The 6-speed manual stick available in the V50 T5 is one sweet piece of transmission candy. I found myself needlessly shifting gears just for the shear pleasure of lightly flicking the short throw mast from one notch to
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| (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Auto123.com) |
the next. Matching its smooth actuation was a featherweight, progressive clutch; the combination of which produced the smoothest shifts achievable from a manual gearbox. But what use is 6 sweet gears if there isn't any juice to spin them? That apprehension wasn't lost on Volvo. When the T5 badge goes on, a high-pressure turbocharger goes in. The airpump gets bolted to a sophisticated 2.5 litre (154 cu in), 5-cylinder powerplant. The outcome is 218 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and a burly 236 foot-pounds of torque at an amazingly low 1,500 rpm. While the turbocharger pressurizes air entering the engine, Volvo's variable-valve-timing efficiently moves it into and out of the combustion chambers, resulting in a flat torque curve all the way to 4,800 rpm. Improved fuel economy and cleaner emissions are also turbo byproducts; but plenty of low-end beef and improved heightened efficiency are but a fraction of the delight this mill generates.
I have sampled 5-cylinder powerplants - both turbocharged and not - in a variety of products including Volvo and VW; I have not come away very impressed. The V50 T5 has altered that perception in a big way. This mill is
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| (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Auto123.com) |
conspicuously smoother and far more refined than any 5-cylinder previously experienced. In fact, I would dare to compare it to the turbine-smooth, inline 6-cylinder wonder powering BMW's 325xi. I know that's going to hurt some ears, but I'm sticking to my guns on this. Volvo's inline-5 has matured into a polished performer. It's also very quiet but capable of emitting a well-groomed exhaust note when put under pressure. The engine's discreet performance nicely complement's the V50's quiet cabin, into which little road and wind noise intrudes. The net effect gives Volvo's smallest wagon premium-level pretension. Augmenting the vehicle's upscale ambience is a very rigid chassis, which keeps everything tight and together when encountering rough road or tossing the V50 T5 into a high speed turn.
The vehicle's fully independent suspension utilizes a MacPherson strut, coil spring setup at the front and a multi-link, coil spring arrangement at the rear. Together the apparatus produce a ride that is composed, nailed-down and not excessively firm for the feint of heart. Anti-roll bars at each end assist in keeping cornering flat and nosedive to a minimum when the 4-wheel antilock disc brakes grab the rotors- and grab they can. Light pedal pressure is all that's needed to squeeze out tremendous brake
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| (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Auto123.com) |
force producing dramatically short, highly assured emergency stops- thanks in part to Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) programs.
The combination of sharp, calculable handling, fine road manners and outstanding braking engage the driver in a very rewarding, European-like driving experience that is only marginalized by the traction and handling limitations imposed by front-wheel-drive. The V50 T5's electronic Dynamic Stability Traction Control System (DSTC) minimizes front-wheel spin when the turbocharged torque hits its unsuspecting front wheels- collateral damage though is reduced snap off-the-line and less zing out of a turn. Fortunately Volvo's all-wheel-drive option is capable of eliminating the vexations of front-wheel-drive by splitting torque evenly between the front and rear wheels.
