2008 Volvo V50

Highlights of the V50's interior design include soft "theatre" lighting of various sections, and a translucent "iced aqua" center stack. In safety, the V50 features "Volvo Intelligent Vehicle Architecture".

The top-of-the line V50 is the T5 AWD. This model features four-wheel drive and a straight-5 2.5-litre petrol engine with a light-pressure turbocharger. Its valvetrain has four valves per cylinder and is a DOHC design with variable camshaft timing. The engine provides 220bhp (164kW) and 320N·m (236lb·ft) of torque. In Europe the 2.4 Liter turbocharged D5 diesel engine which provides 180bhp (134kW) and 350N·m (258lb·ft) of torque is also available. The output of that motor was downgraded from the original diesel motor in the XC90 which produces 185bhp (138kW) and 400N·m (295lb·ft) of torque.

In 2008 Volvo Car Corp confirmed that the next generation V50 will grow in size to be aligned on the side of the next generation S60[citation needed]. There is speculation that Volvo will not reintroduce the S40 and that the V50 will become the estate variant for the S60, just as the V70 is the estate variant of the S80.