RE: Volvo V90 D5 PowerPulse AWD R-Design: Driven

[FN2TypeR]

Tuvra said:

Motormatt said:

"Pistonheads, realistically, why does the engine even matter in a car like this?"

EFA

Plenty of other options out there if you want fast, sporty estates. Volvo used to make them, they obviously dropped them because they were not financially viable or popular.

As long as the power was smooth and the cabin quiet, I wouldn't care what was powering it, then again I am not a dinosaur stuck in the past pretending that adding or decreasing cylinders actually matters as long as a car performs as you expect.

I'm inclined to agree in this situation, if it was a motorway cruising hack or a family wagon I wouldn't be awfully concerned regarding the number of cylinders under the bonnet.

However, the lack of a petrol option (XC90 aside) would be a stumbling block for me, and the forthcoming T8 will likely cost an arm and a leg.

I'd be happy with one of these in none XC guise with the T6 under the bonnet, I wouldn't bother with the R Design kit either, even though it looks pretty smashing.

The new XC60 looks ace too IMO - I'd consider that as a family wagon also.

[leakymanifold]

It's nice that Volvo are pushing out some decent offerings but what's with the lazy stereotyping that is borderline racist "And the added benefit of not being German." Why is it a benefit that it isn't German? Why does it matter which country it comes from? Are cars from Germany to be avoided, because they come from Germany?

[Krikkit]

leakymanifold said:

It's nice that Volvo are pushing out some decent offerings but what's with the lazy stereotyping that is borderline racist "And the added benefit of not being German." Why is it a benefit that it isn't German? Why does it matter which country it comes from? Are cars from Germany to be avoided, because they come from Germany?

No, not because they're German, but because they're the staid, default option when anyone wants a posh estate in the £35k-100k bracket.

For some folks you'd take a car that's objectively worse than end up in some of the offerings from BMW/Audi/Mercedes.

[Dave Hedgehog]

leakymanifold said:

It's nice that Volvo are pushing out some decent offerings but what's with the lazy stereotyping that is borderline racist "And the added benefit of not being German." Why is it a benefit that it isn't German? Why does it matter which country it comes from? Are cars from Germany to be avoided, because they come from Germany?

more likely because they are everywhere and quite a few people are feed up with buying them, so this is a nice alternative

[gazza5]

Having sat in this a while back - r design version - I have to say I love the thing. It oozes quality, and is something different than all the usual cars in this segmant.

Prices are quite a lot - but give it two years - these may well be down to discount levels like the germans.

I only drive a humble astra diesel - so the step up is huge for me - however I do also like the skoda superb, which is also a very nice car - but not quite up to the same league as the volvo v90 imho

[Oddball RS]

Tuvra said:

Motormatt said:

"Pistonheads, realistically, why does the engine even matter in a car like this?"

EFA

Plenty of other options out there if you want fast, sporty estates. Volvo used to make them, they obviously dropped them because they were not financially viable or popular.

As long as the power was smooth and the cabin quiet, I wouldn't care what was powering it, then again I am not a dinosaur stuck in the past pretending that adding or decreasing cylinders actually matters as long as a car performs as you expect.

Of course it matters.... what planet are you on, the length of time I sit in my car, if I had a choice between 4,5,6,8,10,12,16 cylinders to listen too it would not be four. Do I respect them yes, do I desire one, no! The last cars only good point was the 5 Cylinder lump.

[bobski1]

Would love a Polestar version of one of these

[CedricN]

Obviosly, people dont care how many cylinders they have, they waiting list is long and volvo cant produce enough cars at the moment, they are hiring like crazy to keep up demand. And financially they are going better then ever. Even though 4pot diesels are a nasty thing to live with

The world is bigger than us petrol heads, alot bigger. I get why they did develop the VEA engine platform the way they did, it was the only viable way to handle the costs involved. They had to make a new petrol and diesel platform, at the same time as complete new car platforms from the ground and up since they couldnt use any ford stuff anymore. That is a huuuuuge task for such a small company.

[British Beef]

How will this be marketed in the USA - surely the biggest market for this car?

Amercians will not buy a 4 cylinder diesel in anything, much less a premium car, that I would put money on. Neither would I for £50k+ !!!

No 2 ways about it, ALL 4 cylinder diesel engines sound gash, no exception!!!

[ORD]

They also scream 'cheap', which is not what you want in an expensive car.

The turbo 4 in my wife's 320i is perfectly capable but makes the car feel cheap. 4 cyl turbos are not appropriate for premium cars.

[Krikkit]

British Beef said:

How will this be marketed in the USA - surely the biggest market for this car?

Amercians will not buy a 4 cylinder diesel in anything, much less a premium car, that I would put money on. Neither would I for £50k+ !!!

