Volvo V50 2.0 R-Design SE Sport

Oct 10 2008 Edward Stephens

JUST because you are buying an estate car it doesn't mean you can't have one that looks sporty.

Take the new Volvo V50, for example. You can have it as a standard family load lugger or you can go for the racy R-Design.

R-Design is something the Swedish car maker now offers on most of its ranges - and it certainly sets those cars apart.

In the V50, R-Design doesn't make the car go any faster - but it certainly looks as if it does. It's mostly body kit so the effect is cosmetic yet nonetheless dramatic.

Side skirts, a deep front valance with spot lights and a rear spoiler on top of the hatch all combine to lift the car's appearance.

Inside too the V50 looks trendy. My test car's interior was mainly in black but there was a dramatic contrast created by the panels of white leather on the upper parts of the seats.

I liked the chunky leather steering wheel with built-in radio control buttons, the now traditional Volvo ultra thin central console stack and the logical, chunky and easy to use switches and control knobs.

What I didn't like - and surprisingly it was the only negative part of the car for me - was the lack of space between the clutch and the centre console trim to allow you rest your left foot rather than having to have it hovering above the pedal all the time.

Despite being the smaller brother of the supersized V70 estate, the V50 offers plenty of on-board space. And its smaller dimensions make it far more svelte.

Going on holiday gave me the chance to try out its luggage carrying credentials - and it passed with flying colours.

As a family which never travels light we packed the largest size of suitcase you can have as well as a huge bag. They fitted in side by side and easily beneath the sliding luggage cover, so there would have been plenty of space for even more luggage with the cover drawn back.

The car is powered by a 2.0-litre diesel engine mated to a slick six-speed manual gearbox. It offers good pulling power and is at its liveliest at mid-range speed rather than from take off.

The ride is firm, comfortable and the engine is impressively quiet.

The V50 is some 34 per cent stiffer than its V40 predecessor and it shows in the handling, which lives up to its sporty exterior.

So if you want space with style and a sporty personae take a close look at the V50 R-Design. It has something for everyone.

FAST FACTS

Volvo V50 2.0 R-Design SE Sport 5dr

Price : £22,055

Mechanical : 145bhp, 1,999cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 6spd manual gearbox

Max speed : 130mph

0-62mph : 9.6 secs

Combined mpg : 38.2

Insurance group : 12

CO2 emissions : 176g/km

BiK rating : 22%

Warranty : 3yrs/ 60,000 miles, 3yrs paint, 8yrs anti-rust