D5 SE Lux manual

Comfortable, reliable, efficient

I spent a while looking for a car in the right spec, keen to avoid the weak 5 speed AW automatic gearbox. I have covered about 60,000 trouble free miles, taking the car to just shy of 100K.

As an SE Lux I have the benefit of the superb Dynaudio stereo system, which really is as good as I had read. Unfortunately I also got the very pretty 18" wheels that do no favours at all for the ride and cost of replacement tyres. I bought a set of brand new 17" volvo wheels with brand new tyres for £280 about 3 months after getting the car and they have improveed both the ride and handling, although they don't look as good.

The D5 auto is not quick, and the manual is acceptable but not a fast car in standard 180bhp tune. It manages the turbo diesel trick of feeling quick though, and the 5 pot engine makes an absolutely wicked, dirty noise when you boot it. I know it's practically forbidden to say this but I prefer the noise to my T5 petrol V70. I had mine remapped by MTE to 225bhp and 480NM or torque and it has made it a very good motorway car indeed.

As others have mentioned it is a heavy car and it feels it. It's very good up to a point but if you really press it on bumpy roads it falls to pieces a little, inspiring no confidence. This is in common with practically any 4 seat convertible though, even the much vaunted 3 series. Cars like this make good cruisers but terrible sports cars, and when manufactures try to make them "sporty" they seem to spoil the ride while still failing to make them particularly enjoyable to drive hard.

Trim has worn well and the car has been faultlessly reliable, returning an average of 43MPG so bang on the Volvo figures. Very pleased with it indeed, although if I wasn't covering such high mileage I wouldn't hesitate to get a T5 in preference. The D5 is good, for a diesel, but anyone who thinks refinement is comparable to a petrol hasn't driven a decent petrol powered car!

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