The new 2012 Volvo S80 is a unique synthesis of simple grace, balanced power and luxury without pretence that's designed to thrive not for just a model year or two, but far into the new century. Cross-shoppers tempted to settle for the cookie-cutter luxury of the Lexus ES 350 would do well to follow their more visceral instincts and climb behind the wheel of the S80. They'll quickly find that the Volvo S80 is the better choice.

The 2012 S80 flagship sedan ? with its imposing grille, swept canopy and taut flanks ? is the perfect example of the sophisticated, standout Scandinavian design philosophy of Volvo. As a Lexus, the ES 350 consigns styling to a lower tier on its list of priorities. Here's how one reviewer at the AutoBlog.com website put it. "Lexus design has never been very flashy, and many might say (including us) the automaker's entire current lineup is a bit bland-looking (LFA supercar excepted)."

Style appeals to the heart, but when you examine a few facts, you'll find that the S80 also fulfills the needs of the intellect better than the ES 350. Volvo sells the five-passenger S80 in two versions: The 3.2 model (MSRP $37,550) and the sporty T6 AWD.

Measured against the standard 3.5-liter V6 found in the ES 350, the 3.2-liter inline six-cylinder engine driving the S80 3.2 delivers comparable power and fuel economy (27 highway mpg for both). If your spirit calls out for more power, however, the ES 350 will leave you pining ? and your eyes roaming toward the uplevel S80 T6 AWD where a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder cranking out 300 hp and 325 lb/ft of torque lurks underhood. Even with the boost in output, the T6 AWD returns an impressive 26 highway mpg and qualifies for Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle II (ULEV II) status. Making do with a single powerplant, the ES 350 does not offer a turbocharged engine option.

Both the ES 350 and the S80 feature standard front-wheel drive and electronic six-speed automatic transmissions, but only the Volvo offers you the all-weather sure-footedness of all-wheel drive, which comes as standard on the T6 AWD.

As expected from vehicles in this segment, the S80 and the ES 350 offer an abundance of standard luxury and infotainment features. In place of unnecessary complexity, the S80 gathers those features in a soothing, tactile environment, especially when swathed in available "Sovereign Hide" leather upholstery and classic walnut wood trim. Belying its coupe-like silhouette, the S80 also offers passengers more front and rear-seat headroom, front shoulder room and rear hip room than the ES 350. Cargo capacity is also greater in the S80 as well.

Measuring the ES 350 against the S80 in terms of safety features almost seems unfair. Volvo sparked a revolution in vehicle safety more than 50 years ago, developing and implementing the three-point safety belt ? the single greatest life-saving innovation in automotive history. The company has gone onto develop most of the advanced safety technology we take for granted today, and continues to feed the flames of safety innovation with next-generation systems like "City Safety."

A world-first technology introduced by Volvo on the XC60 crossover, City Safety comes as standard equipment on the S80. At speeds up to 19 mph, the system uses sensors to determine when a collision is imminent with a vehicle ahead, then activates the brakes to help mitigate damage or prevent the accident altogether. You can't get a system that matches City Safety on the ES 350 at any price.

Choose the S80 Technology Package and you'll get the most comprehensive collection of preventative safety technology available including Adaptive Cruise Control with Queue Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Distance Alert, Driver Alert Control and Collision Warning with Full Auto Brake. On the ES350, you'll pay extra just for the Pre-Collision System.

For its devotion to keeping occupants secure at speed, the S80 earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) ? one of five Volvo vehicles to receive such honors. The ES 350 failed to make the list.

Finally, only the S80 offers Volvo Safe + Secure, which gives Volvo owners five years of complimentary scheduled maintenance, wear and tear coverage roadside assistance and a five-year warranty. The best the ES 350 gives is a six-month/5,000-mile Maintenance Package.