2.0D SE Estate

Competent, comfortable, capacious

I bought the car as the second owner from a Volvo main dealer two years ago and it has proved a reliable and effective tool for ferrying the kids, wife, mother in law and dogs around. I get just over 40 mpg and whilst the car only does about 5k miles per year (and not on short journeys, either, as it's not designed for such motoring - DPF issues and all that - and to avoid which I have used Shell V-Power diesel and not had any problems at all.... fingers crossed etc...), it is comfortable and reasonably refined on A roads and motorways. Plenty of space, too, especially with the back seats down - it doubles up as a van-like vehicle for ferrying furniture around easily thus configured.
It's not a car to throw around country lanes like Carlos Fandango, however - the steering is ponderous and it rolls like a cross channel ferry. Still, for bashing around in comfort (a non-stop, reasonably high speed hack from North Yorkshire to East Kent was completed with no niggles from my bad back - a first in a car over that distance in my experience) it's hard to beat I think.
The main dealer is not scared of a profit when it comes to servicing, and neither are they above 'suggesting' work be carried out that another, independent, garage, where I had the MOT done and in whom I have complete trust, said was nonsense. This experience annoyed me, but I will stick with the main dealer for servicing as you get the necessary software updates etc.
That said, I would buy another and would recommend the car to anyone who needs plenty of space and comfort without needing to impress the neighbours by blitzing around in one of the German estate cars.
One thing that might put potential buyers off is that you will inevitably feel a bit like a stereotypical 'middle class' character from a 1970's sit-com in a Volvo estate - remember Jerry and Margot Leadbetter from 'The Good Life'? :-)

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