Volvo

V50

With a light and spacious cabin along with top-of-the-range specification throughout, the Volvo V50 has ample room for five adults plus all their luggage. Comfort levels are very high and it offers a very safe and reassuring drive.

The good

Safe and sound as always

The bad

Design lacks real flair

Tech Specs

Price from

£16,995

Combined Fuel up to

72.4mpg

0-62 from

6.9 seconds

max speed up to

149mph

co2 from

104g/km

Test Drive

Volvo V50 2.0D R-Design Sport 5dr

IF ever you wanted a car that can cope with all that Mother Nature wants to put in its path, it has to be a Volvo.

There is always something very reassuring about being behind the wheel of one of Sweden’s finest when the temperature dips below freezing and the V50 is no let down.

For we can be one hundred per cent certain that the vehicle we are driving – in what we may class as “bitterly cold” conditions – will have been put through a far more gruelling and demanding examination in colder climes than we even dare imagine.

So it was little surprise that the roomy V50 coped admirably with any challenge put in its way.

The light and spacious cabin boasts excellent comfort levels and there is plenty of top-of-the-range specification throughout… in abundance.

Five adults can travel in comfort and the incredibly large storage area means they can all bring along plenty of luggage – the split/fold seat feature means that even extra long objects can be carried with ease.

Business drivers and family motorists alike are being attracted to the V50 with its superb comfort levels, excellent all-round visibility, great economy and class-leading features.

Around town, the large estate vehicle is deceptively agile and easily copes with the bustling city lifestyle, and then out on the open road it handles supremely well hugging every country lane and bend with confidence.

In addition, there are a number of hidden features on the V50 that just add to the reassurance of safety.

For example, it boasts arrays of sensors that monitor the car’s behaviour and if it starts to skid, will automatically brake individual wheels to help the driver regain control.

There are anti-lock brakes, electronic brake distribution and emergency brake assist, which senses an emergency stop and automatically brings the car to a halt in as short a distance as possible.

Features such as electronic windows, powered seats and electronic mirrors are simply the icing on the cake.