No 2 ways about it, ALL 4 cylinder diesel engines sound gash, no exception!!!

They'll get the T5 and T6 petrol models, no diesel offered.

[Motormatt]

Oddball RS said:

Tuvra said:

Motormatt said:

"Pistonheads, realistically, why does the engine even matter in a car like this?"

EFA

Plenty of other options out there if you want fast, sporty estates. Volvo used to make them, they obviously dropped them because they were not financially viable or popular.

As long as the power was smooth and the cabin quiet, I wouldn't care what was powering it, then again I am not a dinosaur stuck in the past pretending that adding or decreasing cylinders actually matters as long as a car performs as you expect.

Of course it matters.... what planet are you on, the length of time I sit in my car, if I had a choice between 4,5,6,8,10,12,16 cylinders to listen too it would not be four. Do I respect them yes, do I desire one, no! The last cars only good point was the 5 Cylinder lump.

Tuvra said:

Why? The Volvo looks (and probably feels) twice the car the BMW does?!? Realistically why does the engine matter?

In the road testers own words: 'The four-cylinder clatter is well-contained but inescapable at lower speeds and not really becoming of the V90's sense of gravitas'.

Regardless of whether or not I'm a pretend dinosaur, that is not performing as I expect for a 56k luxury car, my opinion. Nothing to do with being fast or sporty. I have driven plenty of 4 and 6cyl cars in this category and given the choice would never take the 4 cyl one.

There will be plenty of customers for whom this isn't important and they'll be very happy, and rightly so, its a beautiful and practical machine that will be great to own.

[After_Shock]

ORD said:

They also scream 'cheap', which is not what you want in an expensive car.

The turbo 4 in my wife's 320i is perfectly capable but makes the car feel cheap. 4 cyl turbos are not appropriate for premium cars.

BMW now offer a 2.0 4cylinder petrol 7 Series, does it make the car 'cheap' clearly not otherwise they wouldn't fit in the flagship.

World is changing, another few years and anything other than 4 cylinder will be a severe rarity in the mainstream manufacturers.

[Supersaloons]

oh nice, big holes left and right in the frontbumper, haven't seen that before....

[The Vambo]

leakymanifold said:

the lazy stereotyping that is borderline racist "And the added benefit of not being German." Why is it a benefit that it isn't German? Why does it matter which country it comes from? Are cars from Germany to be avoided, because they come from Germany?

[ORD]

After_Shock said:

BMW now offer a 2.0 4cylinder petrol 7 Series, does it make the car 'cheap' clearly not otherwise they wouldn't fit in the flagship.

World is changing, another few years and anything other than 4 cylinder will be a severe rarity in the mainstream manufacturers.

All that means is that good engines are few and far between and many people do not know what they are missing.

[The Vambo]

ORD said:

After_Shock said:

BMW now offer a 2.0 4cylinder petrol 7 Series, does it make the car 'cheap' clearly not otherwise they wouldn't fit in the flagship.

World is changing, another few years and anything other than 4 cylinder will be a severe rarity in the mainstream manufacturers.

All that means is that good engines are few and far between and many people do not know what they are missing.

You should point out the error of their ways, those ignoramuses will surely benefit from your enlightened knowledge.

[ORD]

The Vambo said:

You should point out the error of their ways, those ignoramuses will surely benefit from your enlightened knowledge.

You should go into comedy.

I know a lot of people that have never once driven a car with a petrol engine with 5 or more cylinders. So, tell me, is it wrong to say that they do not know what they are missing?

[FN2TypeR]

ORD said:

The Vambo said:

You should point out the error of their ways, those ignoramuses will surely benefit from your enlightened knowledge.

You should go into comedy.

I know a lot of people that have never once driven a car with a petrol engine with 5 or more cylinders. So, tell me, is it wrong to say that they do not know what they are missing?

Like it or not, this is the future, it'll take time but emissions laws, ease of packaging/design and the whole "much cheapness" arguments will win the day for mainstream cars, you can't even buy a new Porsche Cayman or Boxster with more than four cylinders now, and the only hot hatches with more than four are the BMW M140i and Audi RS3, and the former manufacturer are, as previously stated, looking at four pots in some areas - it's a shame I know, and agree with you, but it's just the nature of the biz these days, smaller capacity engines with turbos bolted on seem to be the order of the day.

[DoubleD]

ORD said:

The Vambo said:

You should point out the error of their ways, those ignoramuses will surely benefit from your enlightened knowledge.

You should go into comedy.

I know a lot of people that have never once driven a car with a petrol engine with 5 or more cylinders. So, tell me, is it wrong to say that they do not know what they are missing?

I like bigger engines, they are fantastic. I personally would never buy a 4 pot diesel unless i really had too. But lots dont care about what powers their car.