Historically, Volvos were safe, boxy, boring, but comfortable appliances. But every once in awhile, the company built something exciting like the 1800S of the 1960s, the 242GT of the 1970s, the 780 Bertone Coupe of the 1980s, or the C70 of the 1990s. Generally, however, the volume-selling sedans have been rather staid.

Today, every model in the Volvo lineup includes a performance-oriented version, with the exception of the XC70 wagon (which is designed for light off-roading rather than rapid on-road travel). Our Volvo V50 test vehicle was the sporty T5 model, equipped with all-wheel-drive and riding on the optional 17-inch wheels. For our winter driving test in Quebec, Volvo replaced the standard tires with winter treads to help ensure that participating journalists wouldn't stuff the cars into a snowbank, or worse.

On roads clear of ice and snow, the 2005 Volvo V50 T5 AWD delivers good power, launching off the line with verve while displaying little discernable turbo lag. The V50 T5 accelerates rapidly, the Geartronic transmission delivering smooth shifts regardless of driving style. Manually shifting the transmission takes more muscle than expected, and the requested shifts occur with a bit of delay. We did not have an opportunity to try the six-speed manual transmission in the V50 T5, but in the S40 T5 sedan this transmission features direct shifting with positive engagements, if not operation as fluid as in a BMW.

Engine groans are evident inside the V50's cabin when the motor is revved. This dissatisfying engine note is the single most disappointing trait in the V50's character, making the driver feel as though the machinery isn't a willing companion for spirited driving. When the tachometer needle spins toward the upper reaches of the motor's powerband, the V50 T5's turbo seems to say, "Ow, don't do that," instead of, "Yeah! Let 'er rip!"

Right behind the moaning motor on our gripe list is the V50's lifeless steering. Though quick to respond to input, the electric steering offers little feel for the road. If Volvo intends to pass the V50 T5 off as a driver's car, improvement is necessary.

Feel free, however, to praise the suspension for its taut yet supple ride, which keeps the driver informed about the road while filtering anomalies out of the cabin. The V50 T5's dampers provide remarkable wheel control, while the springs soften the blows nicely, resulting in a pleasingly Germanic ride quality. In the few dry corners we encountered, the V50 T5 also handled impressively. Furthermore, the brake pedal proved a joy to operate, offering remarkable feel and linearity, allowing us to consistently bring the car to a smooth stop.

To demonstrate how effective the V50's DSTC stability control system is, Volvo carved a road course into a frozen lake. Our instructions: For the first lap, drive hard with the stability control turned off, and for the second lap, drive hard with the stability control turned on. We happily complied, and learned in the end that the DSTC does a terrific job of bringing the V50 under control on ice.

On the frozen lake, only whipsawing of the wheel combined with lift-throttle oversteer could overcome the DSTC's ability to slow the vehicle and retard a dangerous slide, which means that on public roads you've gotta get in way over your head to cancel DSTC's effectiveness. When switched off, DSTC remained on guard but at a higher threshold where it would ultimately engage and work to bring the car under control. In this mode, we slid off the course and into the snow, underscoring the point that in the real world, we cannot imagine a situation when the driver might wish to shut this vitally important piece of technology down.