2005 Volvo V50 T5 AWD Road Test

All Wagon Drive

Once again, Volvo asks the

Volvo asks the question, why would you want to buy a minivan? (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

question, why would you want to buy a minivan? And as it has done for the better part of a half century, the Swedish automaker answers with a functional and fun station wagon.

The 2005 V50 is the brand's entry-level wagon in a stable bursting with exceptional family haulers, including the V70 and the XC70.

Launched in conjunction with the all new S40 entry-level sedan, the new V50 shares many engineering, design and performance attributes.

Both models come with two five-cylinder engine choices -- a standard

Volvo has provided AWD as standard or optional equipment on every 2005 vehicle it produces. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

2.4-liter producing 168 horsepower and 166 lb-ft of torque, and a 2.5-liter turbocharged powerplant pumping out a respectable 218 horses and 236 lb-ft of torque. Both engines come with either a manual gearbox, a five-speed with the base model and a six-speed with the turbo engine, or a five-speed automatic transmission with manual mode.

In response to growing demand for all-wheel-drive vehicles, Volvo has provided AWD as standard or optional equipment on every 2005 vehicle it produces. To date since 2004, 58 percent of all new vehicles sold by the automaker in Canada were ordered with AWD.