Motors

Volvo estate a solid prospect

Second Hand Sense : ONE OF THE MOST appealing characteristics of the Volvo V50 estate is that it does not look like an average…

DONAL BYRNE
Wed Dec 2 2009 - 00:00

Second Hand Sense: ONE OF THE MOST appealing characteristics of the Volvo V50 estate is that it does not look like an average estate.

Volvos have strong and defined styling and while some other manufacturers merely stick a cube onto an existing platform for their estate options, Volvo seems to have put more thought and purpose into the V50.

Also, the car does not drive like an average estate. Its ride and handling are very good and you get the feeling that it has been engineered to broaden its appeal. In fact, Volvo did set out to attract younger drivers with this car and its saloon sibling, the S50.

The V50 has been around for five years and is ageing quite well. Its external design is strong from all angles. The inside is also well finished with very comfortable seats and a distinctive centre console; practicality is a constant theme.

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There is a good choice of engines but the petrol engines are not known for their economy. There are 1.6 and 1.8 petrol units and a 1.8 flexi fuel option. There is also a 1.6 diesel although the best option is probably the 2.0 litre diesel that is well proven in the Ford range and produces 143bhp relatively quietly and very economically. It also has good low range pulling power that some other diesels lack.

The V50 is a very practical estate. The boot is very generous and folding seats add a lot of extra capacity. But rear legroom can be restrictive and the roof can be low for taller people.

The V50 has impressive active and passive safety features. Side impact protection and side and curtain airbags are standard. The estate was not separately tested in the Euro NCAP crash test programme but the saloon version was given a maximum five stars for a “very strong and stable passenger safety cage”, among other things.

There have been quality issues with some Volvos and some V50’s have been recalled for problems with fuel pumps, cooling fans and fuel lines. A 2006 2.0 litre diesel model with 72,000km costs €14,500 at one garage. An 2007 petrol model with the 1.8 engine and 54,000 km is €15,950.

STAR RATING: 7/10