Fuel-saving technology is moving at such a pace that our 183PS D5-engined Volvo XC60 has already been superseded by a new D5 producing 204PS.
However, the closest match to the outgoing model is the new 175PS 2.4D, which is why when we decided to compare old with new we swapped our long-termer for a 2.4D in eco Driv-e form for three weeks.
It’s the most fleet-friendly model, too, emitting 159g/km CO2 and, according to official figures, is 27% better for consumption: the old 4×4 D5 achieves 37.7mpg (our average was 32.6mpg) while the new front-drive version 2.4D manages 47.1mpg (our average was 42.0mpg). However, with a little effort put into eco-driving (e.g. turning off the aircon and only accelerating gently) we saw some much higher figures, more than 50.0mpg, on one run from London to Newcastle – brilliant for an off-roader. The new engine is much more responsive, too, making the new Driv-e easier to drive economically and giving the car a feeling of having more power. The only downside is that if you do go off-road, or it snows, you’ve only got front drive – a small price to pay in our book.
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