V90 Cross Country D4 or D5
Discussion
Hi, looking at buying one of these as the new family barge. We have 2 fast growing boys aged 4 and 6 and have outgrown the Mini Countryman really. I have some questions which I hope you guys can answer.
Am I better off with the D4 or D5 as there doesn’t seem to be much difference in price?
What is the real world MPG of both of them?
Is there any spec items which aren’t standard which are essential?
I’m looking at a budget of around £30k so should be looking at less than 12 months old with a view to keeping this for 5 years. Is there anything from a reliability perspective that I need to be aware of between the D4 or D5?
Also what are the servicing intervals/costs like on one of these?
I assume the petrol is not great on mpg and they seemed to be priced a little higher although appreciate they may keep a bit more value.
Thanks in advance
Hamperman
Am I better off with the D4 or D5 as there doesn’t seem to be much difference in price?
What is the real world MPG of both of them?
Is there any spec items which aren’t standard which are essential?
I’m looking at a budget of around £30k so should be looking at less than 12 months old with a view to keeping this for 5 years. Is there anything from a reliability perspective that I need to be aware of between the D4 or D5?
Also what are the servicing intervals/costs like on one of these?
I assume the petrol is not great on mpg and they seemed to be priced a little higher although appreciate they may keep a bit more value.
Thanks in advance
Hamperman
I think I can help! I bought a V90 Cross Country just last month for the exact same reasons that you mention. (my first ever Volvo too, although I ran a V60 Polestar when I was working at PH)
In the end I went for a D5 - I did consider going down the D4 route, but when testing a D5 it felt fine in terms of performance but I quickly decided I wouldn't really want to go any lower. Considering the car I was driving (and eventually bought) had the Polestar performance option on it too, I would think the D4 may feel a touch sluggish to anyone even vaguely interested in occasionally making progress as it is a big old barge!
In terms of options to go for, the Polestar Performance kit is good (doesn't add a huge amount of power, but it includes a remap for the gearbox which is well regarded). This can be retro fitted by a polestar dealer though.
Other than that mine is fairly "low" spec, although as you'd imagine given it is a £45k+ car it has plenty of stuff as standard. I have the winter pack (heated seats, steering wheel, windscreen and headlamp washers) and metallic paint... and that's about it. Basically because they come with a lot of stuff as standard, and having now owned it for a while the only thing I'd really have liked is the front parking sensors (expensive option as it is bundled with the parking camera, but can be retro fitted), a tow bar (easily fitted after market) and the bowers and wilkins stereo... which almost none have as it was a £3k option, and it turns out the standard stereo is much better than I thought it would be.
In terms of economy, it is actually not as good as I thought it might be, with it's lifetime average being about 38 - 39mpg and a real world long journey when driving without economy in mind being 42 - 45mpg. One thing I have read though is that the MPG figure the car gives you is far more accurate than some other cars, which tell you that you're doing 50+ mpg but in reality it is much lower. Range on a full tank (£75 at the moment) is about 500 - 530 miles, although if you were doing a continental cruise you may well get nearer 600. Anyway, my other car is an E90 M3 which never does better than about 19mpg so I'm pretty happy with the V90!
Lastly in terms of servicing, Volvos seem to be pretty simple and operate a major-minor system where you simply alternate between the two. These are £300ish and £500ish.
All in all I'm very pleased with the car, and my wife and I have both become attached to it quickly as it just seems to offer the ideal blend of practicality, comfort, luxury and I guess performance. I think it looks absolutely brilliant too, it is a really handsome car and I've had several compliments on it already from strangers which have caught me off guard. I think it'll really start to shine in winter too...
Hope this helps
James
In the end I went for a D5 - I did consider going down the D4 route, but when testing a D5 it felt fine in terms of performance but I quickly decided I wouldn't really want to go any lower. Considering the car I was driving (and eventually bought) had the Polestar performance option on it too, I would think the D4 may feel a touch sluggish to anyone even vaguely interested in occasionally making progress as it is a big old barge!
In terms of options to go for, the Polestar Performance kit is good (doesn't add a huge amount of power, but it includes a remap for the gearbox which is well regarded). This can be retro fitted by a polestar dealer though.
Other than that mine is fairly "low" spec, although as you'd imagine given it is a £45k+ car it has plenty of stuff as standard. I have the winter pack (heated seats, steering wheel, windscreen and headlamp washers) and metallic paint... and that's about it. Basically because they come with a lot of stuff as standard, and having now owned it for a while the only thing I'd really have liked is the front parking sensors (expensive option as it is bundled with the parking camera, but can be retro fitted), a tow bar (easily fitted after market) and the bowers and wilkins stereo... which almost none have as it was a £3k option, and it turns out the standard stereo is much better than I thought it would be.
In terms of economy, it is actually not as good as I thought it might be, with it's lifetime average being about 38 - 39mpg and a real world long journey when driving without economy in mind being 42 - 45mpg. One thing I have read though is that the MPG figure the car gives you is far more accurate than some other cars, which tell you that you're doing 50+ mpg but in reality it is much lower. Range on a full tank (£75 at the moment) is about 500 - 530 miles, although if you were doing a continental cruise you may well get nearer 600. Anyway, my other car is an E90 M3 which never does better than about 19mpg so I'm pretty happy with the V90!
