'04 V70 168 Geartronic 5 speed - realistic mpg?

[S60D5SE]

My S60 163 D5 Geartronic is about the same - currently showing about 36.5 mpg, gets down to about 33 with nothing but local journeys. I can get the computer to think it's averaging 57 mpg on a long run. I reset the counters at each fill, so this isn't a long term average, I find it easier to compare the economy of each tank full this way.

[stimperley]

Sorry - i do of course mean 163, not 168bhp. Ever the optimist!

Looks like we are about normal for mpg then.

[mattl1986]

Not a V70 but S80 with same engine and gearbox. Have had it as low as 25mpg, but seem to average about 31 real world. Computer seems to think it's doing 36.

[Coventry]

Just how 'out' is the OBC for average MPG? We have an '02 S60 D5 5 speed auto (not geartronic) and I deliberately reset the computer when we bought it so it would reflect our driving and not the previous owner's. It has covered 12,000 miles over the course of 1 year and shows 49/50 MPG.

This figure is clearly a long term average for us now because even after a very long motorway journey at steady speed, it will only rise by 1 MPG or so. Similarly it will take a week of short town journeys to drag it back down to 49MPG again.

We don't often fill the tank up because we're never far from a fuel station and I don't see the point of lugging an extra 40 kg of fuel, however I have done several brim to brim calculations (inevitably on long motorways journeys) and seen a true 53 MPG at best.

I don't believe that the OBC is correct as an average of course, 49 MPG is clearly off the mark. I have signed up to Fuelly to track the consumption and, whilst it hasn't been long enough yet to give a decent indication, it shows we're averaging 36-38 MPG over the last 1,500 miles.

So, we all know that OBC's are often 'out' in most cars, but is 10 MPG difference really right?

[mattl1986]

My previous Golf over-read by 3-4, but the Volvo does seem much more optimistic. As above, mine seems to over read by about 6 mpg. Not sure if you can calibrate it somehow.

[Mikethelaserman]

I've just done the first tank-to-tank in my recently acquired V70 2.4D Geartronic.
37.4 mpg by fuel, 40.6 reported by the computer.

Mainly 40 mile round trips on country A and B roads (rarely getting much above 60mph).
A few local shopping trips and 60 miles of motorway cruising.
Almost no town driving.

[stimperley]

Thanks for all the feedback. Am concluding that the car is fine as I can certainly attain the figures mentioned so that only leaves ... the wife's driving style! She has just admitted that she sometimes realises that she is "going a bit fast", but attempting to explain to her how to drive an automatic more economically is, er, probably not the best use of my time.

[NI_Volvo_Nut]

Originally Posted by stimperley

Is it an auto?

yes mate, 2003 V70 D5 with geartronic

I find cruise control helps the mpg if used correctly, ie don't use the resume or + buttons

I usually get between 550 - 650 miles to a tank, average is near the 600 mark usually

[Jim314]

I second the statement of not holding down the + button and especially not the resume button. I put my foot on the accelerator pedal and slowly approach my target speed and then set the cruise.

Cruise control is great on long trips on uncongested roads, but I find it dangerous on congested highways--it can cause me to get too close to a car in front, before I suspend the speed setting. Under foot control I constantly feather the accelerator to keep at a safe distance.

[Symes]

I've also got an MY04 V70 D5 (163) and it sounds like I'm in the same ballpark....
I log mileage at each fillup as the trip resets itself and so can easily see mpg differences, at the moment I'm getting 38/39mpg calculated and a computer average of 42.5 or thereabouts. But, I have noticed that the ambient temperature makes a big difference. Since the southern uk temps have started to get back to positive double figures the mpg has improved by about 5mpg... and my normal summer computer average is usually into the mid to late 40's for the same 45ml A/B road commute.
I have even thought about building a 'smart' radiator louvre to keep the engine temps up during the winter!

Best average i have done is a calculated 51 and a bit on a long gentle journey to north wales and back, but i.'ve also had a computer average of 44.5 fully laden (stuffed to the gunnals), roofbox and 3.5 blokes to Le Mans last June (mainly french a roads)!

I certainly find the geartronic benefits from a light touch on undulating roads when traffic conditions mean you're not pi**ing people off behind by 'feathering' up the slopes to avoid changing down.