This must be one of the most versatile cars available at the moment. The powerful turbo diesel engine gives it a 124 mph top speed, and very strong midrange acceleration which makes overtaking a doddle, and yet it is easy to get 50 mpg, and even more if you drive gently. The load bay is as vast as we have come to expect from Volvo estates, and the rear wheel arches do not intrude too much. I got a wardrobe in with room to spare, and the low sill means you don't have to do yourself an injury getting stuff in. Clever touches abound, like the blind which hides the boot from prying eyes, yet can be folded quickly away when you want to extend the load area.
Although the car can carry almost as much as a barge it doesn't handle like one. The speed sensitivepower steering provides good feel and weight on the move, yet is light in tight manoeuvres, and the wide low profile tyres give plenty of grip and feedback. The car always feels well planted on the road
While the car is hard to fault dynamically the design could leave a bit to be desired. The interior looks and feels a bit plasticy, and the velour seats are not particulary pleasant to look at, and don't look like they would wear too well. It is a comfortable place to spend time however, and all the controls are well laid out and easy to use. Similar reservations apply to the exterior, while at the front it is curvier than older Volvos, the familiar boxiness reappears at the back, and while the stacked light clusters at the back may be practical they don't do the looks any favours in my opinion.
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Saloon - Front (FWD) - 6 Speed - (Man) / 6 Speed Geartronic - (Auto) - 2401 cc - Max Speed: 143 mph - 185 bhp - Diesel - Available Trims: S, SE, SE Lux, SE Sport, Sport
Estate - Front (FWD) - 6 Speed - (Man) / 6 Speed Geartronic - (Auto) - 2401 cc - Max Speed: 140 mph - 185 bhp - Diesel - Available Trims: R-DESIGN, R-DESIGN Premium, SE, SE Lux, SE Lux Premium, SE Premium, S, Sport
Advantages: Good looking, comfortable front seats Disadvantages: Bad build quality, too mnay recurrent faults, D5 engine not as good as reputation suggest
VolvoWoes 28.11.2005 (03.12.2005)
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