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Rating

Verdict Safe as houses and about as fun to drive

The only really good thing about the new, smallish Volvo V50 is its centre console, which is a stylish, wafer-thin sheet that cascades from the dash to the floor. For a while I was so absorbed by its Philippe Starck-iness that I didn’t realise how bad the rest of the car is.

Volvo may be part of Ford, but the V50 hasn’t been given the same diesel engine that you’ll find in a Mondeo or the X-type Jag. Instead they use one that came out of a cement mixer.

Practicality? Nope. You get more space in the back of a Jag estate and more, too, in the rear of the Audi A4 and BMW 3-series.

Safety-wise, though, the V50 makes a deal of sense. The crumple zones are divided up using different grades of high-strength steel, the ignition key has been moved to the dash so it won’t hurt your knees in an impact, the car is wide to provide better side protection . . . and get this: an on-board computer won’t allow the hands-free phone to ring if you’re braking hard or steering violently – it will first wait for calm.

So behind the scenes this car is an astonishing demonstration of attention to detail. Great, but isn’t that akin to going to see a play because the theatre’s lavatories are ever so clean?

Current price £20,845

Price when tested (Apr 2004) £19,838

Engine 2435cc, five cylinders

Power 170bhp @ 6000rpm

Torque 170 lb ft @ 4400rpm

Transmission Five-speed manual

Fuel/ CO2 32.8mpg (combined) / 204g/km

0-62mph 8.3sec

Top speed 138mph