XC90 2016 D5 AWD or D4 FWD...

[Rossmck]

Hello all,

Appreciate the vast majority will likely be D5 (225) owners, but on off chance I'd be very grateful for anyone's experience/thoughts:

We've the option in Belgium for a D4 (190) FWD. My challenge is that FWD demo's are not available until Dec and price list across range is due to increase imminently. So ideally I need to confirm AWD or FWD in next couple of days. I'm loath to commit to an engine without a test drive, but similarly loath to miss current pricing as I am led to believe my spec (Momentum/IntelliSafe/360 + few other bits) will likely add up to 1000 Eur increase to current list price.

Therefore has anyone an educated opinion, based on the performance of the current D5 (225), as to how a D4 (190) is likely to fair pulling 2.1 tonnes... On paper it's 7.8 vs 10.2 Sec 0-60 and 470n vs 400n. So I'm concerned the ~20% short fall may leave the D4 FWD wanting at overtake, given turbo delay that I read about on the D5 that is a minor issue highlighted by some.

Cheers for any thoughts/experience of potential benefit/considerations of 4WD vs FWD. I may have to bite the bullet and wait for the demonstrator and accept new pricing either way...

Rossmck

[Philip Fisher]

Originally Posted by Rossmck

Hello all,

Appreciate the vast majority will likely be D5 (225) owners, but on off chance I'd be very grateful for anyone's experience/thoughts:

We've the option in Belgium for a D4 (190) FWD. My challenge is that FWD demo's are not available until Dec and price list across range is due to increase imminently. So ideally I need to confirm AWD or FWD in next couple of days. I'm loath to commit to an engine without a test drive, but similarly loath to miss current pricing as I am led to believe my spec (Momentum/IntelliSafe/360 + few other bits) will likely add up to 1000 Eur increase to current list price.

Therefore has anyone an educated opinion, based on the performance of the current D5 (225), as to how a D4 (190) is likely to fair pulling 2.1 tonnes... On paper it's 7.8 vs 10.2 Sec 0-60 and 470n vs 400n. So I'm concerned the ~20% short fall may leave the D4 FWD wanting at overtake, given turbo delay that I read about on the D5 that is a minor issue highlighted by some.

Cheers for any thoughts/experience of potential benefit/considerations of 4WD vs FWD. I may have to bite the bullet and wait for the demonstrator and accept new pricing either way...

Rossmck

Surely it will be the same engine just in a lower state of tune? so could you just buy the cheaper D4 and then chip it if it was found wanting?

[Rossmck]

Thanks Philip, I'll look into that directly.

[tonged]

I think the different engines have different types of forced induction. Not completely sure though. Have a look at this page (http://forums.swedespeed.com/showthr...e-architecture). On page 31 of the embedded document they show some details of the different engines. The charging system seems to be key. This is what I infer from the document...

The T6 is has a roots supercharger and a turbocharger (I think WG is wastegate).
The T5 has just the turbocharger.

The D5 has two turbochargers, a variable geometry turbocharger (VNT) and a regular turbocharger.
The D4 has two regular turbochargers.

Chapter 3 on page 36 seems to reinforce this: "the boosting system is a key enabler for variations in performance levels".

So, I think it's going to take more than chipping the car to make a D4 drive like a D5.

[Kev78]

Polestar for the D4 only gives a extra 10bhp or so.

I'm amazed that there is a fwd D4 XC90.

[Schnorbitz]

Originally Posted by Rossmck

Hello all,

Appreciate the vast majority will likely be D5 (225) owners, but on off chance I'd be very grateful for anyone's experience/thoughts:

We've the option in Belgium for a D4 (190) FWD. My challenge is that FWD demo's are not available until Dec and price list across range is due to increase imminently. So ideally I need to confirm AWD or FWD in next couple of days. I'm loath to commit to an engine without a test drive, but similarly loath to miss current pricing as I am led to believe my spec (Momentum/IntelliSafe/360 + few other bits) will likely add up to 1000 Eur increase to current list price.

Therefore has anyone an educated opinion, based on the performance of the current D5 (225), as to how a D4 (190) is likely to fair pulling 2.1 tonnes... On paper it's 7.8 vs 10.2 Sec 0-60 and 470n vs 400n. So I'm concerned the ~20% short fall may leave the D4 FWD wanting at overtake, given turbo delay that I read about on the D5 that is a minor issue highlighted by some.

Cheers for any thoughts/experience of potential benefit/considerations of 4WD vs FWD. I may have to bite the bullet and wait for the demonstrator and accept new pricing either way...

Rossmck

In old money the D4 has about 300lb/ft it would seem, might be perfectly adequate as it's about the same as the T6 petrol produces I think?? It's all about the torque in a car of this type, or any type to be honest.

The bottom line is does a 10sec plus 0-60 time compare favourably with your current car, presumably also turbo diesel? Have any mags in Europe performance tested the car yet? 30-70 through the gears is probably a better benchmark for comparing relative 'real world' performance. Carfolio.com is a good site for digging up car data too.

[Rossmck]

Massively useful input folks many thanks, much to chew on given that no dealers/media over here (FR/BEL) have yet to get their hands on a D4 FWD. First are expected end Nov when the new price lists (9 Nov) will be fully established. I've got my price locked in until next week thankfully.

My takeaways: the D4 and D5 engines seem significantly different enough that they should be considered in isolation. Volvo Polestar safest bet but not worth it. I've an enquiry in with DTUK to seek their view on an inline tuner kit, but I am skeptical of any significant performance gain (if any on acceleration), given Polestar stats (I hit their websites).

At the end of the day as Schnorbitz alludes to, I guess I need to compare 10.2sec accel with the 9.2sec accel listed for the 8 yr old S-Max that this is replacing - so on the face of it not far off what the far better half is used to as the primary driver. Still difficult to judge without a test drive tho, as it's more about the occasional mid range sprint for me to avoid the crazy Belgians on the Brussels ring. btw qualified to state it as I married one, but she is a truly excellent driver, no really. Still crazy. But a good driver. Spade - hole duly dug.

I've bagged a D5 (225) AWD at least for this coming weekend for a thorough work out with normal Dad duties and the full clan onboard.

p.s I understand that FWD models are expected in UK late 2016, so I would suppose the D4 FWD available in the Belgian market Q1 2016 will come your way soon. I would expect the media here would have made comparisons by then likely ahead of UK getting a sniff (I'll keep a look out in Belgian/French mags and post translations here for others if/when released).

Thanks all - very helpful.

[scvolvo]

We had fwd xc90 d5r design / t6 at Gothenburg both auto, plus d4 fwd xc60

[Kev78]

What market are Volvo aiming for with a luxury SUV that is fwd and has a 190bhp 2.0 diesel?

It's so strange. More like a van than a range rover IMO. Especially on standard suspension.

[Gilesme]

Originally Posted by Rossmck

I guess I need to compare 10.2sec accel with the 9.2sec accel listed for the 8 yr old S-Max that this is replacing

Hi - I moved from an S-Max 2.2 (172hp) to a D4 XC60 (181).

Whilst the Volvo is good generally and if you thrash it can move along very quickly, it's noticeably slower when e.g. joining a motorway and you wish to get into the outside lane (50mph to 75mph).

Not sure whether this is because there are 2 turbos to spool up rather than one big one, or because the Ford ran 10% overboost in these situations.