What is it?
The first stage of Volvo’s journey towards a new normal. This mildly refreshed XC90 is the first mild hybrid to leave the factory since it was announced two years ago that every new model would receive some kind of electrification.
Set to replace the old D5 diesel engine, this new B5 is still fuelled from the black pump but gains a 48V starter motor/generator and battery that can regenerate power through braking to then aid the engine under acceleration. Volvo claims this assistance delivers fuel-efficiency savings and emissions reductions of as much as 15% compared with the outgoing motor, which goes some way to counteract the recent negative view of diesel.
The 235bhp turbocharged four-cylinder engine has marginally less power than the current entry-level T5 petrol engine, but it has almost 100lb ft more torque, at 354lb ft, while also producing less CO2 and delivering greater fuel economy.
That balance may shift once mild-hybrid petrols, which will confusingly also carry the B badging, arrive later but today these figures are better than anything in the range bar the T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid.
A new engine isn’t the only change for 2019, with this updated car also receiving a new-look front grille that's more in keeping with the rest of Volvo’s line-up, as well as a fresh selection of alloy wheel designs and paint colours.
Join the debate
Merlot
Diesel?
It's still a bid decision buying an engine that the manufacturer says will not be in the new model which is out in 2-3 years time, powered by a fuel that a lot of councils will ban from town centres.
On a £50-70k car fuel is not the most relevant cost and, anyway, the B5 is £1000 more than the T5 new and on Volvo' own PCP is worth £1000 less after four years so £1000 dropped straight away.
xxxx
£57k for a 4 pot 2.0 diesel with a AA battery
Crazy, and if you can afford a £57k car are you that worried about a 10% fuel saving. Also, I'd rather have proper heating controls too, the touch screen effort is made all the more non-sensical as it has physical play, fast forward and rewind controls for the stereo which most people rarely use compared to heater controls
289
@ xxxx
I agree xxxx, big money to drive a poxy 4 cylinder engine.
The car is enormous....too big for the UK, and driven by a 4 cylinder engine encumbered by all sorts of tech to make it move its lardy arse, which will doubtless limit its lifespan.....!
Rollocks
Enormous? My arse!
What a nonsensical claim. Hundreds of thousands of folk drive medium-sized SUVs without any difficulty on British roads. They're pretty standard family transport these days, spacious, comfortable and economical.
Some years ago, when I lived in the Westcountry, my daily driver was a '77 Oldsmobile Cutlass - a 17ft-long Yank tank with a bonnet the size of an aircraft carrier flight deck - and I had absolutely no problem navigating the highways and byways of Somerset and Devon, counties that are hardly renowned for the excessive width of their roads.
Your comment says more about your own abilities as a driver, perhaps. It's an attitude problem ... learn to relax!
289
@ Rollocks
....tell that to the XC90 owner who was unable to get his car out of the underground car park in Winchester City centre car park!..... the vehicle whilst able to negotiate the semi circular entrance, despite many tries was clearly unable to get through the double 90 degree exit barriers. This resulted in the car park having to be blocked off while they extracted him back out of the entrance.
So yes, too big. My ML manages this easily so nothing to do with my own ability thank you. The old XC90 manages the exit, but not the new XC90, too wide and too long!
Blackmagic92
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Blackmagic92
Size rarely matters anymore
I don't think you can use the size of an engine to define a car's worth these days. An a45s with a 2.0 4 pot makes over 400bhp..that was supercar standards not too long ago. Even now, the Ford GT has a 6 figure price tag with a 3.5 v6...that was a 350z a little while ago, albeit without the turbo.
The reality is altough it may not be suitable for real car enthusiasts, it will be more than enough for most.
simmondp
Regularly get over 40mpg
The latest being 42mpg between lakes como and Guarda.
I would echo the seamless nature of the kers.
And boy does it shift when you need to overtake!
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