Volvo V50 road test reports and car reviews

Volvo V50 D SE 2004

Great when it works - have spent £1300 on new Engine management and 6 months later it has now decided to start intermittently. Volvo dealership is pretty useless, think they just swap parts and read codes until you run out of money! Servicing is too expensive and electronics are very nice but appear a bit flakey. Looks pretty though - something to look at when you can’t drive the so**ing thing!

Volvo V50 1.6 D 2007

The very best car I’ve owned. Very good looking, comfortable for the whole family, including two teenage boys and the dog. No problems at all. Bought for the safety features and reliability; has not let us down. A very solid car, we live in the country and it has been a positive boon, through the snow and ice, mud, and fallen trees, this car is fantastic.

Volvo V50 DRIVe Stop/Start 2009

If versatility is your goal in a modern motorcar where you need a bit of pep to blow away the blues - qualified with a dash of sense that tells you you're doing both the planet and your wallet good when you're driving - you couldn't do better than to entrust yourself to the new V50 DRIVe. small estate which is based on the Ford Focus - but is so much better buil and starting at £18660 it's not bad value. It's the perfect town and country adaptable package combining svelte Swedish lines with commodious estate-like capacity. You'll feel like a saint driving it, knowing that it's mpg and low carbon footprint are considerable enough, almost to convince you that you're doing the planet a favour in owning such a machine. Solid as a Swedish Sunday underneath, its appearance is the epitome of good modern taste. You won't find Flash Harrys and Harriets fighting over each other to own one of these. Instead, owners are likely to be well-grounded and sensible folk who don't mind looking good, but eschew vulgarity. Contact with the road is provided by energy saving tyres that have a firm grip on today's ecological agenda. If owning one of these cars won't exactly give you the time of your life, it will fit in nicely with the life you are expected to lead in these times. It ticks all the boxes, while managing, at the same time, to box clever - so expect no flash but plenty of dash: verve with the Volvo twist, in other words. The interior is cleverly appointed to combine maximum security for occupants - a prime Volvo aim, of course, - with ergonomically pleasing and functionally comfortable automobile upholstery. It's an airy cabin that is confidence inspiring and constantly reassuring and you can choose from a number of different trim spec. levels. Everything has substance, and, of course, there's a five star safety rating. Belt and braces security is born of stability control systems to save the terminally incompetent from themselves and should you finally crash, there are more barrage balloons on board than were used to protect London in the Blitz. One marvel of this car is the combination of aerodynamic and aesthetic efficiency with load carrying capacity that's adequate - if not huge (enough for all but the antique dealer and his grandfather clock, I suggest.). The eco systems function by switching the smooth and torquey 1.6 litre, 108bhp diesel engine off every time you stop - and being a Volvo you can guarantee it's going to start up again without any hassle every time. `But surely performance is compromised and sacrificed on the altar of mean spirited money saving, celery eating, greenness. A chap can't have his cake and eat it.` I hear you say. Well in this instance I'm pleased to report that it's not, and you can. Driving it is a joy, and if you need to make rapid progress, the car is lively enough - cruising quietly and smoothly at high motorway speeds and zipping about on A and B roads if you need to. Low rolling resistance tyres, low friction transmission oil in the gearbox, lowered ride height, slippery aerodynamics, magic jiggery pokery mapping of the engine management and the 'stop/start system (Which can be switched off) all contribute to the frugality. The only doubt that lurks in the corner of my mind is 'how long will the starter motor and ring gear last?' - but then since it's a Volvo they're probably made of some yet undiscovered metal that is harder than diamonds and will last forever. At this juncture I must tell you about a fifty-five mile Sunday bimble along twisty A roads and quiet country lanes. (The sort of trip that Trusty Trevor and Theresa would make to visit a National Trust property.). Never exceeding 60mph., but certainly not holding up traffic, the economy proved to be inter stellar. A mind disorientating 82.3 mpg showed on the trip computer! (My bicycle doesn't do that). Immediately I telephoned my MP and instructed him to rush through a Bill consigning all hybrids to the dustbin. Volvo deserves a New Years Honour for producing such a good, solid, sensible - and enjoyable car. Volvo marketing and design people, over the years, have cleverly carved out a niche in the market. Not only that - among motor manufacturers they are indeed ahead of the game, because more than most companies, Volvo have proved themselves the rule makers and mould breakers. There's nothing quite like a Volvo. Now - let me STOP praising the car and START enjoying driving it. Eco driving has never felt so indulgent.

