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By Bob GolfenAZCentral.com
December 4, 2004
No more. Nowadays, Volvo cruises along with Audi, BMW and Saab, a fellow Swede, for cars and sport utility vehicles that are brimming with European style, performance and luxurious comfort. Volvo's latest offering is the V50, a sleekly shaped compact station wagon that comes on the heels of the deftly redesigned S40 compact sedan. These handsome siblings replace the recent generation of entry-level Volvos and reflect the automaker's new design theme, which includes shapes that are attractively sculpted. Sexy, even. A sexy Volvo station wagon? Judge for yourself. V50 and S40 also benefit from Volvo's ownership by Ford Motor Co., which used the underpinnings of the Mazda 3 and European-spec Ford Focus as the basis for the new compacts. The last Volvo compacts used a chassis from Mitsubishi, a project that predated the Ford acquisition. Mazda is a longtime Ford family member. Despite the cross breeding, the new compacts boast the same refined driving characteristics of the larger Volvos, and the same tight, solid structure. Entry level for Volvo starts around $25,000 for the base V50, which includes a decent level of features and trim. That compares favorably to the other Euro luxury wagons. The test V50, a top-drawer T5, benefited from an optional all-wheel-drive system that improves traction in all road conditions. Audi, BMW and, of course, Subaru also offer all-wheel drive for their wagons. Such sharp compact wagons as V50, Audi Avant, Mazda 6 Sport Wagon, BMW 325xi and the hot-rod-inspired Dodge Magnum, as well as a new generation of moderately priced five-doors, are pulling attention away from sport utility vehicles and back toward the familiar virtues of station wagons. What it is A handsome new wagon for 2005 from Volvo, the world's most faithful proponent of the station-wagon form. Performance A new inline five-cylinder engine, slimmer and lighter than Volvo's other fives, powers the V50 and the S0. Five-cylinders provide the pull for most of Volvo's individualistic cars and SUVs. The reasoning behind five-cylinder engines was explained by a Volvo engineer thusly: Six are too many; four are too few. The idea was to create an inline engine that was more refined than a four but shorter in length than a straight six. Modern electronics and good engineering allowed the odd cylinder layout without the engine becoming harsh. Instead, the engine accelerates smoothly and sounds pleasantly harmonic. The T5 boosts power for its 2.5-liter engine with a turbocharger that brings horsepower up to 218 from the 168 of the naturally aspirated 2.4-liter in the base model. Though 218 horsepower doesn't sound like much these days, it's enough to give this small wagon sharp response throughout the engine-rpm range and strong cruising power at highway speeds. Power is immediate, with a strong 236 pound-feet of torque starting at 1,500 rpm, and no sensation of turbo lag. T5 wagons are available with six-speed stickshift or five-speed automatic, as the test car was equipped. The base model only gets the automatic. Though I would like to sample the six-speed, the automatic is very competent, though sometimes too abrupt in downshifting. Drivability Smooth, precise steering, excellent brakes and quick cornering make the V50 a station wagon that is sporty as well as practical. But there is a major gripe: The suspension is too stiff, often crossing over to harshness on even mildly rough pavement. Now, I'm the kind of driver who favors a tight-handling car with a firm suspension, but this was too much. Combined with low-profile performance tires, the ride gets too buffeting. Every passenger commented on the bumpy ride. The suspension does a good job at controlling rebound after bumps, as well as providing sure-footed cornering. But Volvo's engineers need to dial back on the stiffness, hopefully without losing the control. Naturally, this Volvo is flush with safety features, including antilock four-wheel disc brakes, side-impact air bags and curtains, and optional dynamic stability/traction control. Styling Distinctive and good-looking, the V50 and similar S0 translates the rounded profile of the bigger S60 sedan into a smaller package. The result is aggressively sporty without being too in-your-face about it. The 17-inch spoked alloy wheels and tires tune in the sporty look. Interior Very comfortable with a handsome new dashboard, including a unique and attractive "slim-line" console that was trimmed in aluminum. The console, a panel slim enough to allow a small storage space behind it, is well-arranged without the scattered controls of some Volvos. The passenger space is fairly small, however, sacrificing legroom in the rear seats. The cargo area is broad, though the procedure of folding down the rear seat can be a pain. Pricing Base price for the all-wheel-drive T5 is $28,910, with a full boat of luxury, safety and convenience features. The test car included a dynamic trim package of body trim, spoilers and 17-inch alloy wheels, $2,025; automatic transmission, $1,200; premium sound system, $850; dynamic stability/traction control, $695; metallic paint, $50; and shipping, $685. Total price came to $34,815, which is getting up there but still buys a lot of safety, style and performance. Bottom line Volvo brings a new look to compact station wagons in a handsome car with great road manners. Now, if they could just deal with that harsh ride.
Find a USED 2005 V50 for SaleFind used car inventory in your area.
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