General: XC90 automatic diesel -fuel consumtion experience

[SEPS]

Thinking of purchasing a nearly new auto diesel XC90 SE and would value anyone’s comments on the following:

How close does anyone get to Volvo’ published fuel consumption figures. Speaking to someone who has an XC90 Sport - they were very disappointed at not being able to get anywhere near the published figures. They were averaging mid 20s and found it impossible to get above 30. Now it may be their driving style but ….

I will be using it to tow and so the consumption will fall even more - anyone have experience to share?

Severity of the take-off lag 'feature' in the automatic?

[wadhurstdaisy]

SEPS, welcome to the forum.

If you type in MPG into the search field on the right-hand side you'll get quite a few returns like : -

http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showth...&highlight=mpg

I have to do school runs in the country which work out at 3 miles each way. The diesel engine barely gets hot so isn't into its peak operating temperature until I get home so only get 25-27mpg when driving like this.

Go for a longer drive however and as long as I don't drive it like a sports car then 35mpg is achieveable.

Trust this is of help.

[RoyMacDonald]

I get about 39 mpg on a run in the summer and 35 mpg in the winter.

The XC90 mpg does seem to vary a lot depending on the way the car is used though from what I've seen on the forums.

I don't have the take off lag on my car. I can't tell you why, it just never had it from when I first bought it second hand.

Roy

[Timbo_1975]

Roy- sounds like your's is already chipped- and yes it often improves MPG when driven normally- expecially with an auto, as the engine is able to cope with a higher gear than as standard, so doesnt spend so much time revving as hard, plus the turbo spools quicker and harder..

Tim..

[RoscoMac]

Bought an xc90 d5 (163bhp) manual a couple of weeks ago. Done 700 miles so far - 1st tankful worked out at 28.5mpg and that was me taking it easy - sitting at 60-65mph with cruise on as much as possible. Bit disappointing so far.....

R.

[phillipo1972]

I have been reading up on MPG of late and the manufacturers are to blame for the misleading figures. When the vehicle is being developed, it is tested in a lab, by a man in a white coat on a rolling road. Obviously as the man works for the manufacturer, it is his job to squeeze every single bit of mileage out of the fuel, this is easy to do if you drive like a nun, with nobody on board, no luggage, no wind, using no air-con, no rear window demister , heater or lights etc etc etc - the reality we all see when we live with certain vehicles and actually USE them, is totally different from the manufacturers claims. As far as I know, the actual test used to invent the MPG figure has been changed to something slightly more realistic for vehicles made in 2008 onwards.

[Patrick lince]

It is all going to depend on what sort of driving you will be doing. I do a 12 mile/15 minute journey to work with around 8 miles on motorway and four on A roads, my commute averages around 29 mpg.

When I have done a longer run, even as short as 25 miles, the mpg goes up to around 32-33 mpg, again depending on exact route.

If I had a longer commute to work, I would be able to boast fabulous mpg on this site.....but then I would be buying much more diesel!!!! I would happily return 26mpg if my journey to work was half what it is now.

Roy, you are an excellent forum user and very informative, but these 35-40 mpg claims are simply not true, or you have an XC90 unlike any other in the world.

I reckon 28-33 mpg seems to cover most peoples uses, the higher the mpg, the longer the runs.

[tem]

Originally Posted by Patrick lince

Roy, you are an excellent forum user and very informative, but these 35-40 mpg claims are simply not true, or you have an XC90 unlike any other in the world.

I reckon 28-33 mpg seems to cover most peoples uses, the higher the mpg, the longer the runs.

I would like to add my two pence worth, if I may.

My existing XC90 D5, has now covered just over 28400 miles and I have never reset the AV MPG, since new. Just checked and it states 35.3 MPG.
Fortunately, I do not do much town driving and normally my minimum trip is around 20 miles, each way.
I do around 4 x 3000 mile trips to Europe each year and can normaly achieve about 37.5 MPG.
On returning, last November, from a round trip to the South of France, the XC90 had averaged 37.6, for new. (For the overall average to = 37.6, one must be getting more than 37.6 MPG)



I set off again, to France, at the begining of March and will give an update on my return.
Will also give update on the Nokian Tyres. They should have covered around 55000 miles by then.

tem.

[GSMGuy]

Tem is yours an auto??

My own experience is mid to high 20's around town, where I do most of my driving, and low 30's on a run..

PS I am always first away from the lights, and don't drive for economy....


Mike

[tem]

Originally Posted by GSMGuy

Tem is yours an auto??

My own experience is mid to high 20's around town, where I do most of my driving, and low 30's on a run..

PS I am always first away from the lights, and don't drive for economy....


Mike

MY07 XC90 D5 Auto SE Lux.

tem.