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2008 Volvo V50 T5 Road Test

Over the past couple of years, Volvo has smartly used the V50 to knock

Who says second impressions don't count? (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

down the stereotypical image of their station wagons. Aside from being boxy, durable and capable of hauling large quantities of people and luggage in absolute safety, they've never been the apple of most peoples' eyes. So, when Volvo first unveiled the V50 a few years back, it was with great surprise that it was a small station wagon that had as much emphasis on style and driving performance as it did on safety and practicality.

For its mid-life update, Volvo decided to separate the S40 and the V50 slightly by giving them different appearances. This of course also sets them apart from their other chassis mates, the C30 hatch and the C70 convertible, which carry through unchanged. What you'll find on the new V50 is more or less a new bumper and a more pronounced grille, turning those flat-ish front surface links into a more robust looking front valance. This creates a visual bridge that reflects the styling of the new 2008 V70 station wagon and its country cousin, the XC70. This is mildly different from the S40, which mimics the shape featured on the new S80. The slight nose end changes are followed through with new taillights featuring different

Zaurak wheels may have a funny name, but they do look good. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

lenses. As big as I'm making these changes to be, in reality they're very mild. Without being pointed out, it's quite possible for the latest V50 to pass by unnoticed.

Much the same story goes for the interior, where a lot of detail work has been done, again much of it subtle enough to pass by the untrained eye without notice. It's a bit sad, when you come to think of it. Some engineer or interior designer spent months and months perfecting the ergonomics or the design, only for it to be overlooked, as in the grand scheme of things big changes aren't popular within Volvo. Naturally, all eyes are drawn to the floating center console, which is pretty much the only thing that's gone by untouched. But start poking around elsewhere and you'll start to find change. The area behind the console has been hollowed out for more room – enough to store a small paperback novel – and the door panels themselves have been redesigned to allow for more elbow room. Other changes include a redesigned handbrake, which takes up less space. Even the key has been reworked slightly, with new buttons, though the shape remains

Spot the differences? Without help, it can be tricky. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

the same. Volvo has added a proximity sensing keyless start to the options list too.

Part of the reason for the S40/V50 update is to make these little Volvos more upscale vehicles, which is where all sorts of new clever features that make it a better family car and a better luxury car come into play. To better protect your most precious cargo, Volvo now offers a pair of booster seats that have been integrated into the rear bench. The rear seat cushions snap upwards for a taller seating position, revealing a wipe-down plastic floor to keep your seat cushions clean. It's quite intelligent, as it doesn't require any fiddling about with any aftermarket safety seat or tethers, and because the standard three-point seatbelt is used it makes setting it up and putting it away easy. Likewise, buyers will come to appreciate the powerful new Dynaudio sound system, which literally fills the cabin with wonderfully rich sound. Volvos have always had some of the warmest sounding stereo systems available, thanks to Dolby Pro-Logic processors, but the addition of high-fidelity speakers takes things to the next level. Dynaudio speakers can be identified by their red logo and silver

As far as I'm concerned, Volvo = Style. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

trim rings around the doors. A six-disc CD stacker comes with the upgrade package.

One thing I had my eyes set on was the new Nordic Light Oak accent trim, something I first saw when the updated car was released internationally. This layered veneer effect trim gives the curving center console the timeless, classic look of bentwood chairs that are popularized by a certain Scandinavian furniture store. High-gloss Virtual White trim – think Apple iPod – is another option that we can't get here, and previously frosted semi-translucent plastics were available, allowing you to see the inner workings of the system. I did find out, though, that your local Volvo dealer can order the parts and install them if you're really intent on having something a little different. Otherwise, it's a choice between gray-ish plastic called Bauxite, and sporty and authentic aluminum trim.

T5 model posts a slight hike in power. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

And what would a Volvo be without a good set of seats? The V50's are nothing out of the norm for Volvo in that they're supportive, comfortable and fatigue-free over long distances; the only difference is the material that they're trimmed in. Sure you can get leather, but why would you when T-Tec is standard? This intriguing fabric feels a little like a wet suit, and adds character of its own. Unfortunately, it's only available in some rather dark colors, Graphite and Lava Gray; Europeans can choose from a much larger pallet which can really brighten the mood of the otherwise off-black interior.

