obvious reason, the alert is designed to address the risk of accidents caused by driver distraction. (Heaven forbid anyone actually pay attention to their driving.)

Worried that some nefarious character might be stowing away in your car? Opt for the Personal Car Communicator (PCC) system (part of the Convenience Package), which includes a security system with a heartbeat sensor that gives you advanced warning of an intruder in your vehicle. The PCC system also automatically unlocks the car upon your approach, provides keyless drive, and tells you whether or not you locked your car – in case you forgot. The Convenience Package also features an indoor air quality system with humidity control, front and rear park assist and a 12 speaker premium sound system with rear controls and headset jack. A DVD-based navigation system and a dual screen, rear seat DVD entertainment system are also available.

If you still don’t feel safe enough, I’m sure you’ll find the Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) particularly reassuring. Using rear-facing digital cameras installed in the door mirrors, BLIS monitors the traffic on either side of the car and alerts you if a vehicle enters your blind spot and warns you not to change lanes.

The 2009 S80 is available in three trim levels. The front-wheel-drive S80 3.2 starts at $40,425 and comes standard with 17-inch alloy wheels, active bi-xenon headlights, rain-sensing windshield wipers, a sunroof, leather upholstery, wood interior trim, eight-way power front seats with driver memory, dual-zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth connectivity and an eight-speaker stereo with an in-dash CD changer and an auxiliary input jack. This base model sports a 3.2-liter inline six-cylinder engine that generates an insufficient 235 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque.

The mid-level AWD S80 T6 has a turbocharged, 3.0-liter inline-6 engine that cranks out a more impressive 281 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The T6, which starts at $42,875, also adds an electronic parking brake and upgraded instrumentation.

The top level AWD S80 V8 jumps all the way up to $52,675 and features a 4.4-liter V8 that boasts 311 hp, 325 lb-ft of torque and a zero to 60 mph time of 5.9 seconds. The AWD V8 also comes with 18-inch wheels, headlight washers, satellite radio, massaging ventilated front seats, heated front and rear seats, a classy analog clock, and an optional rear seat refrigerator complete with two crystal glasses.

All versions of the S80 use a six-speed automatic transmission and are eligible for the Sport Package, which provides 18-inch wheels, Volvo’s Four-C adaptive suspension (with three driver-selectable modes), speed-sensitive power steering (with driver-adjustable assist levels) and ventilated front seats.

EPA fuel economy ratings for the S80 are slightly lower than the competition. The base model 3.2 gets a mere 16 mpg city/25 highway and 20 combined, while the T6 manages 15/23/18 and the V8 a nearly identical 15/22/18. For that, you should just go for the swanky V8 and get the fridge.