Discussion
Hi. I'm coming up the end of a PCP on a 2016 Kuga 2.0D and wondering what to get next. I've always had a soft spot for the XC60 and a low mileage 2010 T6 has come up. I've been looking around for people's experiences of that particular car and engine and there's almost nothing written about the long term reliability of the engine (because everyone bought diesels at the time.)
Generally the XC60 seems a well liked car for an urban SUV used for town driving and the monthly motorway run and the reliability seems solid. I'm not keen on the diesels as we do more short journeys than long ones and am keen to avoid DPF issues.
Any experience or guidance on those engines would be gratefully received.
Generally the XC60 seems a well liked car for an urban SUV used for town driving and the monthly motorway run and the reliability seems solid. I'm not keen on the diesels as we do more short journeys than long ones and am keen to avoid DPF issues.
Any experience or guidance on those engines would be gratefully received.
2010 is a changeover year for the T6 between the 284ps and 304ps so it could be either power output. It's worth investigating because the engine had some 'improvements' and became more efficient, as well as getting more power with the revised model.
I had the older 284ps in a V70 and it wasn't exactly frugal. During my ownership I think I averaged around 25mpg over 23,000 miles - mostly driven on A roads, some motorway and a bit of short town stop/start stuff. Driving to mid-France once, I managed 28mpg at 74mph (I worked out this was the most economical speed vs. time spent on the road) with a bike rack. It's not bad, but the range of the 70-ish litre fuel tank is 450miles, or 500 if you like rolling the dice.
The engine is very smooth, very quiet and does pick up pace nicely from around 1500rpm all the way to when the gearbox decides it's time to change to the next cog. I believe some of the earlier engines had high oil consumption issues, but this was ironed out in the later cars. Mine never had this problem. Except for servicing and staying on top of 'normal' things, the engine is very solid as a rule.
The 6-speed gearbox is pretty dim witted and all-too-readily changes down a cog when you accelerate a little bit harder than normal, but not hard enough that you'd expect it to change. Manual mode stops this and you can hold it in gear, but using it is a pain and wasn't the reason I went for an automatic. It also doesn't change down through the gears when you slow down or brake, rather it 'dips the clutch' and you rely heavily on the brakes. It'll be worth getting the oil changed on the gearbox if it has never been done and the car has done a few miles - it's solid preventative maintenance and doesn't cost too much.
The Haldex system on mine was brilliant (pretty sure it's the same on the XC60), but depending on mileage/age it should have a the rear diff and Haldex oil changed, even though Volvo don't recommend it other manufacturers with the same system do. In the snow the UK had last year, with new summer tyres it was incredibly competent and composed and really impressed me.
The engine is a fantastic cruiser and more than powerful enough to make pretty brisk progress and the straight 6 really is so smooth. If you can stomach the fuel costs then go for it. Oh, and the tax - £550 a year.
I can't comment on the XC60 specifically, though, sorry.
I had the older 284ps in a V70 and it wasn't exactly frugal. During my ownership I think I averaged around 25mpg over 23,000 miles - mostly driven on A roads, some motorway and a bit of short town stop/start stuff. Driving to mid-France once, I managed 28mpg at 74mph (I worked out this was the most economical speed vs. time spent on the road) with a bike rack. It's not bad, but the range of the 70-ish litre fuel tank is 450miles, or 500 if you like rolling the dice.
The engine is very smooth, very quiet and does pick up pace nicely from around 1500rpm all the way to when the gearbox decides it's time to change to the next cog. I believe some of the earlier engines had high oil consumption issues, but this was ironed out in the later cars. Mine never had this problem. Except for servicing and staying on top of 'normal' things, the engine is very solid as a rule.
The 6-speed gearbox is pretty dim witted and all-too-readily changes down a cog when you accelerate a little bit harder than normal, but not hard enough that you'd expect it to change. Manual mode stops this and you can hold it in gear, but using it is a pain and wasn't the reason I went for an automatic. It also doesn't change down through the gears when you slow down or brake, rather it 'dips the clutch' and you rely heavily on the brakes. It'll be worth getting the oil changed on the gearbox if it has never been done and the car has done a few miles - it's solid preventative maintenance and doesn't cost too much.
The Haldex system on mine was brilliant (pretty sure it's the same on the XC60), but depending on mileage/age it should have a the rear diff and Haldex oil changed, even though Volvo don't recommend it other manufacturers with the same system do. In the snow the UK had last year, with new summer tyres it was incredibly competent and composed and really impressed me.
The engine is a fantastic cruiser and more than powerful enough to make pretty brisk progress and the straight 6 really is so smooth. If you can stomach the fuel costs then go for it. Oh, and the tax - £550 a year.
I can't comment on the XC60 specifically, though, sorry.
Edited by BackPedal on Thursday 25th October 19:02
Thanks for all that detail. The one I’m looking at is the 300ps version, but good to know it’s the same family of engine with refinements rather than somethign totally new. I only do fairly low mileage - 4-6k per year, so the mpg doesn’t concern me and the tax I can live with if the car isn’t otherwise costing me.
I had a 2007 V70 T6 a few years ago, and whilst I came to dislike the car immensely within a very short period, the engine was a peach. Smooth, torquey and willing to spin to the cut-off (6600?) it was a thirsty beast. AWD was OK but I’d come from a long line of Subaru so not quite as good as the permanent engagement. Auto box was crap - as the poster above noted, slow and dim-witted. The car was heavier than the CX9 that replaced it, and felt as much in the corners, even though the ride was terrible. Honestly, I don’t get the love on here for the V70 but if the T6 is what you’re after, then I’d say it’s a worthy engine.
Not driven an XC60 though my neighbour has an XC60 T6 and likes it. But, knowing him, that’s not any sort of recommendation...
Not driven an XC60 though my neighbour has an XC60 T6 and likes it. But, knowing him, that’s not any sort of recommendation...
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