DecodedCars2008 Volvo V50
Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2008 models.
- Class
- Small Station Wagons
- Body styles
- 4dr Wagon FWD 2.4i/T5
- Engines
- 2.4L 5-cyl, 2.5L 5-cyl turbo
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
- Fuel
- Premium Gasoline
- MPG (best)
- 23 combined · 20 city / 28 hwy
- Length
- 177.6 in
- Curb weight
- 3,117 lb
- NHTSA rating
- Not rated
- Recalls
- 1 campaign
Pros & cons
What's good
- AWD / 4WD available
Watch out for
- Premium fuel requiredEvery gasoline version is rated for premium, which raises running costs.
Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data — not a review. How we calculate this →
Overview
The 2008 Volvo V50 is a small station wagon offered with 2 engines (2.4L 5-cyl and 2.5L 5-cyl turbo) and front-wheel drive and 4-wheel or all-wheel drive.
It measures about 178 inches long and 70 inches wide on a 104-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,117 lb.
EPA rates its most efficient version at 23 MPG combined (20 city / 28 highway), 2% better than the 2008 small station wagon average of 22.5 MPG, for an estimated $3,550 a year in fuel.
It has 1 recall campaign on file.
What changed for 2008
No changes to engines, powertrains, drivetrains, size, EPA ratings or NHTSA crash rating compared with the 2007 V50 — a carry-over year in the data.
Compared with 2007; trim, feature and price changes aren't covered. See the 2007 V50 →
Dimensions & weight
| Body | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Track F / R | Curb weight | Weight F/R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4dr Wagon FWD 2.4i/T5 | 177.6 in | 69.7 in | 56.3 in | 104.3 in | 60.2 / 60.6 in | 3,117 lb | 58/42 |
Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.
Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →Engines, MPG & running costs
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | vs. class | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V50 FWD | 2.4L 5-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 / 28 / 23 | +2% | $3,550 | 386 |
| V50 FWD | 2.4L 5-cyl | Automatic (S5) | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 / 28 / 23 | +2% | $3,550 | 386 |
| V50 FWD | 2.5L 5-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 / 28 / 23 | +2% | $3,550 | 386 |
| V50 FWD | 2.5L 5-cyl turbo | Automatic (S5) | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 / 27 / 22 | -2% | $3,750 | 404 |
| V50 AWD | 2.5L 5-cyl turbo | Automatic (S5) | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 18 / 26 / 21 | -7% | $3,900 | 423 |
| V50 AWD | 2.5L 5-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 17 / 25 / 20 | -11% | $4,100 | 444 |
EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2008 EPA class average. How we calculate this →
Safety ratings & technology
NHTSA has not published 5-Star ratings for the 2008 Volvo V50 under the current (2011+) test program.
Similar 2008 small station wagons
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 Volvo V50 (this car) | 23 MPG | Not rated | 1 |
| 2008 Audi A3 | 25 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
| 2008 Infiniti EX35 | 19 MPG | Not rated | 1 |
Recalls (1)
Equipment › Electrical › Navigational System(Global Positioning System) · Nov 8, 2010
NHTSA campaign 10V566000 · 416 vehicles
- Problem
- VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.
- Risk
- AN OVERHEATED BATTERY COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.
- Fix
- VOLVO ADVISES OWNERS TO PLEASE STOP USING THE GARMIN PORTABLE GPS DEVICE IMMEDIATELY, AND VISIT THE GARMIN WEBSITE TO DETERMINE IF THEIR UNIT IS AFFECTED. THE UNIT'S BATTERY WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW BATTERY AND A SPACER WILL BE INSERTED ON TOP OF THE BATTERY NEXT TO THE PCB. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 18, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN AT 866-957-1981 OR VISIT GARMIN'S WEBSITE AT WWW.GARMIN.COM/NUVIBATTERYPCBRECALL.
Not every 2008 Volvo V50 is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.
Owner-reported problems
No owner complaints for the 2008 Volvo V50 in NHTSA's database since 2015.
Used 2008 Volvo V50 buyer's checklist
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 1 recall this year — ask for proof of repairs.
- Before you pay: service records, a history report and an independent inspection.
Generated by DecodedCars from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the 2008 Volvo V50. Not a substitute for a professional inspection.
Other V50 years
Compare all years →Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Volvo. How we calculate this →