There's a lot to like about Volvo estates. They have a reputation for excellent durability, they give off an image of refined practicality and they aren't too flashy. The latest V50 model has taken over from the V40 model and is a quantum leap forward over its rugged but rather unsophisticated predecessor. Small estates like this have traditionally had a hard time finding favour with British customers and the rise in popularity of MPV people carrier style vehicles means that Volvo may still have its work cut out even with a product as good as the V50. It's a sweetly styled thing, looking much like a V70 that's been treated to a hot wash. Some of the detailing around the car has obviously had a great deal of time and effort lavished on it. I think the V50 will suit me very well.

One thing the V50 will never be, despite its myriad of clever features, is a full-on load lugger. As much as I dislike the word when it appears in manufacturers PR copy, the V50 appeals to the 'lifestyle' crowd; those twenty and thirtysomethings with active hobbies but who want to project the right image when they arrive. Volvo are quite upfront about the V50's limited carrying capacity, gladly pointing those in need of more taxing load lugging requirements in the direction of the chunky V70 estate. That's not to say the V50 is but a pretty face. It may be 2mm shorter than its V40 predecessor, but it's a full 27mm taller and 54mm wider, giving a good deal more room to spread out inside. The packaging is also a good deal cleverer, the wheel at each corner design making the wheelbase a massive 78mm longer with the track (the distance between the wheel on an axle) 63mm wider. This planted, foursquare feel endows the V50 with a better handling balance than the V40 it replaces. A bodyshell that's a massive 34 per cent stiffer also allows the suspension to function more effectively given that the shocks and springs can concentrate on what the wheels are doing rather than a chassis that's also gurning about under load. At the front of the latest model, the chrome-framed 'egg-crate' grille has been reprofiled and features a bigger Volvo badge while clear lensed headlights, LED tail lights and a wider air intake give the car some more presence. The interior benefits from revised controls while the centre tunnel storage area features a smaller handbrake and a revised armrest for better driver comfort. Better cupholders, bigger door bins and an auxiliary input for the stereo under the armrest are all included. Volvo claim the V50 is designed to go head to head with cars like the BMW 3 Series Touring and the Audi A4 Avant, although pricing will pit it closer in reality to the Alfa 156 Sportwagon in a niche just below these premium models. It's a wise choice and at first glance, the Volvo manages to marry the bulletproof feel of the top German cars with a keen price. As ever with Swedish cars, you'll also get a good deal more horsepower per pound.

The V40 was deeply conservative but likeable in an understated way. The V50 is a whole lot more self confident. How often have we marvelled at the clean, spare design that seems to symbolise the best Swedish architects and furniture designers only to get into our Swedish cars and be faced with a dashboard that looks as if it was knocked up by the office junior? The V50 sees Volvo's stylists bringing their A game. The 'spaceball' gear selector in the S60 showed that Volvo could come up with some neat ideas and the V50 takes the spaceball and runs with it. The key design feature is a centre console that's a softly contoured moulding featuring supremely easy to use controls and fresh air behind it. You can specify wood, aluminium, plastic or semi-transparent plastic finishes and everybody who gets in will notice it. Engine-wise, there are 125bhp 1.8-litre and 145bhp 2.0-litre petrol units, plus a four-cylinder 2.0-litre 136bhp diesel. Plusher models come with five-cylinder engines, either a 170bhp 2.4-litre petrol powerplant, a 180bhp 2.4-litre D5 diesel or the searing 220bhp T5 offered with either two or four-wheel drive. The V50 rides on the same basic chassis set up as the Ford Focus, the Mazda3 and the Volvo S40. That's not to say the V50 is simply a rebodied Focus. Although the underbody, subframes and suspension layouts are the same on all these models, there's vast scope for tuning of individual aspects so all will drive differently.

The Volvo V50 is an extraordinarily easy car to live with. As long as you don't take the sporting credentials of the T5 version too seriously nor expect any of the V50 models to offer serious carrying ability you shouldn't be disappointed.