There was a time when Volvo was the perfect balance between European styling and handling, and Japanese budget consciousness. Now that mid-point is not so comfortably occupied, particularly with the Volvo S40 sports sedan and V50 sports wagon, thanks to styling and power improvements and the significant price-hike in the Volvos this year. The Volvo V50 is now priced almost at the level of its European cousins the BMW 3 Series wagon and Audi A3 and A4 wagons, yet falls short in the performance department, particularly with the 2.4i base model. The Turbo-charged T5 R-Design wagons offer a lot more in the way of power, but in overall handling and luxury still has a hard time stacking up.
2009 Volvo V50 Performance
The 2009 Volvo V50 2.4i has a 2.4-liter 5 cylinder inline engine that produces a pedestrian-like 168hp and 170 lb-ft of torque, hardly what you would define as a sports wagon. This year it offers only the 5-speed automatic transmission, with the slow-selling manual not surprisingly dropped off the list this year. By contrast, the T5 R-Design really is a turbocharged sports wagon with 227hp and 236lb-ft of torque from its 2.5-liter 5 cylinder engine and can reach 60mph in a sprightly 6.7 seconds. This year the V50 T5 is only available as an AWD, which makes sense for a wagon that has to compete to some extent with the ever-popular SUVs. Both come in 5-speed automatic with Geartronic shift features.
The R-Design is new this year and features a
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new satin matte-finish sporty grille and other distinguishing logos and trims to set it apart from its cousin the 2.4i. All S40 models carry standard 17-inch alloys, with the option of upgrading to 1-8inch for the T5 R-Design.
The typically rigid Volvo platform on both V50 options makes for a completely different handling experience – with precision steering and responsive suspension that is enhanced to sports levels in the T5 R-Design.
Fuel economy for the 2.4i stands at 20/28 mpg city/highway driving, while the T5 AWD produces 18/21mpg. This is not spectacular compared to the SUV crossover competition, which tends to average similar results with more features.
2009 Volvo V50 Interior
The look of the V50 inside is decidedly Swedish, with its stylish yet minimalist design and more than a hint of luxury. This year lots of the previous options have become standard features including Bluetooth, power sunroof and updated 8-speaker stereo system with 6-CD changer with MP3 function, plus power driver seats, fog lights, leather steering-wheel and satellite radio and if you want to go really Swedish there are optional Nordic Oak inlays. Volvo is famous for its comfortable seats, and in the V50 they are so brilliant that it makes this reviewer wonder why more manufacturers don’t put the same level of care into what is essentially the most important part of the interior. In the 2.4i they are covered with high quality T-Tec upholstery which look and feel great.
The T5 R-Design has gone all-out on sports additions, including rear spoiler, five-spoke wheels, aluminum pedals, premium leather heated seats, sport shift knob,18-inch wheels and auto-dimming rearview mirrors, plus a super sporty gauge cluster and if you choose, a 12-speaker audio system. The DVD navigation system has been upgraded to include a birds-eye view map and easier to use driver interface.
2009 Volvo V50 Safety
Safety in the Volvos has decline a little from its previous unsurpassed reputation for safety excellence. This is not so much about Volvo’s safety deteriorating, as the standards of most other manufacturers lifting significantly in response to customer demand. Safety features like stability control and full airbags are now commonplace, however Volvo still stays ahead of the pack in their body reinforcing with standard cross-bars in the front and rear doors of the V50 and energy absorption system to deflect impact . Last year the Automatic Hazard Warning was introduced to activate hazard lights whenever any of the airbags are deployed. There is also an optional Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) and Active Bi-Xenon headlights that direct the light beam towards the steering direction and even partly around corners.
Safety features:
- Electronic stability control, anti-locking brakes and traction control.
- Active head restraints
- Front and front side airbags, side curtain airbags
- Blind spot information system
- Tire pressure monitoring system
- Automatic Hazard Activation
The Volvo V50 is the perfect option for families who need storage space but don’t want to go all the way towards a SUV crossover. It incorporates the best of European styling, and although performance that is not quite up to par, the V50 is still priced under its European competitors.
