Fuel consumption gripe ... and more

[PierreC]

OK, let me start with the "more" ... this forum needs some posts to spice it up a bit so here is my contribution.

The fuel consumption gripe bit:

I took delivery of my MY 2015 V40 D3 on the 2nd January 2015 and apart from having a stone kicked up by a truck crack the windscreen on the same day at the odometer reading of 64 km (40 miles) I am quite happy with the car - my 6th Volvo since 1996 (see signature). Except ...

... the fuel (diesel) consumption. Average to date is 8.7 l /100 km (32 mpg) in mostly city driving. This is a great disappointment although it is better that the 16 l /100 km (approx. 18 mpg) that I get in my XC60 T6 in the same kind of driving. OK, I do live in a hilly suburb, and the average speed over the 1500 miles driven to date is just a shade over 20 mph (32 km/h) with lots af traffic lights and relatively short commutes, but the 32 mpg is really more (quite a bit more) that I had expected. Btw, the fuel consumption computer hovers between 8.4 and 8.5 l / 100 km, so it is a bit optimistic.

For the record, I live 1600 m above sea level so the air is bit thinner than at sea level, but the turbo should compensate for that.

Comments and experiences?

[civilservant]

Is your car auto or manual?

I also believe new cars take approx 10,000 miles until they bed in and become more efficient. My manual D3 is approx at 18,000 miles and has settled at around 50mpg but does frequent motorway journeys too. If I don't do any motorway journeys, the average can drop to mid-40s. I expect a marginal increase as we head into warmer climes.

I wouldn't worry too much just yet until you get 10,000 on the clock.

[wilkhaven]

Agreed, there are so many factors that effect the fuel consumption, I have an auto D3 and am getting anything from low 40's to mid 50's depending on the type of roads I'm on. However I tend to drive in a very fuel efficient manner and ensure the tyre pressures are spot on regularly.

I tend not to use the adaptive cruise in traffic as while it's great for keeping with the flow it is not very efficient as it's only reacting to the car in front whereas I can react to what is happening much further up the line and adjust me speed accordingly.

If your car is an auto then I would guess your mpg sounds about right for city driving.

[anton differing]

Originally Posted by wilkhaven

Agreed, there are so many factors that effect the fuel consumption, I have an auto D3 and am getting anything from low 40's to mid 50's depending on the type of roads I'm on. However I tend to drive in a very fuel efficient manner and ensure the tyre pressures are spot on regularly.

I also have an auto D3, I drive in a fuel-efficient manner, check the tyre pressures weekly and my consumption figures tally closely with yours

[PierreC]

Thank you for the replies ... it is an auto transmission and I have to confess I do not have a light foot! My XC70 that I traded in on this one has an Autotech tune taking power from 147kW to 176kW and torque from 285Nm to 390Nm and was an absolute pleasure to drive ... as is my XC60 --- but this kind of kick does not sit easily with a frugal driving style!

So my challenge is to change my driving style (confession!!) but I still wanted to know if my fuel consumtion was way out of line.

I will be driving 750 miles to my beach cottage over the Easter weekend (x 2 return + about 200 miles while there) which will be my first long distance trip. I will feed back after that what my fuel consumption was ... long distances of straight road at 75 - 80 mph on speed control ...

[cumbrianmale]

I found my D2 fuel consumption dismal until I had 3000 miles on it, after that it started to improve rapidly.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by PierreC

Thank you for the replies ... it is an auto transmission and I have to confess I do not have a light foot! My XC70 that I traded in on this one has an Autotech tune taking power from 147kW to 176kW and torque from 285Nm to 390Nm and was an absolute pleasure to drive ... as is my XC60 --- but this kind of kick does not sit easily with a frugal driving style!

So my challenge is to change my driving style (confession!!) but I still wanted to know if my fuel consumtion was way out of line.

I will be driving 750 miles to my beach cottage over the Easter weekend (x 2 return + about 200 miles while there) which will be my first long distance trip. I will feed back after that what my fuel consumption was ... long distances of straight road at 75 - 80 mph on speed control ...

your consumption sounds just fine for :

Average speed of 20 mph ( should be over 40 mph for optimal economy)
Heavy Right Foot
80 mph
Hills
Auto Transmission
Traffic lights
short journeys

You should be able to halve the fuel consumption with more favourable conditions !

[PierreC]

Originally Posted by cumbrianmale

I found my D2 fuel consumption dismal until I had 3000 miles on it, after that it started to improve rapidly.

Originally Posted by Clan

You should be able to halve the fuel consumption with more favourable conditions !

Can't wait!!

[PierreC]

I have just completed the first leg of my first long distance trip - a 750 mile journey down to the coast.

At an AVERAGE speed of 69 mph (112 km/h) my fuel consumption was 45 mpg (6.3 l/100km).

I will post the return journey (which includes an ascent from sea level to 1600 m elevation) in a week's time - previous experience with my various petrol vehicles is that there is about a 10% difference in fuel consumption on the return journey given similar weather circumstances and average speed.

[PierreC]

On the return journey, 750 miles and climbing from sea level to an altitude of 1600 metres above sea level, at an AVERAGE speed of 71 mph (i.e. slightly more than the downward journey), my fuel consumption was 42 mpg.