Volvo V50 2.0D
Its easy to harbour prejudices against Volvo. I know, because I used to dislike the marque with a passion, seeing it as the last bastion of the sanctimonious motorist who derived their joy in driving from the knowledge that in the event of a collision, they would come off best. Then I drove a yellow Volvo 850 T5 and realised that these Swedes did have a bit of spirit. Since then, Volvos may have become a little less outrageous but they have improved as drivers cars.
Even what looks to be their least likely candidate for a blat down a twisty B-road - the V50 2.0-litre diesel estate - can bring a smile to your face.
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For a start, Volvo make no bones about the fact that if you need serious carrying capacity, the V50 isnt going to do the business, steering you instead in the direction of the bigger V70. If instead, you have what marketeers like to term an active lifestyle, then the V50 is said to appeal and demographics show that the average age of V50 buyers is even less than the S40 saloon upon which its based. It certainly keeps costs in check. Aside from the excellent 48mpg fuel economy figure, this V50 emits just 154g/km of carbon dioxide and even the retail price isnt outrageous.
There are five trim levels S, R-Design Sport, SE, R-Design SE Sport and SE Lux and prices range between £19,145 and £22,645. The 136bhp engine uses a variable geometry turbocharger to ensure that power and torque is available across a broad swathe of the rev band. Weight is kept low via the use of an aluminium block and head which means that there isnt that turgid, nose-heavy feel of many diesels. In fact, handling is a real strength of the V50, the suspension being multi link all round, the steering is accurate and well weighted and the levels of roadholding are very impressive.
"A compact Volvo estate with a diesel engine? Doesnt sound thrilling, but behind that smokescreen is a very good car"
At the front of the latest model, the chrome-framed egg-crate grille has been reprofiled and features a bigger Volvo badge while clear lensed headlights, LED tail lights and a wider air intake give the car some more presence. The interior benefits from revised controls while the centre tunnel storage area features a smaller handbrake and a revised armrest for better driver comfort. Better cupholders, bigger door bins and an auxiliary input for the stereo under the armrest are all included. Taken in isolation, the V50 is a very impressive piece of work, but is there a market for this sort of car? After all, its predecessor, the V40, didnt exactly trouble the top of the sales charts.
The V50 is a whole lot more sophisticated in its execution. Not only is the content better but you get more of it. It may be 2mm shorter than its V40 predecessor, but its a full 27mm taller and 54mm wider, giving a good deal more room to spread out inside. The packaging is also a good deal cleverer, the wheel at each corner design making the wheelbase a massive 78mm longer, with the track (the distance between the wheel on an axle) 63mm wider.
This planted, foursquare feel endows the V50 with a better handling balance than the V40 it replaced. A bodyshell thats a massive 34 per cent stiffer also allows the suspension to function more effectively given that the shocks and springs can concentrate on what the wheels are doing rather than a chassis thats also gurning about under load. Volvo claim the V50 is designed to go head to head with cars like the BMW 3 Series Touring and the Audi A4 Avant, although pricing will pit it closer in reality to the Alfa 159 Sportwagon in a niche just below these premium models. Its a wise choice and at first glance, the Volvo manages to marry the bulletproof feel of the top German cars with a keen price.
As ever with Swedish cars, youll also get a good deal more horsepower per pound. As youd expect, Volvo havent skimped when it comes to safety, and they claim that the V50 is as good to crash in as the flagship S80 saloon. Making a small car as safe as a big un takes some doing and its only when you look at some of the finer points of how Volvo have achieved this that you realise quite what this commitment means. It involves casting the turbo housing as one with the exhaust manifold so that the engine is more compact when mounted transversely, giving more space for crush zones.
It means developing the Intelligent Driver Information System which monitors how hard youre using the throttle, brakes and steering and will hold incoming telephone calls or satellite navigation instructions until things have calmed down so as not to distract you in the middle of a manoeuvre. It means using four different grades of high tensile steel for crash protection. Would the V50 look a little sexier with BMW-style flame-surfaced concave flanks? Probably. But side impact protection involves having as much deformation space as possible which is why its slab-sided to keep its occupants looking good.
All too often, we hear about innovations in car design and what we really get is moderately incremental changes. The V50 and S40 models feature a number of styling touches which weve genuinely never seen before. The exterior wont get too many pulses racing, effectively resembling a shrunken S60, but the cabin is a delight. Volvo interiors are traditionally odd things.
Although they work supremely well, they are often clunkily designed with scant regard for the sort of slickness that separates them from rivals. Little of the design flair we usually associate with the Scandinavians has traditionally seemed to translate into their cars. The spaceball gear selector in the S60 showed that Volvo could come up with some neat ideas and the V50 takes the spaceball and runs with it. The key design feature is a centre console thats a softly contoured moulding featuring supremely easy to use controls and fresh air behind it.
You can specify wood, aluminium, plastic or semi-transparent plastic finishes and everybody who gets in will notice it. The Volvo V50 looks better equipped than its predecessor to carve a small but profitable niche for itself. The 2.0-litre diesel variant may not sound the most exciting choice in the line up, but if tyre-searing performance isnt necessarily a priority, its well worth taking a look at.
With an adequate turn of speed, low running costs, a beautifully tractable engine and a reasonable upfront price, it brings Volvo values to the family motorist who may otherwise have discounted the marque in favour of something less sophisticated.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Volvo V50 2.0 diesel range
PRICES: £19,145-£22,645 on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 10
CO2 EMISSIONS: 154g/km
PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 130mph / 0-60mph 9.6s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 48mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: ABS with EBA / DSTC traction control / WHIPS whiplash protection / SIPS side impact protection
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 4468/1770/1452mm
