The Volvo V50 in our editorial office is already the fourth car of this brand to undergo a long-term test. First we had an S40, then an XC90, then an S80, and now — a V50 T5 AWD. A car that pleases in almost every way. The Swedes have always known how to make station wagons, and the V50 is no exception. However, there is nothing to be surprised about here: it is based on the S40, whose exterior no one has ever complained about. At least, we haven't come across such people. The V50 is a beautiful car, and that's an understatement.
Once, while traveling south in an S40, I regretted that it wasn't a station wagon. The trunk of the "forty" was lacking, though not catastrophically, but still. Now, examining the cargo area of the V50, I realized I hadn't lost much. Alas, its volume didn't impress: only 417 liters. For comparison, the S40 has 404 liters. The difference, as you can see, is minimal. Folding one or all of the rear seats gives you 1307 liters, but from a station wagon, you primarily expect a spacious trunk without any transformations, and here...
Aerodynamics also disappointed. More precisely, the car's tendency to get dirty. A dirty rear is a common problem for all station wagons, but the smeared side panels are already annoying. You won't be able to open the door without getting your hands dirty. But that's a trifle compared to the fact that in slush, the driver's door window gets very dirty — a clear oversight by the designers. The channel that should divert dirt from the windshield is apparently not developed enough, so the window gets smeared. True, this only happens at speeds above 120 km/h, so in the city with calm driving, the problem doesn't arise.
But driving calmly in a T5 is difficult. It wasn't made for that. Its element is speed, and speed again. Judge for yourself: why buy a car that accelerates to 100 km/h in 7.6 seconds just to crawl along the curb? You wouldn't buy a super-modern computer to play Tetris. That's why people buy the T5 — to drive dynamically. And safely at that.
And the V50 T5 AWD is capable of that, believe me. Largely thanks to the powerful turbocharged engine. Oddly enough, it's its power that helps avoid many unpleasant situations. Most accidents happen because drivers overestimate their cars' capabilities, which leads to crashes. In the T5, overtaking competently is no problem. Just press the gas pedal to the floor, and the car takes off. But the main thing is that in such moments, it doesn't care what's under the wheels — dry asphalt or packed snow. All-wheel drive makes the dynamics almost identical in both cases.
All-wheel drive is also very useful for winter parking in the city. You don't have to worry about whether there's too much snow at the curb. The V50 AWD allows confident parking even where snow reaches the lower edge of the bumper: it's almost impossible to get stuck. So there's a better chance of finding a free spot. And, of course, all-wheel drive is invaluable on the highway. Even at high speed, the car drives on slippery surfaces as if on rails.
However, you shouldn't overestimate the car's capabilities. It's hard to throw an all-wheel-drive car into a skid, but it's even harder to get it out of that skid. The V50 AWD is no exception, but the electronic stability systems don't let it out of control for a second, and the risk is significantly reduced. Any willfulness of the car is suppressed instantly and very competently. So competently that it starts to seem like a successfully taken corner or a professional lane change is your personal achievement. But turn off the system — and everything falls into place. However, even then, the electronics, though less zealously, monitor what's happening and will definitely correct your mistake at a critical moment. It's just that the intervention will be rough: the revs will drop sharply, the ABS will activate, or some wheel will brake. You'll immediately understand who really has the situation under control.
It's also worth mentioning another optional system — the pre-heater, which greatly simplifies life in winter. You'll agree, it's nice when the car warms up the engine and interior by the right time. The main thing is to plan your day correctly and accurately guess the start time: the car will be waiting for you in full combat readiness. The only thing to consider is that the heater's operating time (about 60 minutes) should match the total driving time per day, so the battery fully recovers. In city traffic jams, that's not hard at all.
It's much harder in the same traffic jams not to become a victim of "cutters." Oddly enough, the right exterior mirror doesn't have a segment for monitoring the "blind spot." So controlling the situation on the right is quite difficult. The view through the cabin isn't all right either: the sloping roof and huge rear pillars get in the way. It's good that the parking sensors help when reversing.
But why should we look at those lagging behind! And judging by operating experience, there are many of them — both in the city and on the highway. And that can't help but flatter one's ego. Disadvantages? Well, who doesn't have them! The main thing is that they don't outweigh the advantages. And the Volvo V50 T5 AWD has incomparably more advantages.
Technical specifications of the Volvo V50 T5 AWD
- Body — unibody, all-metal
- Curb weight, kg — 1570
- Gross weight, kg — 2521
- Dimensions, mm: length — 4514, width — 1770, height — 1452
- Wheelbase, mm — 2640
- Maximum speed, km/h — 225
- Acceleration time to 100 km/h, s — 7.6
- Fuel consumption, l/100 km: urban — 14.9, extra-urban — 7.5, combined — 10.2
- Engine: 5-cylinder, turbocharged, displacement 2521 cm³, power 220 hp at 5000 rpm, torque 320 Nm at 1500–4800 rpm
- Transmission — automatic, 5-speed, with automatically engaging all-wheel drive
- Tire size — 205/55R16
- Suspension (front and rear) — independent
- Brakes (front/rear) — disc, ventilated
- Steering — rack and pinion, with power steering
- Price, $ — 46,000