Volvo V50 D2 ES 5dr Car Review - March 2012

Inside the cabin, finding the perfect driving position is easy thanks to the adjustments available on the driver’s seat and steering wheel. The seats are comfortable and give good support for both shoulders and thighs. All round visibility is good and the slim, floating centre console adds a distinctive touch to the functional dash design.

The 1.6-litre 113bhp diesel engine fitted in this version is potent and responsive. Producing maximum pulling power of 199lb-ft low down in the rev range it’s quite capable, and propels the V50 Estate without too much effort. Top speed is 121mph and 0-62mph comes in a respectable 11.5 seconds. Average fuel economy of 65.7mpg is also decent for a car this size.

The V50 handles well, always feeling sure-footed with plenty of grip and minimal body-roll when cornering. The overall ride is on the firm side, but the suspension copes well with most bumps and uneven road surfaces. The steering is well-weighted and responsive.

Noise suppression in the V50 is good; there’s little intrusive noise from the diesel engine in most conditions and road and suspension noise are well dampened. As you’d expect with an estate care; there’s some wind noise which builds up at motorway cruising speeds, but overall it’s a very comfortable and refined ride.

The V50 is one of the most stylish estate cars on the market in this class, shedding the previously uninspiring but very practical image of the Volvo estate. The interior has some very stylish design touches too – like the super-slim centre console which is quite unique.

The V50 ES Estate comes well equipped with remote-central-locking, power steering, stability control, alloy wheels, climate control, electric door mirrors, electric windows, alarm, immobiliser and CD withMP3 connectivity as standard. You can also choose from Volvo’s range of optional extras such as metallic paint £565, rear parking sensor £385, leather seats £1,280, Bluetooth £275 and satellite navigation £525.

Volvo is famed for its previous large estates, but the V50 isn’t as big as the traditional Volvo and it doesn’t possess the class leading load space of larger versions. However, there’s a decent 417-litres of space available in the back without moving the rear seats, which can be boosted to 1,307-litres by folding the rear seats down. The floor of the boot is somewhat narrower than some of its rivals and while interior space for passengers is good overall, many of its cheaper rivals offer the same or even more space.

The V50 is the smallest of Volvo’s Estate range but it still comes packed with all the usual safety features of a Volvo. Front, side and curtain airbags as well as electronic stability control are fitted as standard to all models, and the V50 was awarded the maximum five-stars in the EuroNCAP crash-tests.

Anti theft measures include, deadlocks, remote central locking, security-etched components, Visible VIN, alarm and engine immobiliser. You can also specify laminated side glass as an option.

Most of the mechanicals used in the V50 are well tried and tested and the quality fittings and trim materials in the cabin interior are sturdy and durable. Both quality and reliability for the V50 scored above average in the 2011 JD Power customer satisfaction survey.

The V50 comes covered by Volvo’s three-year 60,000 mile warranty, with regular service intervals every 12,500 miles.

The Volvo V50 doesn’t come cheap; however the £21,745 price tag is justified thanks to its high level of quality, refinement, amount of standard equipment and its prestige badge. Running costs are very reasonable for a car in this class. Insurance is in group 21, while its low CO2 emissions of 114g/km mean it’s in VED band C for Road Tax. There’s also a three-year fixed cost servicing package available which helps to keep running costs down too.

Resale values of the V50 are not so good, so the ES trim option with the 1.6 diesel is a good choice – you get the best of the V50 without paying too much. You should be able to get a discount from Volvo dealers, which makes it even more attractive.
Selling it on in the future shouldn’t pose any problems as there’s usually lots of demand for it as a used car buy because of its safety reputation and durability.