XC70: Engine D3 163bhp opinions

[Tannaton]

It’s structurally the same engine and peripheral systems, but a low fat version aimed at the time towards company car drivers who wanted a big Volvo estate but on Ford Mundano BIK tax costs.

So servicing costs, reliability etc read as D5.

The performance of the later D5s is sparkling, opinions are subjective but the D3 will be at least “adequate”. (Whilst it has only 163 bhp, early models of the V70 had the 136 bhp 2.0d Ford/PSA engine and that sold well but in 2wd format).

If you’re not too bothered about swift overtaking and traffic light tearaways, it would be fine but if you are going to be towing anything heavy, go D5.

[FreshAir]

Originally Posted by Beanwood

Thanks - but why? Is the D5 a better engine?

D3 = 2.0 litre
D4 = 2.0 litre
D5 = 2.4 litre

So 20% increase in capacity to D5, plus twin turbo on later D5.

[mhon72]

Originally Posted by FreshAir

D3 = 2.0 litre
D4 = 2.0 litre
D5 = 2.4 litre

So 20% increase in capacity to D5, plus twin turbo on later D5.

Not quite:
In the XC70 range the AWD models all use a 2.4L 5 cylinder engine.

The P3 XC70 arrived as a D5 with the 185bhp single turbo D5244 with suffix T4. This can be Polestar-ed (P*-ed) to 205bhp.

In 2010 this D5 was replaced with the twin turbo T10 engine with 205bhp which is P*-ed to 225bhp.
For 2010 they also rehashed the single turbo engine as a T14 engine used in a 2.4D FWD model with 175bhp (this tied in with the introduction of the DRIVe badge across the Volvo range). This engine is P*-ed to only 195bhp.
Confusingly they also introduced a 2.4D AWD model that used a detuned D5 twin turbo engine with only 163 bhp. This is the T16+ engine and where P* could tune it to match the D5 P* with 225bhp.

For 2011 the 2.4D was rebadged as D3.
The D3 AWD continued with the same 2.4L T16+ engine as before.
However, the FWD T14 engine was replaced with a short stroke 2L 5 cylinder engine, the D5204T3.
The D5 continued with the T10 engine with 205bhp stock.

(Still with me?...)

For 2012 the D5 was revised with the T15 engine in autos and T11 as a manual. Both producing 215bhp these can be P*-ed to 230bhp.
The D3 2.4L AWD engine was mildly revised to become the T17. This still produced 163bhp stock but P* could now only upgrade it to 215bhp thereby matching the output of the stock D5 - a policy that remains in place to this day.
The D3 FWD continued unchanged with the 2L 5 cylinder T3 engine.

In 2013 the D3 models were all rebadged D4 using the same selection of 5 cylinder engines as in 2012.
The D5 remained unchanged.

In late 2014 the D4 FWD models saw the biggest change to the new VEA engine (the D4204T5) with 4 cylinders and an optional 8 speed automatic. This produced 181bhp stock and could be P*-ed to 215bhp.
The D4 AWD models continued with a 2.4L 5 cylinder engine but saw a mild tweak with a power increase to 181bhp. This P* tune for this new T12 engine remained capped at 215bhp.
The D5 again remained unchanged.

No changes for 2015.

In 2016 the T15 D5 engine got its final revision as the T20 with more power at 220bhp and became EU6 compliant for this final year of production. this engine was P*-ed to the same 230bhp as before.
The D4 engines remained unchanged for AWD & FWD models except for the introduction of EU6 compliance to the automatic AWD models.

So going back to the OP's question of bangs for your bucks.
You are looking for a XC70 with the D5244T16+ engine producing 163bhp.
This was badged as 2.4D AWD in 2010 or D3 AWD for 2011.
These are all pre-facelifted interior models without the Sensus system.

Right. Back to my Horlicks...

In case you want more reading. Here are the Polestar stats:
https://engineered.polestar.com/intl...XC70&market=uk

[Tatsfield]

Wow!

[FreshAir]

I never realized. Thanks for sharing all of that. Almost as confusing as BMW model codes, and recent Audi ones.

[Tannaton]

Originally Posted by mhon72

Not quite:
In the XC70 range the AWD models all use a 2.4L 5 cylinder engine.