Lastly in terms of servicing, Volvos seem to be pretty simple and operate a major-minor system where you simply alternate between the two. These are £300ish and £500ish.
All in all I'm very pleased with the car, and my wife and I have both become attached to it quickly as it just seems to offer the ideal blend of practicality, comfort, luxury and I guess performance. I think it looks absolutely brilliant too, it is a really handsome car and I've had several compliments on it already from strangers which have caught me off guard. I think it'll really start to shine in winter too...
Hope this helps
James
Hi James,
Thanks for such a comprehensive response, some really good information.
We test drove a D5 and I would agree it’s quick enough but I think a D4 would be a little sluggish. My other car is a Cayman R for fun so like you I have something sportier when needs be.
The one option I’m looking for is the Nappa Contour seats as I much preferred these and found them on one which had unfortunately sold. I’m not sure if I’m looking for a needle in a haystack though!
Cheers,
Hamperman
Thanks for such a comprehensive response, some really good information.
We test drove a D5 and I would agree it’s quick enough but I think a D4 would be a little sluggish. My other car is a Cayman R for fun so like you I have something sportier when needs be.
The one option I’m looking for is the Nappa Contour seats as I much preferred these and found them on one which had unfortunately sold. I’m not sure if I’m looking for a needle in a haystack though!
Cheers,
Hamperman
Concur a with James, D4 was OK but given the size of the thing D5 is better suited. We're also getting a little less than 40mpg in our D5 R design, which is ok. I do have a heavy foot, but it moves fairly impressively for a 2.0 and 1900kg.
Couple of things on reliability, there is a recall on a plastic pipe on the engine, intake possibly, that can distort die to heat and (probably very rarely) cause a problem. Also our D5 is due for a warranty investigation for a reasonable oil leak.
Intermediate servicing locally is around £450 full price but garages locally are willing to negotiate and or price match. Good if you have a halfords service centre within a few miles of them (details on Volvo's website).
I'd like the D5 drivetrain in a V60 next time.
Couple of things on reliability, there is a recall on a plastic pipe on the engine, intake possibly, that can distort die to heat and (probably very rarely) cause a problem. Also our D5 is due for a warranty investigation for a reasonable oil leak.
Intermediate servicing locally is around £450 full price but garages locally are willing to negotiate and or price match. Good if you have a halfords service centre within a few miles of them (details on Volvo's website).
I'd like the D5 drivetrain in a V60 next time.
Hamperman said:
Hi James,
Thanks for such a comprehensive response, some really good information.
You're welcome!Thanks for such a comprehensive response, some really good information.
Hamperman said:
The one option I’m looking for is the Nappa Contour seats as I much preferred these and found them on one which had unfortunately sold. I’m not sure if I’m looking for a needle in a haystack though!
Obviously only anecdotal, but I didn't see any with this option during my search so perhaps they are rare. I'm not sure if you want these for looks or comfort, but the standard seats are excellent (comfort wise)RDBx said:
Couple of things on reliability, there is a recall on a plastic pipe on the engine, intake possibly, that can distort die to heat and (probably very rarely) cause a problem. Also our D5 is due for a warranty investigation for a reasonable oil leak.
Intermediate servicing locally is around £450 full price but garages locally are willing to negotiate and or price match. Good if you have a halfords service centre within a few miles of them (details on Volvo's website).
Apologies, I should have mentioned this. When I bought my car it was due a service (which I obviously used as a negotiation point). It was due the (minor) interim service, which was carried out by TMS Volvo Hinkley and came in at £280. As part of this it had all the outstanding recall work carried out. I think it is actually a lot more than just the intake though, I'm pretty sure most of the pipework in the engine bay is replaced and rerouted as they needed the car all day and I seem to remember the service manager mentioning it was a big job (he might have said it was 7+ hours of labour for the recall alone, but in hindsight that sounds a crazy amount so perhaps I misunderstood?)Intermediate servicing locally is around £450 full price but garages locally are willing to negotiate and or price match. Good if you have a halfords service centre within a few miles of them (details on Volvo's website).
Anyway, along with the service and the recall work they also updated the software on the car which seems to have improved how slick it is (not that it was bad before!) and you get 12 months breakdown cover for free when you use a Volvo main dealer. I should add that I'm in not on the payroll for Volvo Hinkley but they were excellent so credit where it is due!
Edited by James Drake on Monday 7th September 10:59
If getting a used Volvo the 12 month breakdown cover with Volvo service should not be overlooked! Well worth having and is pretty comprehensive with roadside, home and onward travel and accident, including car-hire and accommodation.
Being a lease deal chaser, I didn't realise it existed until checking service history on my recent XC90, transfers with vehicle to new owner too.
https://www.volvocars.com/uk/own/maintenance/volvo...
Being a lease deal chaser, I didn't realise it existed until checking service history on my recent XC90, transfers with vehicle to new owner too.
https://www.volvocars.com/uk/own/maintenance/volvo...
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