V50 or V60

[Jasonwoohouse]

Hi I'm a new member to the forum and wanted to ask everyone's opinion on a potential new motor (V50 or V60). Always had ford and vauxhalls and fed up with them but really love the style of the R design in both Volvo cars.

Welcome any pointers of things to look out for when buying and any known issues with both V50 and V60 models... as you may be able to tell I'm a Volvo Virgin! Looking to get some info please.

[NigelDay]

The V50 is an 'older' model than the V60 and has some legacy Ford influence. It scores on one point. The cargo bay is larger.

[domhart10]

what is the budget? requirement? etc etc etc

if its general opinion, V50 looks nice ... but V60 does as well with a bit more space

[dcw]

As has been said it depends a lot on budget and what you want from the car.

The V50 is the previous generation model to the V60.

Not much in it in terms of boot space in both cars. I have the V60 and it gets criticised for having a relatively small boot for size of car (and indeed, it's no V70) yet actually it seems to swallow big loads very well. What you lose is in the top as the roof curves down - the V50 boot is squarer.

I have an S40 (saloon version of the V50) as well, and the V60 certainly feels far bigger inside. It think it's a more flowing design, and there are many features on V60s that are not available or present on the V50. The V60 is a better drive, somehow, and that is probably just a sign of development and progress.

Bear in mind that the overlap period is as V50s ran out and V60s came in - I have heard some say that later V50 build quality is not as good as earlier models.

Obviously that means, though, that you will probably pick up a good V50 for less money than a good V60. Lots of good looking examples about.

I have the V60 D2 R-Design that I have just agreed to swap for a D5 SE Lux. Personally, I have to say I do very much like the V60 and would go for it over the V50, but both are good cars as such.

Good luck in your search!

David

[Munro83]

I'd go for a v60 as it's a newer car. Although if your thinking of a v60 your budget will get a nice v70- I love mine

[blacklab]

I have a 2005 V50 2.0d and had it 8 yrs. It's a nice car with a good ride and engine has plenty of go but it has had it's problems.......
Alternator, egr, cd deck error, tailgate switch, and most recently antiskid service which resulted in abs module being repaired. I intend to keep it for a long time yet so hopefully it will be alright.

Don't know much about the V60 except a guy came up to me the other day who has one and he used to have the V50. He said he wished he had kept the V50 as he preferred the boot size.

I'm sure you will like the Volvo as they are nice, just make sure the piggy bank is close to hand!

[Sasha94]

It depends on what you want. The V50 is based on a Focus platform and although it's an older platform and Volvo tried to engineer the fun out of it it's still a nice car to drive, looks modern enough, is well equipped and of the two is certainly more practical as the boot is a more usable shape.

I like V60's but every time I get in one I feel the V70 was better done. I had an XC70 and other than the vast expense of keeping it running it was a great car and it (and the V60) is based on the Mk4 Mondeo platform which is newer but bigger and heavier. That's ok in a big car but the V60 is quite cramped for the kind of car it is. Every time I drive a V60 I always imagine how much better it would be if it were a V70 even though I do like the styling.

A V50 has the benefit of being cheaper to buy and although they cheapened them down a little toward the end they are still a fine car. I had one of the first S40's on an 04 plate and now have one of the last V50's on a 12 plate and it's the little things I've noticed that went missing like the height adjustment on the passenger seat which became an option on even the highest trim.

I like my V50 and all things considered if choosing between one of the later V50's and the cheapest V60's I'd plump for a 50.

[civilservant]

I've had both. I much prefer the V60. It simply feels more 'luxurious' and yes, the boot is curvier but I manage just fine.

To keep it simple, decide on your budget, and get the best car within the budget.

[Corribee]

Oh dear guys, this is not helping me rid my beloved V50 (which drives like a dream and seems particularly quick, but has 198k on the clock and has started to leak water into the interior both front and rear) for the V60. Any more reasons to lean towards the V60

[Tannaton]

It's going to have to be your personal choice....

I bought a V50 for my wife and she ran it for 2 years and did 70k in it. I loved it and even though at the time I had a brand new (MY17) XC60 I still looked forward to driving the V50.

I personally think the earlier V60's (pre facelift) are probably the worst looking cars Volvo ever made and why on earth they compromised the load space and access to it by "curving off" the design I don't know. That said though it's a useful car if you will never exceed the physical capacities it will probably be a bit less jiggly on the road than the V50 if you avoid the R-Design version (which I know you like..... :-~)

So I would say if you have the budget - look for a facelift V60 with a Volvo engine and the Sensus Infotainment system. If you can't stretch to that then get a really good V50 preferably with a Volvo engine (D3 or D4) or 2.0D if that's all you can find. In both cases I would avoid the 1.6D/D2's.

The V50 is a very much underrated car in my view, if you compare most of them around today (say 55 - 09 plate) they will likely be in much better condition inside and out than any Focus, Astra, 308, Golf etc. of the same age and mileage. The issue was the cheap Ford electrics which would see inevitable alternator and or starter failure on or before 150k, knocking Ford suspension etc. all easy and cheap to fix just a hassle.

Late model, low mileage V50's are still commanding very strong money,