Responses to this review

I used to run a much older Volvo estate. T’was a spacious and lovable wagon, which could have transported the contents of a small house within the commodious boot. Occasionally pressed into service as a rally "barge" it carried out its week end duties without a murmur through a wide variety of on and off road conditions and with approaching 180,000 on the clock,it finally went on in far more rugged hands than mine to be remembered for several years with affection by followers of MAT 1F. I would need to explore the potential of this latest version of a Scandinavian thoroughbred with a swift autobahn sortie to the Black Sea and back in seasonable spring time weather of course - Robert D Hall from Staffordshire

Volvo V50 2.0D 2005

Nice looking car but too small. Handbrake gets in the way when changing gear and head rests impair view from rear window. Elec mirrors and windows sometimes fail to work but biggest problem is the fuel consumption. I’ve had the car for two months and am getting no more than 240miles form a full tank.

Responses to this review

I think you may have a problem with your car! I have a V50 2.0D and drive from Devon (Okehampton) to London (Surbiton) every week. I can do the round trip on a full tank (£45’ish). Thats on the A303 with cruise control at 80mph, (2200rpm). It may bw worth having it checked out - Henry Authers from Devon

Volvo V50 1.6D S 2008

I chose this as a company car as I wanted more space and the styling of this estate is better than most in its price bracket. For a base model it is also well equipped, came with climate control, e/w windows all round etc. Chose the 1.6D as I thought it would be economical - I think Volov claim 56 mpg combined. I struggle to get above 45/46 mpg. I think the best I ever managed was 50 mpg when I first got it and ran it is an 60mph. I have pumped up the tyres to the ECO pressure of 36 psi and stick to 70-75 mph on the motorway which is 80 per cent of its mileage, but still the economy is rubbish and had I known, I would not have got it. Previously had a 1.9D Megane and on the same journey driving at higher speeds happily got 50 mpg. Only other problem was that the turbo needed replacing after about six months and I also find that the engine seems to hesitate quite frequently when on part throttle. If you are thinking about buying this for its claimed economy I would avoid it.

Volvo V50 2.0D SE Lux 2008

Second V50. Previously owned 2005 2.0D SE. When I set out to look for the replacement I tested Audi and BMW, but when it came down to it the Volvo beat them on price, value for money, specification, and safety features. Bigger mirrors of the revised car, a big improvement and heated/memory seats a great luxury. Overall, the drive is unexplainably better. The clutch is a bit heavy and the gear box a bit agricultural compared to some rivals, but this is a vice I am prepared to live with. No reliability issues from either car, though inexplicably the newer one averages 42mpg after 20 months, whereas the last car got about 47mpg. I drive the 136bhp C class diesel today and it was snail like in comparison. Support previous comments about problems with heater, read the instruction book, the air con system slightly complex, but good if you use it probably. Mill Volvo Sunderland - service excellent.

Volvo V50 2.0 d e.s sport r design 2008

This is my second review, I bought the car new in Jan 2008 and fell in love with it immediately. The car is definitely a head turner, the ride is firm, the drive responsive and can be fast when you need it. I test drove both Audi and Saab and I must say the Saab came close to the Volvo but lost out on looks. I’ve had no problems with the car and the servicing package was a bonus, as Volvo servicing can be expensive. The down side, if there is one, is that the boot space is a bit on the small side. I’ve done just over 15,000 miles and I reckon it won’t be long before I need 2 front tyers at a cost of £160 each (ouch).

Volvo V50 T5 2004

I absolutely love this car. I drive long distances and its smooth and comfortable and I get an average of about 34mpg; which isn’t too bad for a petrol. It’s also pretty quick, and you can surprise a few cars at the lights and roundabouts if you want. The overtaking is very good. It’s also proved to be very reliable, only trouble I had was a wheel bearing needed replacing after hitting a very big pot hole but that’s hardly Volvo’s fault. I was a bit sceptical of Volvo before I brought this car due to the image, but would definitely buy another one now, its such a quality car. Would like a go in a d5 as well now!!

Volvo V50 2008

To previous complainer , the throttle taking over engine revs is because you are in too high a gear and the anti stall device takes over. Gone are the days when the car would rattle and shake when you are in too high a gear as cars are so refined these days they compensate for almost everything. Most cars have this feature. As for your air/con try reading the hand book, all cars with air/con or climate control can have their heaters and air/con on together.