Volvo XC40 - Volvo XC-40 no more diesels

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Tue 18 Aug 2020 13:00
Volvo XC40 - Volvo XC-40 no more diesels - DavidGlos
According to another motoring website, Volvo has stopped selling diesel XC-40 models.

I know that internal combustion engines are on their way out, but having developed the Diesel engine and given that they use the same motor in other models, it seems a strange decision.

The petrol engines are thirsty, the PHEV also looks thirsty and has a poor electric range and the electric model is almost £60k, which is bonkers!

Plenty of other manufacturers are offering petrol, diesel or electric/PHEV on similar SUVs, so all in all, their decision looks rather premature to me. Not much there to tempt a high mileage motorist, for whom diesel is likely still the correct choice.
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Tue 18 Aug 2020 13:37
Volvo XC40 - Volvo XC-40 no more diesels - Metropolis.
Funny you should mention that, I had only recently noticed a variety of 69 plate Volvo diesels and couldn’t believe how agricultural they sounded. Guess it is par for the course if they keep using only 4 cylinders, and fine with all the extra sound insulation on modern cars, unless you drive with the window down! To my knowledge they used the same modular engine block for diesel and petrol models, rather like Rover did way back in the day with the series Land Rover diesel and petrols. Resulted in an overbuilt and very sturdy petrol engine as the design was diesel first petrol second. Lets hope Volvo also followed that pattern rather than the GM approach of making a petrol 350 Cubic Inch engine (that’s 5.7 for the metric maniacs amongst us) into a diesel with somewhat disastrous results, partly blamed on average (by which I mean not the Truck mechanics) US mechanics of the era not being used to working on diesels.

I get the impression Geely bought Volvo more for the cache and IP to help their own car development rather than because they have some great ambitions with Volvo itself. That said the new Volvos are arguably better than the Ford years in every way apart from the engines. Bring back the lovely inline 5s and that Yamaha v8!
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Tue 18 Aug 2020 13:52
Volvo XC40 - Volvo XC-40 no more diesels - Trilogy.
That said the new Volvos are arguably better than the Ford years in every way apart from the engines. Bring back the lovely inline 5s and that Yamaha v8!

Would rather have a Focus MK2 than a current V40 - driven both.

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Tue 18 Aug 2020 14:43
Volvo XC40 - Volvo XC-40 no more diesels - pd

Volvo has only been making 4 cylinder or less engines for some time now. Truth is hardly anyone else makes any either.

OK, so some of the Germans still offer 4+ cylinders but they sell in tiny numbers compared to the 4 cylinders.

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Tue 18 Aug 2020 22:02
Volvo XC40 - Volvo XC-40 no more diesels - Chris79

Everyone to their own but I have (at least for another week or two - but that’s another story!) a 2017 V40 D2 R design auto and have driven a mk 2 focus 1.6 auto.

Whilst most of my criticism of the Ford relates to the auto box that is perhaps the worst car I have ever driven.

My Volvo goes in the next week or two to be replaced by an electric Hyundai Ioniq ( salary sacrifice and current bik levels) make it to good a financial opportunity to pass up. I think I will genuinely miss the Volvo!

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Tue 18 Aug 2020 15:40
Volvo XC40 - Volvo XC-40 no more diesels - RT
That said the new Volvos are arguably better than the Ford years in every way apart from the engines. Bring back the lovely inline 5s and that Yamaha v8!

To some ears, the old D5 was distinctly agricultural

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Tue 18 Aug 2020 16:04
Volvo XC40 - Volvo XC-40 no more diesels - Metropolis.
To each their own, I thought it had a nice warble, same for the petrol 2.5 i5. Personally I would never consider a car with less than 5cylinders. Inline 4 petrol is just about bearable these days but a 4 pot diesel, no way. Apologies to the OP for this thread drift..
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Tue 18 Aug 2020 20:18
Volvo XC40 - Volvo XC-40 no more diesels - nick62

I had a 5 cylinder 2.5l engine in a Transporter, 174 hp and loved its almost endless torque.

Needed a new van a few years ago and wasn't looking forward the the 4 cylinder 2.0l 180hp replacement. Its quieter, goes better and is almost 20% more efficient on fuel, so why did I worry.

Similarly, I had a brand new 1.3 petrol Quashqui hire car last week. It went like a rocket. I couldn't believe it was only a 1.3 and it was nice to drive and nice inside too. Easily as powerful as a 2.0l of the 1980's and probably 100% more fuel efficient too? Whats not to like?

Edited by nick62 on 18/08/2020 at 20:19

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Tue 18 Aug 2020 20:32
Volvo XC40 - Volvo XC-40 no more diesels - pd
To each their own, I thought it had a nice warble, same for the petrol 2.5 i5. Personally I would never consider a car with less than 5cylinders. Inline 4 petrol is just about bearable these days but a 4 pot diesel, no way. Apologies to the OP for this thread drift..

But no one else agrees with the market deciding it isn't bothered. BMW sell about 30 4 pot diesels for every 6 even in the larger cars.

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Tue 18 Aug 2020 20:43
Volvo XC40 - Volvo XC-40 no more diesels - Metropolis.
The market is determined by mainstream car buyers who view cars mostly as white goods to get from A to B, or in some cases premium white goods to make them look good. I understand most don’t care, I was just voicing my own opinion. For me it’s not only about the raw power numbers, but the nature of the delivery. I’ll be in the minority and that is fine, I always think when I see someone in an electric car, well, that’s more fuel left for me!
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