Driver's displays - what's the difference?

[Lexman8]

As in the title, what's the difference between the 8" and 12" displays? Is it just the size or is more info available on the larger screen, eg satnav?

[Walter Eagle]

Hi there Lexman8

Having been through the baptism of fire of having spec'd and ordered a 12" and had a car built and delivered with an 8", I consider myself quite the expert on these now!

First of all, forget the dimensions: they're as fanciful as TV screen or monitor sizes. How Volvo accounts for 8" or 12" must be some weird twisted dimension of the Nordic brain. Henceforth, let's just call them the 'one-dial' or the 'two-dial' display. There is one fixed-size gap ahead of you, the driver. In to this goes a display unit with either an active TFT display that fills the full width of the space (and is capable of showing two dials) or a narrower active TFT display (one dial) flanked by two fixed display elements.

The one dial unit has a fuel gauge graphic to the left and engine temp graphic to the right. What is shown in the active TFT section is dominated by a large speedo plus a lot of other data that varies according to different settings - gear selected, drive mode, etc etc. The Volvo Owner's Manual (pdf download from their site - recommended) states -
On the left
• Tachometer (depending on selected drive mode)
• Selected drive mode. Selectable drive modes are Comfort, Off Road, Eco, Dynamic and Individual
• Distance to empty tank
• Gear shift indicator
• Outside temperature gauge
• Indicator and warning symbols
• Fuel gauge
• ECO gauge (depending on drive mode selected)
In the middle
• Messages, in some cases with graphics
• Road sign information
• Speedometer
• Cruise control and speed limiter information
• Door and seatbelt information
On the right
• Compass
• Media player
• Phone
• Navigation information
• Clock
• App menu (activated via steering wheel key-pad)
• Instantaneous fuel consumption
• Odometer
• Trip meter
• Indicator and warning symbols
• Voice recognition
• Engine temperature gauge

While Volvo are quite right in the descriptions, they are also economical with the truth. For example, the reference to "Media player" on the right is but a tiny stub of data just about showing "BBC Radio 4". Anything longer just gets truncated. Same for nav data etc.

The two dial unit is described thus -
On the left
• Speedometer
• Trip meter
• Odometer
• Cruise control and speed limiter information
• Road sign information
In the middle
• Indicator and warning symbols
• Outside temperature gauge
• Clock
• Messages, in some cases with graphics
• Distance to empty tank
• Door and seatbelt information
• Compass
• Media player
• Navigation map
• Phone
• Voice recognition
On the right
• Tachometer (depending on selected drive mode).
• Fuel gauge
• Gear shift indicator
• Selected drive mode. Selectable drive modes are Comfort, Off Road, Eco, Dynamic and Individual
• ECO gauge (depending on drive mode selected)
• Status of the Start/Stop function
• Instantaneous fuel consumption
• App menu (activated via steering wheel key-pad)

The two dials that dominate the display are the speedo and tacho. Each of these is slightly smaller than the single dial of the one dial unit. However there is a lot more breathing space around them for the other info. The most noticeable difference is the gap between the dials where satnav info is displayed. When no actual route is chosen, you can choose whether this gap shows current map, current media or nothing.

Overall, you won't be short of stuff to read with either the one- or two-dial displays - there's plenty happening on both. I would suggest it's a matter of aesthetics rather than function. In my case, if I had been told the larger display was unavailable, for whatever reason, before I ordered it I don't think I'd have been too worried. I was just really annoyed that having chosen one of them, the dealer screwed up the factory order paperwork and I got the one I hadn't chosen. So then the first thing that had to happen to my £50K car was a repair. Hmmmpphh!

Walter

[basoom]

I have attached screen shots for the 8" and 12" ones for your reference
Hope this helps

[Lexman8]

Many thanks guys; most helpful.

It looks like there's no engine temperature gauge on the two-dial unit. Is that correct? Seems a strange omission if so.

[TheDufster]

Correct - I find this a strange omission on my car. First thing I look for on a cold morning so I can have an idea when I can expect the car to start warming up!!!

[Philip Fisher]

Originally Posted by TheDufster

Correct - I find this a strange omission on my car. First thing I look for on a cold morning so I can have an idea when I can expect the car to start warming up!!!

I don't think my 13 reg XC90 has a temp gauge. It has warmed up when the vents start blowing hot air....

[TheDufster]

From memory, I thought that the temp gauge was the smallest dial on the left?