My in laws had a V50 2.0d SE for a while, which my father in law loved, but my mother in law couldn't "get on with" through no particular fault of the car. Sometimes you just don't gel with a car, and that's why they ended up selling it (and buying a Nissan Qashqai!)

The Volvo was great to drive, as you'd expect from something that's largely a Ford Focus under the skin, and seemed very well built. Handsome too. Theirs was very nicely specced too, with electric sunroof, climate, leather, heated seats, cruise and all manner of other niceties. The Ford/PSA 2.0 diesel engine is a peach of a thing which delivers superb refinement and gutsy performance. The car was faultlessly reliable in the year or so they had it, and never delivered any unpleasant surprises or bills.

The only disappointment was fuel economy. The car struggled to do much more than 38-40 mpg in any conditions other than a gentle motorway run, on which it would crack 50 if you were careful. They came from a Golf mk4 PD 130 estate which would do a good 10mpg more in any comparable condition, and was quicker to boot.

What I would say is beware of the Sport model, which is what they were originally planning to buy. The ride is quite simply atrocious. While I daresay it works well in countries which maintain their road surfaces, on our Third World road surfaces, it just doesn't work. The SE is still a great handler, but can at least deal with speed ramps and potholes without making the whole interior of the car creak, and the occupants fillings fall out.

Nice car though, and well worth a look.

Edited by DP on 26/03/2010 at 08:18

Swmbo loves her Touran. It's an 05 and she has it from new. Grips the road well, body roll is great for such a tall car.

Only problem is the expensive servicing. A new cambelt, tensioners, waterpump, (due at 4 years but she forgot to remind me) service and mot (with a new set of wipers required) cost £750.

Too true it did! Main dealer.

To be honest, the Mrs did shop around and some garages refused as they had never done it before and the price differential for others was down to a discounted MOT and slightly cheaper service. The bulk of the cost was for the cambelt and there was not much movement in this.