Volvo continues its reputation as the king of sports wagons manufacturers with the Volvo V50, an S40 reincarnated as an upscale wagon. The wagons of day are a far cry from Volvo wagons of the past which may be remembered with disdain. Today's sporty wagons feature lots of interior space and plenty of top of the line safety features. The 2008 Volvo V50 is one of these new-era wagons.



The V50 has not undergone any huge changes, the front and rear body has been slightly reshaped, looking a little less boxy. The grill and rear bumper have been tweaked just a little as well to produce a more refined look.

The center console in the interior now accepts an audio jack and provides more storage space which was greatly lacking before. The handbrake in the console has also been redesigned. The trademark Swedish minimalist design still remains, but an optional trim called Nordic Light Oak, is available for the interior. Cargo capacity is 27.4 cubic ft. When the rear 60/40 seat is folded down the capacity increases to 62.9 cubic feet.

The T5 model engine is more powerful than previous models due to a nine horsepower upgrade. The engine also achieves 30 mpg highway fuel efficiency. The 2.4i gets an estimated 22 mpg in the city, 31 mpg on the highway. The T5 AWD gets 20 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. Enthusiatic drivers may want to choose the turbocharged engine of the T5, it gets almost the same fuel economy as the 2.4i. The handling is smart and fun with either the sport tuned or standard suspensions.

The Volvo V50 gets better gas mileage than its rivals such as the Acura RDX or Mazda CX-7 small SUVs. The V50 has more cargo space than its compact wagons competitor, the Audi A4 Avant, but it has a little less than the Saab 9-3 SportCombi.

There are three different trim levels in the 2008 Volvo V50, the 2.4i, the T5, and the T5 AWD. Features of the 2.4i V50 include a 168 hp 2.4-litre, 5 cylinder engine. The T5, also front wheel drive, has a 227hp 2.5-litre turbocharged 5 cylinder engine. Both of these engines come standard as five speed automatic, adaptive Geartronic transmissions.

The T5 also is available as all-wheel drive. The well known Volvo safety features include all-disc antilock brakes with electronic brake force distribution, electronic stability control, side curtain and side impact airbags.

The 2.4i comes with standard 16? alloy wheels, tilt-telescoping leather-wrapped steering wheel, T-Tec cloth upholstery, eight-way manually adustable driver's seat, full power accessories, manual climate control, and a 6 speaker Dolby audio system with CD player and aux. audio jack. The T5 features more fog lamps, automatic climate control, 8-way power driver seat, aluminum trim, trip computer, 8 speaker sound system with in-dasy CD changer and a satellite radio. Of course the T5 AWD features all wheel drive as well.

The T5 can be upgraded with a navigation system, active bi-xenon headlamps, and keyless ignition. Extra options for the V50 come in different packages. The Select Package for the 2.4i consists of power driver seat, sunroof, 17? wheels, fog lights, Nordic Light Oak wood or aluminum trim, upgraded sound system, and leather gearshift knob. Leather upholstery is also available for the 2.4i. The Premium Package adds the 17? wheels, leaher upholstery, sunroof, driver seat mermory, and powered passenger seat, auto-dimming mirror with a compass and Homelink.