XC90 to... what? Better mpg required
Discussion
Currently driving a 2010 XC90. Lovely thing, Executive spec so has all the toys (relative to the build year). It’s cavernous, stupidly comfortable, it’s the 197bhp so adequately swift.
But... the 26/27mpg is getting silly. Doing about 350 miles to £75 of derv. I can afford it, but starting to begrudge it. No company mileage and I do about 16k a year.
So, here’s the rub. The XC90 ticks all my boxes. I have four kids and do go off road (horses). Nothing heavy just some soggy fields. I also have a job which demands I’m there come rain or snow.
So a 7 seater 4x4 is where it’s at. I’ve drawn up a short list, with thoughts as below. Bottom line is I’m going to have to sacrifice performance as any powerful 4x4 is going to have the same mpg issues as the XC90, so Pathfinders, X5s et al are off the list.
Budget ~£16k
Nissan Qashqui+2 1.5dci - School run mum image, 3 row of seats are absolutely tiny. Apparently the 1.5dci is a peach for what it is.
Nissan X Trail - I actually like this, but the 1.6dci puts me off... is this same Renault lump that was in the earlier Qashqui and had terrible cam belt/tensioner issues that let go as and when it felt like it?
Mitsubishi Outlander 2.2 - ticks a lot of boxes other than its looks which to be honest leave me cold. I might have to get over that, but they also seem to go for strong money compared to the competition. Are they worth it?
Must have creature comforts, good media connectivity and quality sound system, leather, preferably heated.
Go with thoughts and opinions....
But... the 26/27mpg is getting silly. Doing about 350 miles to £75 of derv. I can afford it, but starting to begrudge it. No company mileage and I do about 16k a year.
So, here’s the rub. The XC90 ticks all my boxes. I have four kids and do go off road (horses). Nothing heavy just some soggy fields. I also have a job which demands I’m there come rain or snow.
So a 7 seater 4x4 is where it’s at. I’ve drawn up a short list, with thoughts as below. Bottom line is I’m going to have to sacrifice performance as any powerful 4x4 is going to have the same mpg issues as the XC90, so Pathfinders, X5s et al are off the list.
Budget ~£16k
Nissan Qashqui+2 1.5dci - School run mum image, 3 row of seats are absolutely tiny. Apparently the 1.5dci is a peach for what it is.
Nissan X Trail - I actually like this, but the 1.6dci puts me off... is this same Renault lump that was in the earlier Qashqui and had terrible cam belt/tensioner issues that let go as and when it felt like it?
Mitsubishi Outlander 2.2 - ticks a lot of boxes other than its looks which to be honest leave me cold. I might have to get over that, but they also seem to go for strong money compared to the competition. Are they worth it?
Must have creature comforts, good media connectivity and quality sound system, leather, preferably heated.
Go with thoughts and opinions....
7 seater 4x4 is always likely to be low mpg...
could you look at a normal car which has a 4x4 system, or ditch the 4x4 and go for something like an s-max? Amazing how well they do...
you are presumably spending somewhere between £3-4k p/a on fuel, so halving consumption is only a saving of £1-2k a year - not enough to run a second car on the difference...
you migt have to think creatively, or just live with it - they are popular cars simply because the only other comparable car is the more expensive Disco!
could you look at a normal car which has a 4x4 system, or ditch the 4x4 and go for something like an s-max? Amazing how well they do...
you are presumably spending somewhere between £3-4k p/a on fuel, so halving consumption is only a saving of £1-2k a year - not enough to run a second car on the difference...
you migt have to think creatively, or just live with it - they are popular cars simply because the only other comparable car is the more expensive Disco!
I have had the same thoughts. The only difference I can see is that the cars i’ve listed have selectable 4x4... as in 80% of the time I could run it in 2WD, and just use the 4x4 when required. This should hopefully reduce drivetrain losses.
Also the XC90 has a fairly old tech laborious slush box which can’t be efficient.
So I’m working on the theory a smaller capacity, manual, selectable 4x4 should make a fairly healthy difference to mpg. Even if I can see a 40mpg average that would help.
