2008 Volvo V50 Review

A Spry and Safe Small Wagon

The Volvo V50 isn't quite as sporty as the BMW 3 Series Wagon, but it's nimble, stylish, safe, and considerably cheaper.

The Volvo V50 is one of only four compact premium wagons available in the U.S. It’s the only one to offer a five-cylinder engine, which in theory should provide the performance of a six-cylinder engine but with better fuel economy.

In reality, the Volvo V50’s base 2.4-liter five-cylinder and more powerful 2.5-liter turbocharged five-cylinder engines don’t provide better fuel economy than competing six-cylinder engines.

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Like its S40 sedan equivalent, the Volvo V50 shares parts and structure with the Mazda 3 and European version of the Ford Focus. But its styling is Scandinavian — refined and understated. Compared to its less expensive S40 sedan sibling, the V50 wagon is more versatile, thanks to its rear cargo hold that can be expanded by folding the rear seatbacks forward.

When comparing base MSRPs, the Volvo V50 is substantially less expensive than the BMW 3 Series Wagon, slightly less expensive than the Audi A4 Avant, and a little more expensive than its fellow Scandinavian competitor, the Saab 9-3 SportCombi. Other larger wagons from more mainstream brands, such as the Subaru Legacy and Volkswagen Passat Wagon, are close in price to the Volvo V50 and have the same high-quality feel.

The base Volvo V50 2.4i comes with a peppy 2.4-liter five-cylinder engine. It drives the front wheels via a five-speed manual transmission or a smooth-shifting five-speed automatic, which can be shifted manually.

The performance-oriented and pricier Volvo V50 T5 has a stronger turbocharged five-cylinder engine that is a better match for the six-cylinder-powered Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series. It can be ordered with front- or all-wheel drive. The former comes only with the five-speed automatic transmission; the latter comes with a standard six-speed manual transmission and the five-speed automatic is optional.

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The sportier T5 model trades fuel efficiency for power; it loses 1 or 2 miles per gallon in average fuel economy to the base V50. As with virtually every other vehicle that offers all-wheel drive, this feature further saps fuel economy when ordered on the V50. The manual six-speed transmission, standard on the V50 T5 with all-wheel drive, has more aggressive gearing that reduces fuel efficiency compared to the optional five-speed automatic.

• Volvo V50 Vehicle Summary

The Volvo V50’s sophisticated suspension setup makes for nimble handling. While the Volvo V40 does lean noticeably through curves taken aggressively, overall handling is taut, allowing for quick maneuvering in tight traffic. The optional Dynamic Sport Suspension, available as part of an options package on the T5 model, stiffens things further for even more tenacious handling, though at the expense of a rougher ride.

As expected with Volvo — a safety innovator — the V50 has a variety of safety features, including front-side and side-curtain airbags, a reinforced cage around the passenger compartment, and four-wheel antilock disc brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and emergency brake assistance. It performs admirably in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s crash tests.

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The slim, floating center console highlights the attractive and functional interior. A variety of trim panels are available for different looks and luxury options, including headlamp washers, rain-sensing wipers, and a satellite navigation system are offered.

Although they were discontinued on the S40 sedan, rear integrated booster seats for children are optional on the V50.