V50 offers more for the family
There are people who are surprised at the equipping of European wagons with higher performance characteristics, but they shouldn’t be.
The wagon is highly prized in many world markets as an expansion on the desirable four-door family car, so why would you want to go with something less practical when you decide to provide your family with a little more oomph?
Sport compacts are starting to pick up on this trend in North America, so it wouldn’t surprise us to see more entry-level luxury sport-wagons such as the Volvo V50 T5 in the near future.
The T5 is Volvo’s designation for its performance lines — similar to Dodge’s SRT, Ford’s SVT and Honda’s Type-S. T5 models generally add high-pressure turbocharging to either the 2.4 or 2.5 five-cylinder standards.
In this week’s V50, it is a turbo 2.5 replacing the standard normally aspirated 2.4-litre inline-5. The 2.4’s 168 horsepower is boosted to 227 and dropped down a little in the rev range to make those ponies more easily accessible. But the performance boost really comes from increasing torque to 236 lb.-ft. (from the 2.4’s 170) and making all that available from 1,500 through 5,000 rpm, meaning the driver has full grunt at his/her fingertips (or rather toe-tips) whether power is needed to pull away from a stoplight or quickly pass slower traffic on two-lane roads.
Turbo lag is really only felt briefly at launch, until the needle vaults past the 1,500 gateway. During everyday driving, the car just leaps forth every time you step on the right pedal. Hold on to first gear a little bit longer and you’ll make the front wheels chirp as you move up to second. Repeat the procedure and you’ll get a slight peep as you claim third.
Torque steer is well controlled through it all, and the only time we really ever felt a semblance of it was on moist pavement on an uphill highway ramp, where the car’s front end was light from the combination of its own acceleration and the grade, and a less-attuned driver probably wouldn’t even notice.
And in keeping with the increases in power, the chassis is also enhanced to provide a firmer ride and sportier handling feel. Our tester featured the optional dynamic chassis control that’s supposed to provide superior comfort and improved agility. It all works very well when you open it up on an empty part of switchback black-top but the ride does get a bit annoying over incessantly heaved pavement. By and large, though, you don’t notice it too much until it gets to the point where you just wish it would stop.
Inside, you’re presented with the ubiquitous Volvo floating centre stack and uninspired switchgear. On the one hand, it’s enough to immediately lull you to sleep when you cast eyes upon it; on the other, there is no guesswork needed to find anything and make it work, so I guess it’s a good thing.
The seats are also traditionally Volvo, which to my back parts are the best in the world. They’re flat, but nicely padded and bolstered to the point that you have no sense of fatigue even after several hours at the wheel. The rear cushions have an upwardly mobile section that creates a booster seat for smaller children to sit comfortably and use the vehicle’s belt system.
The bottoms flip forward and can hold the rear-seat headrests so the seatbacks can fold down flat to bumper level. A retractable tonneau keeps prying eyes out of the V50 cargo compartment, which is reasonably roomy even when the rear seats are in use.
At first blush, you wouldn’t think the V50 a higher-performance model, which will suit most people just fine (the only real hint is a high spoiler atop the hatchdoor). However, it’s good to know you have that extra bit of power available when you need to get around that transport truck on the two-lane road leading to the cottage or in order to get out of the highway merge lane on the Friday afternoon drive home.
It’s also good to know you can still take along your family and all the things they need for a relaxed weekend at the cottage without giving up that extra bit of motoring security.
Fact File
2008 Volvo V50 T5
As tested, before tax: $47,745
Options: Sport Package ($3,850) includes 17-in. alloy wheels, dynamic chassis, bi-xenon headlights, power heated front seats, driver’s seat memory, auto-dimming rearview mirror with compass and homelink, headlight washers, cargo cover; Sport Styling Package ($2,750) includes exterior styling kit, rear spoiler, sport-steering wheel and shift knob with aluminum inlays; DynAudio Premium Sound System ($1,000) includes 12 speakers, 650W amplifier, Dolby Pro Logic II surround sound and in-dash 6 CD player; metallic paint ($650); integrated Child Booster Seats ($500).
Freight: $995
Configuration: front engine/front-wheel drive
Engine/Transmission: 2.5L turbocharged I5/6-speed manual
Horsepower: 227 @ 5,000 rpm
Torque: 236 lb.-ft. @ 1,500 - 4,800 rpm
Fuel required: 60 litres, regular
EnerGuide fuel ratings (L/100 km): 11.3 city; 7.3 hwy.
Observed fuel economy (L/100 km: 9.3 combined over 605 km
Warranty: 4 years/80,000 km
Competition: Audi A4 Avant, Saab 9-3 SportCombi, Volkswagen Passat
Strengths: Interior comfort, power delivery, agility
Weaknesses: Uninspired styling, tight rear seat legroom
MSRP range: $32,995 - $42,995
Engines available: 2.4L I5 (168 hp/170 lb.-ft.); 2.5L turbo I5 (227/236)
Transmissions available: 5-spd man.; 6-spd man.; 5-spd auto with sequential shift
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