Engine: D52447: MPG - not what it says on the tin

[Paul Clifton]

The point people have missed in this thread appears to be that these cars weigh over 2tons!!! so average fuel consumptions figures quoted here, especialy for the 163 (always been under-powered for the xc90) wouls seem to be fairly reasonable to me!

Paul.

[Viper_7]

No, I think the point is as per the title!

The MPG figures quoted for this figure seem to be a good 25% higher than many people actually average.

They do have the aerodynamics of a barn though!


vipes

[rogo]

My 2007 D5 Geartronic has not yet hit 1000 miles and the trip computer is saying 25mpg. I've been driving it like a mouse (I'm an ex Impreza driver) and just sitting back and enjoying the view. I've read the theory about fuel economy improving once the car has bedded in - I certainly hope so but there's a long way to go before I get close to 30mpg yet alone the quoted 34mpg!

[perussell]

Have a D5 163 Geartronic with just under 40K miles on clock. Filled up yesterday on way out, drove 90 miles down M4 towards London mainly at 'outside lane speeds' and computer is showing 35.5 mpg so I am happily exceeding 30 mpg whatever the computer error (which when checked against a brim to brim consumption is typically within 3-5% accurate.) During the winter months I struggled to better 31 mpg on the same run.

Three things to consider (and I do have some inside knowledge...)
1) Filling stations will now be supplying 'summer' diesel which will give better mileage. During the winter various additives are added which prevent the diesel fuel waxing but also increase consumption slightly. I generally expect to see a 10% increase in my fuel consumption during the winter.
2) With warmer ambient temperatures the engine will warm up to its' optimum operating temperature more quickly which will also help give better mileage
3) I NEVER use supermarket fuels. Not all fuels are the same whatever you may have been told. Do you honestly think that the oil companies spend millions developing fuel technologies that they would then sell to competitors so that they can undercut them? Yes, supermarket fuels may meet acceptable standards but then a Fiat Panda is a car and can transport 3 passengers whilst a Mercedes can also do the same so they both meet the standard of being able to get from A to B and carry a few passengers, just one costs more and does it better....... you pays your money and you takes your choice as they say.

Have just done my first 500 miles in an 07 D5 G'Tronic and I'm at the 25-ish mpg mark. Things had better improve, those miles were majority motorway. Does anyone knew what speed is the optimum motorway cruise speed for the XC90? My second car (BMW 530D) has a consumption/speed curve which is optimum at around 80mph.

[yatesspud]

I have just had a thought on this subject. I used to own a Jeep Cherokee and had the same problem re fuel figures only to be told the consumption was being taken off U.S gallons which are LESS the the U.K Gallon. MIght be worth checking your settings ??????

[yeoman]

Originally Posted by Hudster

Have just done my first 500 miles in an 07 D5 G'Tronic and I'm at the 25-ish mpg mark. Things had better improve, those miles were majority motorway. Does anyone knew what speed is the optimum motorway cruise speed for the XC90? My second car (BMW 530D) has a consumption/speed curve which is optimum at around 80mph.

Dear HUDSTER,
Did you ever drive steadily at a sedate 60mph?I think if you had, your beemer would have shown an inproved mpg.
Have of the the drivers on the road have no clue about how there driving styles affect their mpg.
For instance tailgating(which many XC90 drivers do) with its associated frquent use of the brakes, markedly increases your mpg.So does harsh acceleration etc

[bircham]

tailgating(which many XC90 drivers do)

I think you must be speaking for yourself there as I don't think you can generalise drivers by the type of car they drive- I certainly don't tailgate people

[Sotos]

Hi,

I recently purchased an XC90 2.4D Executive 2004 53 model and on the return journey from the North West (~250 miles) I returned an MPG of about 36 which is on a par to my previous car a bmw 530d touring. My average speed according to the computer reading in the car was about 60mph but many times on the journey I was hitting between 70-90 mph but it's hard to say what the optimum speed should be to return the best MPG. I think it may be better to look at it in terms of rpm so on the majority of my journey the engine was working between 2000-2500 revs so the engine was not being worked too hard.
Also the fact I have had my engine chipped(using superchips) and I use BP ultimate may also help!

[ademora]

I have a 06 D5 geartronic, fuel consumption on average still under 30, average 28 driving carefully, but the computer is not accurate and I calculate that am only getting between 25-26. Volvo said this should improve but they said this about my V70, it never does. I hardly ever drive on towns mainly country roads. Had thought about chipping, but the extra insurance costs outweigh the fuel savings.