The V50 is Volvo’s compact wagon that adds a healthy dose of spirited driving dynamics to its overall practicality. Not a lot changes with this sporty 5-door wagon for 2010, other than a simplified array of trim levels and content packages.


The base V50 is now a high-value affair reflecting the preferences on Canadian consumers. With its MSRP of $30,495, this unit receives a 2.4-litre 5-cylinder engine producing 168 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque.

A manual 5-speed gearbox arrives as standard equipment; a 5-speed automatic transmission is a $1,500 option. Power is fed to the front wheels.

Other standard equipment includes 16-inch wheels, Dynamic Stability and Traction Control, cruise control, air conditioning, T-Tec seating surfaces and a 4-speaker audio unit. Integrated booster seats are available as a $500 option.

The Premium-level V50 is tagged at $37,495. It ups the content list considerably with items such as alloy wheels, a sunroof, heated power front seats, climate control, rain-sensing wipers, 8-speaker audio, Bluetooth and more.

Options include the aforementioned 5-speed automatic transmission, leather seating, 17-inch wheels, integrated booster seat and 6-disc CD changer. The $1,900 Tech Package will add keyless entry and drive, BLIS (Blind Spot Information System) and premium 12-speaker audio.

The V50 line-up is capped by the T5 AWD. This turbocharged all-wheel-drive version of the V50 will set one back $44,495 for starters. It utilizes a turbocharged 2.5-litre 5-cylinder engine to produce 227 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque.

A 6-speed manual transmission is standard T5 AWD fare with an autobox arriving as an option. The Tech option package chalks-up another $2,995 to the T5’s MSRP. This package adds premium audio and a navigation system to the heavily contented T5.

Both the V50 Premium and the T5 AWD can be ordered with Volvo’s sporty R-Design visual appeal package. It’s not cheap though: $4,500 with the V50 Premium and $3,700 with the T5 AWD.