XC90 - B5 Diesel or B5 Petrol?

[Dohnut]

I’ve always thought big SUV’s should be diesel, torque being the ultimate performance factor here. The B5 diesel has 450 Nm of the stuff, the B5 petrol 350 Nm. The diesel commands a small premium of £550 over the petrol.

My local dealer is pushing me towards the petrol, stating uncertainty over the future of diesel emissions/legislation and that performance-wise there’s not much difference. Personally I think it’s just a disguise to get his offer nearer to an online quote I’d asked him to match for the diesel.

Anyone have experience of the B5 petrol or both? I’ve yet to drive the petrol but I’m concerned it’ll not pull as well as the diesel (which it does surprisingly well for just 2 litres) and always need to be higher up the rev range, even with the mild hybridisation.

Thanks

[quinny100]

The current petrol Volvo's are a bit gutless and very thirsty compared to the diesels, but their most annoying issue is they really bring out the worst in the very dim-witted automatic gearbox.

The only petrol I'd consider is the T8 hybrid.

[Brett748]

I drove a XC60 for a few days while my 330d was being repaired, a D4 model and it was absolutely gutless. The gearbox was indecisive, for example at 50mph on the motorway if you put your foot to the floor I would kick down twice rather than finding the right gear first time around.

It was very frustrating, as was the iPad in the dash.

Possibly not a helpful post but just my view of the car having had one for an amount of time.