Volvo V50 DRIVe road test
Buyers wanting to go green with a Volvo V50 have two choices of the Swedish firm’s DRIVe model: one with the eco-friendly 1.6-litre turbodiesel engine and the other with the same engine but equipped with stop-start technology. Both models have the same 108bhp 1.6-litre turbodiesel engine, which comes with 177lb ft of shove from just 1750rpm, and this engine has a revised electronic brain to improve efficiency. The low down punch makes the V50 very relaxing to drive as the power comes in gently but surely, while the five-speed manual gearbox has an accurate and light shift action. Acceleration is adequate rather than brisk, taking 11.5 seconds to get from 0-62mph, while top speed is 118mph. More importantly, the V50 DRIVe models both cruise comfortably on the motorway without resorting to lower gears when it comes to climbing steeper inclines. With the Start/Stop version, the engine switches off when the car is at a standstill and the driver selects neutral and takes his or her foot off the clutch pedal. This saves fuel and lowers carbon dioxide emissions without affecting the driving experience, while a gear shift indicator on the dash encourages the driver to select the best gear for economy.
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The Volvo V50 DRIVe sits 10mm lower to the ground than a standard V50 to help the car cut through the air more cleanly and reduce emissions. There’s also a very small gain in the handling department as the DRIVe models deal with corners even more effectively, with minimal body lean and ample grip. There’s no deterioration in ride comfort, though the Volvo is set more firmly than some rivals’ to have a sporting feel. Volvo has also fitted low rolling resistance for the DRIVe models to help improve economy and lower emissions, but the driver would be hard pressed to tell the difference between these and the tyres fitted to other V50s. Wind and road noise are kept to a minimum, but there’s no doubt that this is a diesel engine as there’s an ever-present, if distant, growl.
Read the full Volvo V50 DRIVe road test
RoadTestReports.co.uk provides road tests reports written by members of the Guild of Motoring Writers. These reports are complemented by car reviews submitted by the members of the public who drive the vehicles day in day out.
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