[Quacker]

Driven 313 miles [504kms] in the car today, about 200 of which were motorway at a fair old pace.

Average speed 55mph [88.5kms/hr]

Average fuel consumption an outstanding 41mpg [6.9l/100kms],

which is only 1mpg less than I would expect from the Honda CRV manual on the same journey at the same pace. I've driven the same route dozens of times.

From Fishponds, Bristol roundabout to Cardiff Gate services it did 43.5mpg in light traffic. From home to Cardiff Gate, exactly 100 miles to the yard, it achieved dead on the average figure of 41mpg at an average speed of 57mph.

Ten years ago a diesel car of this size and performance would struggle to better 26mpg at the pace I drove today. That's a massive increase in efficiency over that time. I know that my Land Cruiser 4.2 [only 200hp though], which I still run in its 20th year, would struggle to better 22mpg and would generally average 10 mph slower. 24 mpg would be possible if holding around 60mph maximum.

I'm very impressed with the Volvo's fuel economy, as you can probably tell.
It has covered 550 miles in total on this tank of fuel and just indicated the range was down to 50 miles.
I could get 600 miles from the Audi Q7, but its tank held 21 gallons not the Volvo's 15gallons.

That equates to the Audi doing 28mpg, which is about right. But more importantly for every two journeys of today's length, the Audi would use 6 gallons more fuel, or 27 litres @ £1.25/litre. That's £33 extra per tankful or every 600 miles. Or £16.50 more per day like today.

Of course a new Q7 today is far more economical than my old [long gone] 2007 model and might even give the XC90 a run for its money. I don't know and can only speak from personal experience.