XC70 D5 v XC70 D3

[Lloydyboy]

Hi Guys, welcome to Doncaster, I'm new here. I'm very interested in buying my first ever Volvo MY2012 XC70 SE LUXE Diesel Auto, but can't decide between the 2 or 4 wheel drive. Is there a lot of difference in mpg? In the brochure and web site it says there's not much, is there a significant drop in performance between the two? I've had a couple of test drives in the D5 and really enjoyed driving it. Any help or advice from you Volvo experts would be really appreciated, Cheers for now,
Lloydy.

[Chaddie]

Never driven the D3 or FWD XC70.

I get 30mpg driving local, on a little longer run may get closer to 35mpg. I'd guess on a very long run I might get high 30's but the 205bhp engine isn't good for mpg.

I think the new XC70 has the 215bhp engine and I read has better mpg, so I'd guess it will be impossible for anyone to answer since the new D3 & D5 aren't out yet in the XC70.

All I'd say is if mpg is the most important thing than an XC isn't the best option. Also why a FWD XC70 and not a V70?

I love my D5 XC70 and wouldn't go back to a V70, but I also wouldn't want to go back to a 2WD car either, so I'll put up with the mpg.

[Clan]

well a 2 wheel drive with winter tyres all round is better than a 4 wheel drive with normal tyres ..

The D5 has a bit more power from 3000 rpm onwards , the D3 has more noticable power under 3000 rpm and is more economical .

I would certainly get a test drive in a D3 you will be surprised .

[Lloydyboy]

Thank you for your swift replies guys.
V70, XC70 Chad, well, I just love the chunky oversize-ness of the XC range, and as a Commercial Photographer I get into all sorts of different places. I love the way I can fit all my equipment into the back too.
The way the front seat pushes forward to load my 9 foot rolls of background is fab.
Very interesting about the Winter tyre option, thanks for the tip Clan.
Cheers you two.

[TiredGeek]

I've never really understood why people buy the 2wd XC, it's only a V70 with big tyres. Why bother?

While a 2wd car with winter tyres IS better than a 4wd on summer tyres, a 4wd on winters is much better than the aforementioned 2wd

If you want the 4wd, it's a great car, nothing stops them on the right rubber.
If you don't want 4wd, get a V70.

Personally, I'm never going back to 2wd. I prefer the feeling of utter stability the haldex system gives the car, snow and ice don't phase it, and it laughs at muddy fields

XC70 2wd = wannabe

[Lloydyboy]

Thank you Mr TG for your information I will certainly take on board everything you have said, and thanks to you all for taking time out to answere my queries cheers for now, Lloydy.

[MJVolvofan]

Just seen this thread, personally I'd be very wary of these mk3 or phase 3 V70's we have a fleet of around 30 in work, at one base the other day out of ten cars available, nine were in the Garage, a host of different niggly problems, even a '11' plate with a blown head gasket @ 8000 miles, completely scandalous, nowhere near the cars they used to be. The old petrol T5's were extremely reliable, and personally I've had eight Volvo's from 850's in Tdi's (Vw/Audi eng) up to phase 2 petrol's including T5's but I certainly wouldn't buy one of these new shape ones, pretty to look at nice enough inside, but very unreliable, at least from what I've seen.
On that note though, we've recently had a twin turbo on demo, goes quite quick, more importantly think we've had it two weeks now and it hasn't broken yet !!

[Gazdok]

Originally Posted by MJVolvofan

Just seen this thread, personally I'd be very wary of these mk3 or phase 3 V70's we have a fleet of around 30 in work, at one base the other day out of ten cars available, nine were in the Garage, a host of different niggly problems, even a '11' plate with a blown head gasket @ 8000 miles, completely scandalous, nowhere near the cars they used to be. The old petrol T5's were extremely reliable, and personally I've had eight Volvo's from 850's in Tdi's (Vw/Audi eng) up to phase 2 petrol's including T5's but I certainly wouldn't buy one of these new shape ones, pretty to look at nice enough inside, but very unreliable, at least from what I've seen.
On that note though, we've recently had a twin turbo on demo, goes quite quick, more importantly think we've had it two weeks now and it hasn't broken yet !!

What company runs Volvo fleets?

[Tony g6hbq]

The only people in S Wales with that many Gen 3's
I reckon have blue and yellow battenburg and flashy lights!!

[TrevS]

Picked up my D3 Se Lux 2WD last month and v. pleased with it. I did try a 4WD D5 on the Volvo 4 day trial and, although impressed, running it as company car couldn't justify the extra BIK penalty and lease cost (I have a cap over which I have to contribute) for the admittedly better performance and go anywhere capability.

I've ran a 2WD drive Qashqai for 2 years and, even in the snow, didn't get caught out and don't have a need for 4WD. I'm nto an 'off road' person with no horse boxes to pull or fields to cross and no doubt handy to have but not finding that in 2 years I thought stick with 2WD for the XC.

A personal one to me, I drive 30k miles a year and try hard to keep points of my licence (I've got a nasty 'ol sports bike for the fun part) so wanted to avoid the temptation of the extra power (and fun!) the D5 presented. Sounds a bit square but there it is.