Best first gen XC90 engine for short runs.

[Toonshorty]

My mum is back into childminding and so needs a 7 seater for lugging a number of kids (and car seats) around on the school runs. She's currently running a BMW 218i Grand Tourer on PCP for which she's massively over paying (don't ask). We're seriously considering VT'ing the 2 series and buying an old XC90 (or similar) to do the job instead.

Most second hand XC90s are diesel, but I'm sceptical that this would be a great idea as the vast majority of journeys are going to be short trips (sub 5 miles). Since she'll only do a couple of short trips a day at most, mileage isn't a major issue - so even the V8 is a consideration.

There are a few T6s up for sale for around the £4-5k mark (~120k on the clock), but I've not been able to find any V8s yet (although I suspect these are rather rare). I have heard that the T6 had a habit of chewing through gearboxes, especially in urban use.

In the context of short runs, is there much difference in terms of reliability between the petrol engines? Should we aim for a specific model/year?

Cheers

[OldGermanHeaps]

If you can find one a t5 would be best or a pre dpf d5.

[47p2]

T6 have a habit of eating their gearboxes and not recommended. Early 163bhp D5 is the best for short journeys as it doesn't have DPF or swirl flaps to worry about. T5 petrol could also be considered but short journeys won't do a petrol engine any good and will be expensive on fuel

[Bonefish Blues]

Our XC70 with Euro 3 D5's just fine on short journeys. When I get in it I give it full beans a couple of times which typically results in Bicester falling into darkness for an hour, but cleans the things out for another week or two.

[OldGermanHeaps]

47p2 said:

T6 have a habit of eating their gearboxes and not recommended. Early 163bhp D5 is the best for short journeys as it doesn't have DPF or swirl flaps to worry about. T5 petrol could also be considered but short journeys won't do a petrol engine any good and will be expensive on fuel

Why would short journeys be worse on a petrol than a diesel? Like for like petrol engines get up to operating temperature far quicker.

[JamesK]

More to the point they never offered the XC90 with the T5 engine to my knowledge.

I'd agree that for shorter journeys the real world mpg between petrol and diesel will be MUCH closer than people think. I average around 20mpg in my V8 and on similar journey types the D5 will only be doing around 25.

[Bonefish Blues]

JamesK said:

More to the point they never offered the XC90 with the T5 engine to my knowledge.

I'd agree that for shorter journeys the real world mpg between petrol and diesel will be MUCH closer than people think. I average around 20mpg in my V8 and on similar journey types the D5 will only be doing around 25.

Measured 29 for our XC70 D5 E3, so that absolutely rings true.

[schmunk]

JamesK said:

More to the point they never offered the XC90 with the T5 engine to my knowledge.

They did - 2003 to 2006.

[wiliferus]

Bonefish Blues said:

JamesK said:

More to the point they never offered the XC90 with the T5 engine to my knowledge.

I'd agree that for shorter journeys the real world mpg between petrol and diesel will be MUCH closer than people think. I average around 20mpg in my V8 and on similar journey types the D5 will only be doing around 25.

Measured 29 for our XC70 D5 E3, so that absolutely rings true.

10k mike average for my XC90 D5 is 27.1 mpg, 50/50 split of urban and motorway. It’s quite tragic on fuel, but the D5 design is quite an old beast now, even with the updates it’s had.

[OldGermanHeaps]

JamesK said:

More to the point they never offered the XC90 with the T5 engine to my knowledge.

I'd agree that for shorter journeys the real world mpg between petrol and diesel will be MUCH closer than people think. I average around 20mpg in my V8 and on similar journey types the D5 will only be doing around 25.

They did. I've driven a t5 and a t6 back to back. The t5 has to work a bit harder, but thats made up for by the much sharper, much nicer gearbox, the t6 is a stormer of an engine mated to a dimwitted fragile pile of crap for a gearbox. I think with a remap and lpg the t5 would be a great motor but ultimately the mrs preferred the q7.

[anonymous-user]

I think they badged it 2.5T rather than T5? It's the 200bhp-ish LPT 2.5 5 pot. Manual (yeuch) and 5 speed AW automatic options are available.

The only engine in an early XC90 that is up to the job is the T6, but as mentioned the gearbox scuppers that. They are all slugs, but they are all tough engines, so buy on condition and history!