How much engine noise.....

[ExMercR]

I am still in new-car-selection-mode and the XC60 is high on my shortlist.

Yesterday I had a test drive in a D5 205 AWD. I enjoyed several aspects of the car - the handling, the ride, the performance and especially, the comfort.

However, one thing disturbed me; I was surprised how vocal the engine appeared to be.

At idle I could hear a bottom-end rattle - vaguely similar to a bus or van. I don't wish to exaggerate this, and it may have been because I was really attuned to the car, but I was a bit surprised as it didn't sound very refined.

Under acceleration there was quite a loud engine 'roar' - not an unpleasant noise but actually quite noticably loud.

A test drive is a very 'abnormal' driving condition - no radio, no passengers, a high concentration on the car rather than what to eat for dinner or what to do about (insert problem of your choice)..

So, my question is: Is the XC60 205 AWD quite noisy, or was this a bad example, or maybe it's just because I was concentrating on the noise?

I'd be interested in some honest opinions, and maybe some comparisons with other driving experiences. Thanks in advance.

[stu0710]

I find it to be a very quiet car overall, not much wind or road noise, but there is a distinctive 'gruff' 5 cyl engine note under acceleration, which I quite like, the salesman told me it had been 'engineered in' ????

In the recent 4 way 'What Car' test (October or Nov issue) the XC60 came out quietest / most refined against Freelander / Q5 / X3 but they did remark on the distinctive engine note.

[VolvoXc60]

I read that the engine sounds a bit like a V8, nothing wrong with that!

[XC60KEV]

Was stuck in a traffic jam for an hour in Manchester yesterday. If it were not for the rev counter sitting just below 1000 when idling I would not have heard the engine at all. IMO the engine is very quiet until you give it beans and hear the growl. Take foot off it goes quiet again, sometimes too quiet.

[Daleman]

They can be a bit rattley on start up but once on the move no worse than most other diesels in my view.

The D5 is slightly noisier than a D3.

I think maybe the D3 is better harmonically balanced with its slightly different mass of moving parts more by good luck than any intention I would think.


All these five cylinder diesel engines from Volvo although well modified from original are slightly old generation diesels.

[Rich17]

Noise is a very subjective thing. I find mine a bit noisy idling when cold, but when its warmed up, its very quiet. And it warms up very quickly.

On the move I can't hear the engine until accelerating hard when it gives (to my ears at least) a fine aural performance. But then I used to drive Alfa's with the window down just to listen to the engine.

[wimorrison]

Rich17 is so correct in saying it is subjective - when I get into the car on a chilly morning the car sounds very noisy, yet when I get into the same car after a noisy day in the office it seems very quiet.

And as it is POETS day I am about to go and get into a nice quiet again and go home

[ExMercR]

Thank you all for the feedback. It is very true to say the level of noise is subjective. I currently have a very quiet car and comparatively, the D5 is a bit noisier.

The acceleration noise is quite welcome, and although the diesel rattle at tickover was a bit offputting, it is probably not a show-stopper.

One way to overcome the rattle is to go for a petrol model. The leasing cost of the T5 240PS Petrol is virtually identical to the D5 AWD, although the running costs would be a bit higher and the T5 is only available as FWD.

Something else to consider...

[Brodick]

D5 makes a nicer noise (even though it can be vocal at times) than
any 4 cylinder diesel) each to his own I suppose. Petrol engines are generaly always that little bit more civilised shall we say.

As previously mentioned the XC60 has been praised for its refined cabin and noise levels.

Just my opinon for what it is worth.

[vincentvg]

Originally Posted by ExMercR

Under acceleration there was quite a loud engine 'roar' - not an unpleasant noise but actually quite noticably loud.
....
So, my question is: Is the XC60 205 AWD quite noisy, or was this a bad example, or maybe it's just because I was concentrating on the noise?

I bought my D5 - a "fully loaded" dealer's demo - sight unseen, with 2,000 miles on the clock, having only been able to test drive a D3 locally (long story - don't ask!). Must confess that when I first drove off in my new pride and joy I was a little perplexed about the "growl" when pulling away from low revs. I hadn't noticed it in the D3.

Suffice to say that before I'd covered half the 200-odd miles drive home I'd grown to love the whole thing - including the slightly gruff low-down engine note - and now don't even think about it.

I'm sure you'll find the same.