The P3 XC70 arrived as a D5 with the 185bhp single turbo D5244 with suffix T4. This can be Polestar-ed (P*-ed) to 205bhp.

In 2010 this D5 was replaced with the twin turbo T10 engine with 205bhp which is P*-ed to 225bhp.
For 2010 they also rehashed the single turbo engine as a T14 engine used in a 2.4D FWD model with 175bhp (this tied in with the introduction of the DRIVe badge across the Volvo range). This engine is P*-ed to only 195bhp.
Confusingly they also introduced a 2.4D AWD model that used a detuned D5 twin turbo engine with only 163 bhp. This is the T16+ engine and where P* could tune it to match the D5 P* with 225bhp.

For 2011 the 2.4D was rebadged as D3.
The D3 AWD continued with the same 2.4L T16+ engine as before.
However, the FWD T14 engine was replaced with a short stroke 2L 5 cylinder engine, the D5204T3.
The D5 continued with the T10 engine with 205bhp stock.

(Still with me?...)

For 2012 the D5 was revised with the T15 engine in autos and T11 as a manual. Both producing 215bhp these can be P*-ed to 230bhp.
The D3 2.4L AWD engine was mildly revised to become the T17. This still produced 163bhp stock but P* could now only upgrade it to 215bhp thereby matching the output of the stock D5 - a policy that remains in place to this day.
The D3 FWD continued unchanged with the 2L 5 cylinder T3 engine.

In 2013 the D3 models were all rebadged D4 using the same selection of 5 cylinder engines as in 2012.
The D5 remained unchanged.

In late 2014 the D4 FWD models saw the biggest change to the new VEA engine (the D4204T5) with 4 cylinders and an optional 8 speed automatic. This produced 181bhp stock and could be P*-ed to 215bhp.
The D4 AWD models continued with a 2.4L 5 cylinder engine but saw a mild tweak with a power increase to 181bhp. This P* tune for this new T12 engine remained capped at 215bhp.
The D5 again remained unchanged.

No changes for 2015.

In 2016 the T15 D5 engine got its final revision as the T20 with more power at 220bhp and became EU6 compliant for this final year of production. this engine was P*-ed to the same 230bhp as before.
The D4 engines remained unchanged for AWD & FWD models except for the introduction of EU6 compliance to the automatic AWD models.

So going back to the OP's question of bangs for your bucks.
You are looking for a XC70 with the D5244T16+ engine producing 163bhp.
This was badged as 2.4D AWD in 2010 or D3 AWD for 2011.
These are all pre-facelifted interior models without the Sensus system.

Right. Back to my Horlicks...

In case you want more reading. Here are the Polestar stats:
https://engineered.polestar.com/intl...XC70&market=uk

Thank you.....

Back to the OP - Sensus is a vast improvement on what went before so I’d just get a later D5.

[Beanwood]

Originally Posted by mhon72

...
So going back to the OP's question of bangs for your bucks.
You are looking for a XC70 with the D5244T16+ engine producing 163bhp.
This was badged as 2.4D AWD in 2010 or D3 AWD for 2011.
These are all pre-facelifted interior models without the Sensus system.
...

Wow - just wow.
Thank you - this is exactly what I was trying to find out.
I am very grateful, and it bears out my suspicions.
I had no idea the D3 became the D4 (Which SWMBO has become pious over having had a 2015 D4 XC60)

Now how do I hide this thread so nobody else spots the opprtunity of a cheap D3 (D5244T16) before I can secure one

[Beanwood]

Originally Posted by Tannaton

Thank you.....

Back to the OP - Sensus is a vast improvement on what went before so I’d just get a later D5.

Thanks - agreed - and NORMALLY I would, but right now it's more vital to save funds rather than buy the best thing!

[Tatsfield]

Two "ifs" that will solve your problem. 1. If you can get a cheap D3 as the D3 isn't valued second hand because of its lower powered engine and 2. If you can get a cheap P* offer that raises it's power to that of the D5, then you'll have a bargain.

[Black dog]

I had a 2.4d S60, now I have a d3 v70. I regret it!
It's under powered compared to what I had and not any easier fuelled as its labouring harder. I'd trade it in an instant for a d5 if I hadn't already spent so much money on it.