Volvo V50 2.0 SE Lux Edition 5dr Car Review - March 2012

The Volvo V50 is an accomplished motorway cruiser which delivers a very smooth ride on the whole. It handles well and glides through corners with good road grip and sharp, responsive steering. The model provides a fun driving experience down to the powerful engine and minimal body roll. Moreover, the ride is a refined one with a quiet engine, and little road or wind noise even at speed. It absorbs the majority of bumps and road imperfections with consumate ease.

This car has a top speed of 130mph, which is typical for a car of this build. It can travel from 0mph to 62mph in 9.6 seconds, quicker than many rivals. The car’s power output is 143bhp, and its torque is a standard 136 lb-ft.

The V50 is an attractive estate with smooth and sleek lines, and a stylish front end. These aesthetics are continued inside the vehicle where high quality materials are used and the instruments are neatly laid out. The exterior is enhanced with alloy wheels, while metallic paint can be added for a cost of £565.

The V50 boasts an excellent range of equipment. This model comes as standard with climate control, cruise control, rear parking sensors, electric front windows and door mirrors, a CD player with MP3 connectivity, Bluetooth connectivity and satellite navigation. The interior is also finished with leather seats.

This V50 has five doors and seats five occupants making it an ideal choice for a family car, as there is simple access in to the vehicle. It has a spacious cabin and the car has got relatively generous boot space - when the rear seats are upright there is 417 litres of free space, and when the rear seats are folded there is 1307 litres. Head and legroom is ample throughout the vehicle.

The safety has been well established as there is a driver airbag, passenger airbag as well as airbags in the front side area of the vehicle to maximise protection for the driver and passengers in the event of an accident. The model received a maximum 5 star Euro NCAP rating.

The car's warranty is standard; Volvo offer three years and up to 60,000 miles of cover.

In terms of security, the car is fitted with an alarm to give the car maximum security when it is unattended, and central locking.

The Volvo V50 2.0 SE Lux Edition 5dr can be bought from new at £22,260. This is a competitive price for a spacious estate with good engine performance and an excellent range of standard equipment.

This model has a lot to offer, however, fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions are not nearly as attractive to a potential buyer as those of other V50s in the range.

In terms of fuel economy, the car performs on average at 37.2mpg with CO2 emissions of 176g/km. These figures are not too bad for the class of the vehicle, but in terms of value for money buyers would be wise to look at some of the more efficient engines in the range.