Auto Trader

Model tested: Volvo V50 D5 SE Sport
Price: £17,955 - £26,845 (our model £26,345)
Insurance group:  9-15 (our model TBC)
Tested: August 2006
Road tester: Adrian Higgins

Need an old fashioned estate but what something a bit more contemporary looking?

The V50 offers a package of practicality and good driving which might just fit the bill. Read on for the full review or check out the sections below.

Auto Trader Ten Point Test rating: 81%

 

Looks | Looks Inside | Practicality | Ride and Handling | Performance
Running Costs | Reliability | Safety | Equipment | X-Factor

1. Looks

This is the car which Volvo hopes will meet the aspirations of that section of the 24-35 age group that’s settled down, might have kids and is looking beyond the so called “volume-producers”. That is, the manufacturers from whom most of us buy our cars. And first impressions are good, It’s recognisably a Volvo, and has a good load space to fill up with kids and luggage. But the Sports Wagon looks give it a contemporary feel which might attract the younger end of the car-buying market more than the more traditional V70 estate.

7/10

2. Looks inside

The V50 is as stylish inside as it is out. As refreshing as a stroll through a Scandinavian forest in winter, the V50 is an uncluttered place to be. Boasting the signature “free-floating” instrument stack (this clear console has room behind for storage), the interior has a feeling of quality, space and subtlety. Everything appears to be laid out with the intention of soothing any troubled driver’s brow. The only risk is that drivers who like a host of buttons to play with might just get a teensy-weensy bit bored.

8/10

3. Practicality

Just two up front? Then you’ve got 1307 litres of space to play with. Pack the car with five adults and this shrinks to a still decent 417 litres. The boot is easily accessible. We used it to transport masses of bags for a holiday and found it easy to load and unload.

8/10

4. Ride and Handling

This might be a Sports Wagon rather than their more traditional estate, but Volvo has plenty of experience when it comes to creating cars able to shift families and their stuff. The handling is excellent and the ride, while not the softest you’ll ever experience, is jolly good too. We enjoyed driving the car and found it very easy to live with

9/10

5. Performance

Buyers can choose between 1.8-litre, 2-litre, 2.4-litre and 2.5-litre petrol engines and 2-litre and 2.4-litre turbo-diesel engines. We drove the 2.4-litre diesel with a top speed of 140mph and the ability to hit 62mph (100kmh) in 8.2 seconds and liked it a lot. This might be a practical vehicle with a nod to fashion but its certainly got the performance capability to carry it off.

8/10

6. Running Costs

Average fuel consumption of 40.4mpg for the model we drove adds up to reasonably economic motoring. However, this drops to 29.4mpg for the automatic T5 model and increases to 48.7mpg with the 2-litre diesel. Likewise insurance can vary between Group 9 and Group 15 depending on model chosen. Warranties cover the first 60,000 miles or three years, whichever milestone is passed first. You can expect the car to lose more than half its original purchase price after two years.

8/10

7. Reliability

This is a well-made car, inside and out. Its predecessor, the V40, was very reliable. What problems there were tended to be minor and failed to keep the car off the road for very long.

9/10

8. Safety

Volvo set out to achieve the same standards with the V50 as it did with the S80 – awarded a four star EuroNCAP rating. To this end they increased the car’s rigidity while the front of the car has been divided into zones which should better protect the cabin. Rear passengers get side and curtain airbags while those in the front also get the benefit of, erm, front and side airbags. There is also a whiplash protection system.

8/10

9. Equipment

There are four trim levels: S, Sport, SE and SE Sport. The standard specification includes a decent amount – including alloy wheels, CD/Radio, cruise control and tinted windows. Spend more to get bigger alloys (up to 18”), leather upholstery and power driver’s seat.

8/10

10. X-Factor

Driveability. It’s safe, it can take all your stuff and its easy on the eye too. But what we like best is it marries all these qualities and then adds “good to drive” in for good measure. How much fun you want will depend which engine you opt for.

8/10

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