V60 D4 181 vs 190

[Garyballyroney]

Hi my wife and I are in the process of buying a new car each. She has settled on the V40 and I am looking at a V60 d4. It is Dec15 and is the 181 bhp model. There are also 190bhp cars available but the 181 is fully loaded with all the extras I would like wheras the 190 is a basic r design. I was looking to know was there anyone who could advise on the difference in the engine tunes. Would it be worth going for the lesser spec 190 or is the 181 still a good strong engine.

[Prufrock]

Suggest you post in the relevant sub forum, I think you'll get a better response!

Jon.

[cumbrianmale]

Moved for attention

[Considered1]

its the same engine, just seems they managed a little extra bhp from MY16 or perhaps my 181 D4 MY15 has been producing more horespower than they expected out on the road. Either way its a bute, goes like the clappers and in a lighter V60 it wont arf shift mate!

Higher spec every time for me. Enjoy it. you can also get a power upgrade Polestar or the other one I cant recall the name of but doubt you'd need it.

[Garyballyroney]

Thanks for the reply. I'm thinking going for the higher spec one too. It has everything from the winter pack to the internet connected nav system. I'm trading in my 2013 focus st 3. So I know it will be down on power but it a family waggon

[Considered1]

test them both to be sure, be interested if you feel much if any difference.
Are they manual or auto, im guessing your a manual man.

[Garyballyroney]

Manual. I had a type r, Leon Cupra, and then the focus st. Family now so need more grown up car. Really like the Volvo cause it's not a bmw/Audi something different.

Wife going for a v40 d2 r design drove it and seems really impressive as a second car. Would have loved winter pact but none of the demos have it. We have gotten used to heated windscreen. Just hope she doesn't swap her v40 for my v60 .

I'll be back to dealer this week and post again.

[MCV60]

My voice would be, 181bhp with all the toys then add the Polestar for an extra £500ish

[MikeGMT]

I would be inclined to go for the bells and whistles over the extra 10bhp. I doubt you would really notice the difference in real world driving.
I too came from a ST2 with Code Red remap (285bhp) to a Volvo S60 D3 163bhp and I was a bit worried about the power difference. Admittedly the S60 had the 5 pot engine which is very similar to the ST 5 pot and not the VEA engine you are looking at. I was pleasantly surprised that I didn't really miss the power difference, but as you know it' all about the torque in the Focus ST and they are the same at 400nm, same for the VEA engine. Do miss the 5 cylinder warble and the exhaust pops though.

[craigv60]

If you could spot the difference on the road, I would be VERY surprised.

A careful comparison of the power curves (from the Volvo factory specs) shows that the torque and power curves are virtually identical from tickover to 3,500rpm. They have the same peak (400nm between 1,750 and 2,500rpm).

The 181bhp has slightly more torque in the 2,500 - 3,500 range, but by slightly, I mean 5 to 10nm. If accelerating hard, you'd be a better man than I if you can notice that! However, after 3,500rpm the 181bhp variant's torque falls away a little faster than the 190bhp variant.

At 4,000rpm, the 181bhp engine is delivering about 320nm torque; the 190bhp is delivering about 330nm. Again, hardly anything.

So in other words: you won't notice any difference at all up to 3,500rpm (which is 80mph in 4th gear in a manual gearbox car, and an automatic loss of license in 5th or 6th!). Go for the spec you want and don't worry about the engine differences.