And like those seats, safety as a priority hasn't changed at all either. Besides its stellar reputation to live up to, the V50 has a full repertoire of airbags and active safety features including the BLIS blind spot warning system which is now available on all Volvo products. And even though most cars have as many airbags as the V50, there's really only one company that crash tests its cars into sheer cliff faces. One thing that I am surprised not to see as standard equipment or even on the list of optional equipment is a Bluetooth capable handsfree

Practical, from load-lugging and child-transporting perspectives. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

system. Volvo is the king of safety, so why shouldn't the car do everything it can to help prevent distracted driving?

Pondering aside, the V50 is unique in that it doesn't quite fit in the standard luxury wagon marketplace. Its size is best described as handy, it's easy to maneuver and control in tight urban areas because it's smaller than just about everything it competes with. In terms of its practical size, the nicely carpeted trunk offers 14.7 cubic feet from the floor to the window line (measured EU style) and 32.4 cubic feet from floor to roof (SAE style). It isn't a whole lot of cargo space, but then again it's a relatively compact car. Instead of length and depth, it is the height that really gives the V50 the cargo advantage over its sedan sibling. As they say, it's not so much the size but what you do with it. Fold down the rear seats flat in a two-stage effort and things improve considerably to 71.2 cubic feet (SAE style), but because of the V50's smaller physical size you won't find as much room inside of it as say, an Audi A4 or a BMW 328xi. Also missing from our options list is a self-adjusting rear suspension system, ideal for those who carry heavier loads. One negative regarding the folded seats is that with the seat down, the fore/aft movement of the front seats are limited, which can compromise a proper driving position for taller drivers. The front passenger's seat can even be folded flat for more room. The bottom line is that the V50 isn't your traditional Volvo load lugger, but that's okay as it makes up for it in other areas.

You might not buy a sports car to transport crates and people, but that doesn't mean you can't buy a Volvo station wagon for driving enjoyment. The T5 we had for testing was swift; when driven, you certainly feel the punch, but the weird thing about the engine is that it doesn't feel as fast as it really is. There's no question about the rush of acceleration, but the fact that it's so very well insulated from sound and road noise gives a deceiving impression of what's going on in the world around you. For this year, the turbocharged variant has a posted hike in power to 227 horsepower,

T-Tec fabric: who needs leather? (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

up from the 218 hp available previously. Standard to the T5 is a very slick six-speed manual transmission, with a five-speed Geartronic automatic 'box as an option.

People don't normally think of Volvos as being good handling vehicles, but this is another department in which Volvo is changing people's opinions. For anyone coming from an off-lease older-shape S40/V40 or an older V70, the V50 is a sharp-handling delight. Being based on one of the most critically acclaimed chassis on sale today, it feels solid and rigid in the bends. Although the V50 is a touch softer around the edges than some of its Germanic or Japanese rivals, it's eons better than what Volvos used to be like – I would know, I've got one as a daily driver. And for those thinking that this amount of power will corrupt the drivetrain with torque steer, this also is a myth worth busting. Under hard acceleration in low gears the traction and stability control prevents wheelspin effectively, and once momentum is built, the steering wheel doesn't much have a mind of its own. To truly eliminate any worries about torque steer, an AWD version of the

Ideal transportation for new and growing families alike. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

T5 is available with the Haldex system for additional grip. The less powerful, non-turbocharged 2.4i model doesn't have these troubles.

I quite like the V50, and not just the high-performance T5 models. It's a combination of their size, their appearance and their uncompromised quality and safety that appeal to me. Like most new Volvos, it feels durable and well built, but it doesn't just look smart, it feels smart. Today's modern crossover vehicle is little more than a medium sized all wheel drive station wagon jacked up for extra height. By keeping things down to earth, one might relate the V50 as the thinking man's compact crossover vehicle, without the need of wasting vertical space. If there is a mark against Volvo, it's that the V50 can get quite pricey. This particular wagon was far from fully loaded, lacking navigation, BLIS, swiveling xenon headlamps, leather, AWD, automatic and more, yet already it's nearing the $35,000 mark. However, sticking with a more basic 2.4i will allow you to keep prices in the mid $20,000s. Though comparatively equipped rivals may cost more – as much as $10k more – once again, the size factor chimes in. But, price aside, for a small family, you couldn't ask for a better vehicle.

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