In Volvo's outgoing XC60, the D4 has been a popular powertrain. The new D4 is better, but few will choose it.
Envious
If you are one of those who have acquired the new Volvo XC60, or have one on order, you should know that I am deeply jealous. I'm guessing that you have the choice of the T8 drive unit with 407 HP, - 320 on petrol and 87 on electricity. With today's tax system, it's a gift package. Compared to car tax-neutral Sweden, the D4 is also a gift package, although not to the same extent as the hybrid. With news about increased tolls and a new diesel tax in Oslo, it's easy to like the T8.
I chose a tabloid headline for this article. The D4 in the outgoing Volvo XC60 is not the same engine you will find in the new model. From now on, the D4 consists of a 190 HP twin turbo diesel developed from the 2-litre that sits in the D3 and D2. A while ago I was impressed by the new D2 engine and am sure that the new D4 with 8-speed Geartronic will hardly disappoint. The new D4 is a good engine choice, although few will choose it.
No powder keg
The old D4 – which sits in the outgoing XC60 – also has 190 HP. It is Volvo's well-known 5-cylinder 2,4D. It is an engine with many qualities, but not the same characteristics as the new D4. "My" Volvo XC60 was produced as late as May this year. In Sweden, the outgoing model is sold in parallel with the new one, under the name XC60 Classic, - while stocks last. The 5-cylinder 2,4D behaves much more like a diesel. It pulls well, has a good torque (420Nm at 1500-3000) and is not bothered by turbo lag. However, it feels far from as nimble and responsive as the new 2-litre. Moreover, it sounds more diesel, - tractor diesel. But it is not a negative experience. On the contrary.
I recognize myself from the V40, V60 and V70. I choose the instrumentation with the red background - "Performance". I immediately find a perfect driving position with the electrically adjustable driver's seat and adjustable steering wheel. Comfort and feelgood are, as usual, absolutely king. When I think about it, I can't find any furniture at home where I sit as well as in the Volvo.
We drive Classic
On the road, I notice that the Volvo XC60 is bigger than the other cars I drive. Especially the width. Through narrow residential streets with street-parked cars, I have to calculate a few extra centimeters. Likewise on the motorway, where there will be a little less distance to other fields. The field warning pings right as it is. It is OK. Likewise the somewhat inelegant distance warning and blind spot warning. The slightly heavy steering also helped to give a feeling of "big car".
I think that the 190 horsepower engine is actually required on a car like this. Anything less would feel underpowered. According to the registration card, the car weighs 1728 kg. The five-cylinder 2,4D engine does not provide great acceleration, nor any feeling of having something extra under the hood. Nor sound-wise. I remember Audi's 5-cylinder 2,3-litre petrol and thought it gave a tougher sound with its fifth cylinder. The six-speed gearbox works OK, but I don't think it shifts as quickly as Audi's S tronic. However, it leaves no noticeable dead parts in the rev register. One of the advantages of the 2.4D, compared to some of the turbodiesel competitors - for example from the VAG group - is that the good torque is maintained over a wider rev range. You don't "empty" the gears as quickly. It is good.
We took the car out into the woods. It had rained quite a lot, and in a small forest road we saw sneaky, water-filled slush tracks of someone who had been there before. The Haldex 5 intervened elegantly and pulled the heavy car up nicely. I was a little worried about a deep dump, but after studying the overhangs and ground clearance I saw that it was fine. On farm roads and gravelly, uneven country roads, the comfort is absolutely excellent. Speaking of comfort, this is one of the XC60's big advantages. The country road is very pleasant, mile after mile.
Place
In terms of space, the car feels like a "full-size SUV" in the seats, but the luggage compartment, with its 495 litres, is not on par with competitors such as the Audi A5 and BMW X3. By comparison, the new Q5 has 770 litres. However, the Volvo's boot is easy to use, and actually feels more spacious than it is. In terms of size, it's about the same as the Mazda CX-5 and Audi A4 Avant, to name a few.
Economy
In Norway, you can now buy the Volvo XC60 Classic only as a used car or a convertible. D4 is not a bad choice, even with the Oslo politicians' diesel output. I haven't fine-tuned the diesel consumption, but with mixed highway and country driving, it seems to stabilize around 0,8 liters per mile for the first 10 miles. The 2,4 engine is reliable and good for many economic miles, but I know a disturbing number of people who have had problems with the gearboxes in fairly new Volvos - both automatic and manual gearboxes. Although I hope this only applies to slightly older constructions, it is important to get as good guarantees as possible, not least when you buy used.
Conclusion
It is still advantageous to buy diesel cars in Norway, compared to tax-neutral countries. However, the authorities are creating a lot of uncertainty by introducing excessive taxes on diesel cars. This can make it difficult to sell them on the secondary market, at least in the short term. On later In the long term, I don't think it matters that much whether you drive a diesel or a hybrid. In 10 years, we will be grinning indulgently at today's plug-in hybrid cars with their short ranges. The new XC60 T8 has a range of approximately 30 km on electricity. Experience in 10 years the perhaps more old-fashioned than a regular turbodiesel. I'm sure that the diesel Volvos will do just as well in ten years, - not least the 2,4D. It is not certain that the hybrid cars will be as problem-free.
The pictures take us on a trip out into the countryside with the XC60 Classic!
Facts Volvo XC60 Classic
Facelifted model from the 2014 model year. Visual changes from the predecessor include a completely redesigned front, new rear diffuser with integrated exhaust emissions, painted all the way down and digital instruments, blind spot camera moved to the rear bumper and gear knob in piano lacquer instead of silver. The 2,4D engine received a power increase from 163 HP to 190 HP. 6-speed automatic gearbox (Aisin TF-80SC) manufactured in Japan and used in Volvo D3, D4, D5 and T6, - as well as several other car manufacturers. Read more about the gearbox on Wikipedia.
Calculation example
HYBRID IS THE TAX WINNER, BUT DIESEL IS ALSO AFFORDABLE.
How profitable are hybrids and turbodiesels in purchasing?
The Norwegian tax system favors these engine types over petrol. I am starting from the engine offers for the new XC60 and set the petrol option T5 as normal. All models have an automatic transmission, 4WD and the most affordable level of equipment. I compare with Swedish prices because their car prices are fairly tax-neutral, - that is, the cars are priced simply and straightforwardly as ordinary capital goods. So, when I compare Swedish and Norwegian prices, the calculation goes like this:
Petrol T5: Swedish price: SEK 422, Norwegian price: NOK 900. The conversion factor then becomes 725, which we use as normal.
Diesel D4: Swedish price: SEK 435, Norwegian price: NOK 900. The conversion factor is 640. Had we instead used the conversion factor for the petrol version T000, the Norwegian price would have ended up at NOK 1,468, which gives a theoretical "price advantage" of NOK 5, or a "discount" of 747%.
Rechargeable hybrid T8: Swedish price: SEK 581, Norwegian price: NOK 899. The conversion factor is 690. If we had instead used the conversion factor for the petrol version T000, the Norwegian price would have reached NOK 1,166, which gives a theoretical price advantage of NOK 5, or a "discount" of as much as 997%.
What about the X60 Classic?
In Sweden it costs SEK 354 with "my" D000 4D with 2,4 HP and 190WD. There is no longer any Norwegian price to compare with, but calculated with the same factor as the new X4s, it would end up at NOK 60. You can get the outgoing XC606 with D000 (60-liter with 3 HP) and front-wheel drive for SEK 2,0 – not bad, either.
The prices are taken from volvocars.no og volvocars.se.
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