2011 Volvo V50 Review
Price
RM185,950
Installment
RM1,773/mth
2011 Volvo V50 at a glance
The estate version of the Volvo S40, the 2011 Volvo V50 looks nice, boasts a stylish, quality cabin, and drives well. But crucially, the boot is small and narrow by estate standards, which makes getting an estate rather pointless.
2011 Volvo V50 quick specs
| Body Style | Estate |
| Class | Compact Luxury |
| Assembled | - |
| Engine Range | - |
| Fuel Options | - |
| Seating Capacity | 5 |
2011 Volvo V50 ratings (overall rating : 3.5/5.0)
| Styling | |
| Handling | |
| Comfort | |
| Quality + Reliability | |
| Performance |
| Roominess | |
| Running Costs | |
| Value for Money | |
| Equipment | |
| Environment |
Styling
It is not easy to design a nice-looking estate, but Volvo has certainly succeeded here. Looking much like a scaled-down Volvo V70, the 2011 Volvo V50 features a familiar Volvo front end and a purposeful rear end. Like in the Volvo S40, the interior styling is minimalist, dominated by the classy “floating” centre console.
Handling
The 2011 Volvo V50 is based on the Volvo S40 sedan, which is built on the same chassis as the Ford Focus. Unsurprisingly, then, that the 2011 Volvo V50 puts on an agile showing over twisty roads, and remains highly stable on highways. The taut chassis, high grip levels and flat cornering stance inspire driving confidence, as does the fine steering, which proves to be well-weighted and responsive.
Comfort
The stiff suspension brings about a firm low-speed ride, which affects comfort. But the ride quality does improve as speed increases. Road and engine noise are well kept out, but wind noise can make itself more than welcome. The front seats are extremely supportive, while the driver's seat provides ample seating and steering column adjustments. However, the “floating” centre console places style before ease of use—the controls are small, and the digital information display is not the sharpest we have seen.
Quality + Reliability
The minimalist interior feels classy and well-built. The excellent fit-and-finish are matched by equally impressive materials used. The 2011 Volvo V50's cabin quality however still sits one notch below what premium rivals are offering. The underlying mechanicals are proven and should remain reliable.
Performance
Only one drivetrain is available: an in-line five-cylinder 2.4-litre with 168 bhp and 230 Nm, mated to a five-speed Geartronic automatic transmission. On the roads, the 2.4-litre proves to be punchy and refined, while the Geartronic transmission does not disappoint too, shifting gears in a smooth, timely manner.
Roominess
The 2011 Volvo V50 provides good room for the front, and reasonable room for the rear. The boot is surprisingly small and narrow for an estate, however, which limits the practicality. The fact that rivals offer much more interior room and loading capacity does little to help the 2011 Volvo V50's case.
Running Costs
The 2011 Volvo V50 2.4i returns a fuel economy of 11.0 km/litre. Like for other luxury brands, servicing and repairs are costly. Volvo models tend to depreciate heavily, and given Malaysians' limited appetite for estates, the Volvo V50 is likely to retain even less value than Volvo sedans.
Value for Money
The 2011 Volvo V50, like most other Volvo models, is priced and positioned as a semi-luxury car. Neither BMW, Audi nor Mercedes-Benz are selling estates comparable to the V50 in Malaysia, which should work very much in the Volvo's favour. The 2011 Volvo V50 looks nice, boasts a stylish, quality cabin, and drives well, but as an estate, it disappoints with a relatively small, narrow boot. The ride comfort and refinement can be better, too.
Equipment
Standard equipments include 16" alloy wheels, roof rails, front/rear fog lights, full leather upholstery, 8-speaker audio system with in-dash 6-disc CD changer, steering wheel mounted cruise control and audio controls, climate control, park assist, and power front seats with memory function for the driver's seat. Safety kit includes front/side/curtain airbags, front/rear seat belt pretensioners, Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS), braking controls (ABS, EBD, EBA), and Stability & Traction Control (STC).
Environment
Carbon dioxide emissions of 217 grams/km is poor by class standards, and the 2011 Volvo V50's “green” credentials are also not helped by considering its fuel economy. Rivals are more efficient, requiring less fuel to run and emitting less carbon dioxide per distance.
Live Life Drive Verdict
Nice styling
Stylish, quality cabin
Sharp handling
Firm ride
Relatively small, narrow boot
Costly to run