A friend has a 1.6 Qashqui 4x4 and gets 650miles from £60, so that’s as near as damn it 60 mpg.... would halve my fuel costs.
Also the XC90 has a fairly old tech laborious slush box which can’t be efficient.
So I’m working on the theory a smaller capacity, manual, selectable 4x4 should make a fairly healthy difference to mpg. Even if I can see a 40mpg average that would help.
A friend has a 1.6 Qashqui 4x4 and gets 650miles from £60, so that’s as near as damn it 60 mpg.... would halve my fuel costs.
You're not going to find a 7 seater 4x4 that averages anywhere near 60mpg, anyone who tells you so is telling porkies.
It will be nearer 40mpg, so will save you £1k a year in fuel. That saving surely isn't enough to sell your soul and drive around in a Qashqai or some other generic box over a top spec XC90?
And that's before the potential of unknown bills on an unknown car.
Keep the XC90
It will be nearer 40mpg, so will save you £1k a year in fuel. That saving surely isn't enough to sell your soul and drive around in a Qashqai or some other generic box over a top spec XC90?
And that's before the potential of unknown bills on an unknown car.
Keep the XC90
Sargeant Orange said:
You're not going to find a 7 seater 4x4 that averages anywhere near 60mpg, anyone who tells you so is telling porkies.
It will be nearer 40mpg, so will save you £1k a year in fuel. That saving surely isn't enough to sell your soul and drive around in a Qashqai or some other generic box over a top spec XC90?
And that's before the potential of unknown bills on an unknown car.
Keep the XC90
Cant see much to argue with here.It will be nearer 40mpg, so will save you £1k a year in fuel. That saving surely isn't enough to sell your soul and drive around in a Qashqai or some other generic box over a top spec XC90?
And that's before the potential of unknown bills on an unknown car.
Keep the XC90
I have a 2016 Nissan X-Trail at the moment. Exactly what you have detailed, 1.6D 7 seats & 4x4. The MPG I get can be as good as 60 if I really try on the motorway but high 40s is more common. General driving you are looking at low to mid 40s at best. the issue is the engine while adequate does need to be worked a little to make progress. I have taken it on holidays to France with 3 kids a tent, roof box and bikes and there really was no issue with the engine but unless you have a feather of a right foot the MPG figure's that you will likely see wont change the world for you.
wiliferus said:
Nissan Qashqui+2 1.5dci - School run mum image, 3 row of seats are absolutely tiny. Apparently the 1.5dci is a peach for what it is.
Wife had a 5 seater one a couple of cars ago, it was s
t. Slow and absolutely no fun to drive, and the engine went for the next owner about 12 months after they bought it from the dealer we traded it to.I've the latest D5 XC90, that only manages ~35mpg with mixed driving, but drive it round town for shorter journeys and it'll drop to below 30mpg. They just aren't suited to round town driving. For that I'd try and squeek into a hybrid but 7 seats is going to be next to impossible to get one.
RizzoTheRat said:
Dunno how long they've been out but can you get an XC90 Twin Engine in your price range? 25ish mile electric range means a lot of short journeys on electric only.
I'd go with the suggested option of keeping it for a bit until Kodiaq prices come down a bit though.
Not a hope of getting any new XC90 for £16k, £30k is about the minimum.I'd go with the suggested option of keeping it for a bit until Kodiaq prices come down a bit though.
We've had 2 XC90s and it was ideal with 3 kids and needing to tow a 1500kg caravan but the low mpg and woeful auto blighted the experience a little.
Sold caravan and rarely travel with all 3 kids so now got a V60.
Doesn't help you OP but just goes to show what a good car the XC90 is.
Ciaran said:
We had a similar problem to yourself, had a 2006 XC90 - 185 and did everything we needed. It was time to change but wanted something equally as versatile but better fuel economy.
Ended up going for a 2013 XC90 R-Design.
Probably the most concise answer I could have hoped for. Ended up going for a 2013 XC90 R-Design.
Looks like I’ll just keep swallowing the fuel costs. I must admit taking a step down in quality didn’t fill me with joy. I suppose this thread has delivered as was maybe looking for reasons to justify keeping it.
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