Member Since: 03 Apr 2010
Location: Surrey
Posts: 268
XC90 does NOT topple D4 convincingly in Autocar this week
Rarely buy Autocar or Auto Express these days, but am on hols so figured I would buy both to see what they said about this test, especially after the Auto Express thread started on here the other day.
In Autocar, the conclusion ends... (After discounting the X5)
"But the XC90 and the Discovery are harder to split, because they are not attempting to do quite the same thing. I prefer the cut of the Discovery's mature, isolated jib, and it's the one I'd rather drive. Right up until, I suspect, where I had to pay some of the running costs - and at that point, the XC90 would seal the narrow victory I'm inclined to award it."
Autocar give both cars 4.5 stars out of 5, and the X5 gets 4.
What is laughable though is the quoted 'range' for the Disco... 637 miles per tank. Yeah right, and pigs may fly...747_JK
"Moab is my happy place"
2019 Land Rover Discovery 5 HSE
2015 Land Rover Discovery 4 HSE - SOLD
2010 Land Rover Discovery 4 HSE with a serious smoking habit - SOLD
31st May 2015 12:02 am
Red Merle
Member Since: 30 Aug 2014
Location: Liskeard
Posts: 7441
At least the X5 was dismissed so early....2011 - 2015: 3 x FL2
2015 - 2017: 2 x D4
2017 to date: FFRR SDV8
2023 to date: 2 x FL2 as “second” cars 🙄
2021 to date: Hinckley built ‘14 Triumph Trophy 1200
2022 to date: Hinckley built ‘14 Triumph Trophy 1200 & sidecar!
(One of only two known to exist in the world!)
31st May 2015 6:12 am
Fitzy73
Member Since: 09 Feb 2014
Location: Truro
Posts: 2407
I would agree it is good news the X5 could be dismissed.
As for the XC90, I have always quite liked Volvo's, even when they were square , so given the new XC90 has a somewhat interesting looking front end, I was a little disappointed the back end wasn't more interesting and different from the original.
Either way, I much prefer the Discovery and just because it is now old doesn't make it bad.Andy
31st May 2015 8:57 am
Moo D3 Decade
Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 14283
Interestesting how they are still struggling to beat an 11 year old car. New Defender L663 110 SE (known as Noddy!)
Sold Volvo XC90 R-Design (known as Basil)
Sold - D4 HSE (Known as Gerty)
No longer the Old Buses original owner
231,000 miles and counting
05 S manual owned from March 2005
D4 Face lifted
Still original injectors and turbo
V8 Front brakes
BAS Remap, Allisport Intercooler and deCat
EGRs blanked
T-Max split charge
Hanibal Expeedition rack
Prospeed ladder
Duratrac tyres
IID BT
BAS FBH control
31st May 2015 9:41 am
grzesiul
Member Since: 11 May 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 6326
Looking hard at options for over 4 months we have still decided to go for Disco:
pros:
big, roomy, comfy, capable of carrying 7 or loads of stuff, proper off-roader, modifiable, so much cool overland kit out there, safe as , lower tax to older bus, everyone wants one.... and more
cons:
hmmmm being used to present one .....
Volvo? what is it?
G
31st May 2015 9:53 am
747_JK
Member Since: 03 Apr 2010
Location: Surrey
Posts: 268
I considered the XC90 before replacing mine earlier this month, but I'm afraid to say it wasn't even enough to tempt me to the showroom for a closer look or to get a price.
I was put off by its smaller boot (it only has more rear boot space when in 7-seat mode), wasn't a fan of the styling, looked on paper to be lower than the Disco (and I really wanted the highest most upright seat position possible) - plus, I couldn't even tell you where my nearest Volvo dealer is. The one which was in Chipstead closed down in the recession. Plus it just doesn't have the same 4x4 creds as the Disco - isn't it AWD rather than 4x4, and no kind of off-road settings to play with either.
Plus, I will never again buy a car which is new on the market. For me, I want something other people have done the road testing with. Which hopefully means a MY2015 D4 is a safe-ish bet. Well, as safe as it ever can be with a LR.747_JK
"Moab is my happy place"
2019 Land Rover Discovery 5 HSE
2015 Land Rover Discovery 4 HSE - SOLD
2010 Land Rover Discovery 4 HSE with a serious smoking habit - SOLD
To me the Disco concept through Disco 1 & 2 to what we have as an eleven year old design (I'm bundling disco 3 & 4s together as the 4 isn't 11 years old it's an update) is an iconic design it what it does & the way it does it.
It isn't a pretend 4 wheel drive.........the disco comes from the maker that not only specialise in this but wrote the book ad to how to make it permanent good for on or off road.
It isn't a pretend towing vehicle.....the disc will tow the full mass competently as a prime function not an occasional do once a year thing.
It isn't a look big but has little interior capacity look alike......the disco will swallow loads & bulky things even without lowering the second row.
It isn't a lot of other things
But fundamentally is a bloody good workhorse....
To me the disco is the benchmark that others are judged by.
Volvo have made some good vehicles over the years...maybe big & daft....but for me provided reliable cost effective transport when I couldn't swap cars every other year & was running them long distances on limited budgets. However they also made some rotters.....the 760 was in my experience of 13 years.....very poor in concept & detail.....costing me loads....with some innovative swap outs to keep roadworthy. Ok when not going rusty but when the red stuff took over it really did.
It's a huge pity they didn't merge with SAAB as they were going to do.
Ford selling them on to me was there from the start as I don't think they could merge the common parts bins & most of the products mirrored something that Ford was doing better at lower cost elsewhere....Ford are cost conscious first, second & last.....however thier products are mass market & usable even if not aspirational.
If you line up the real contenders for the disco category (I mean the real one not the FL2very) you have:
A blinged up to the hilt Merc
A silly Tonka toy BMW...try one off road to see what I mean
A really good Toyota....
A Jeep that promises a lot....but the design is that good it alters frequently
There is little else except maybe Isuzu
The Ford competition comes from the USA ..... where big trucks with big engines are the norm & it's difficult to find a true comparison....however the ute offerings are worth a look & if you do you then look at Holden.
VW / Audi have complete ranges of vehicles where 10 - 12 years ago there was nothing....but not really feature for feature model Disco comparisons.
I hope the series 5 as it will be referred to even if it doesn't have a 5 badge has only got to build in the core strengths of what precedes it ...... Not sexed or blinged up......not a ok today style stunt that doesn't stand the test of time.
Even today 11 years in........the Disco still look "good"BREXIT - done properly.
Right now ...We need Government - not Politics
Save the Dipstick Flagbearer-keep it simple, less likely to fail campaign-agenda items:Starting Handles, Acetylene Lamps.
Founder: Dipsticks-R-Us Inc
D3 HSE-perfectly formed, passenger friendly...has real DIPSTICK
Jag XK-but sadly no DIPSTICK...HUGE design fault
FL2 has DIPSTICK..."real comfort in rear seats"
VW Golf wondermobile (?)..has real DIPSTICK
Morris Minor..original DIPSTICK technology..and a real KEY.
31st May 2015 10:23 am
110CSW
Member Since: 19 Oct 2005
Location: Scotland
Posts: 796
Personally I don't take much interest in the rankings that magazines give cars but I like to read the narrative to pick out the salient points. Strangely I would never buy the XC90 even though at my kids school, the old XC90 and the D4 are both very evident so they must be the same space.
I like the big boot, proper 7 seats, terrain response and low ratio box that my car has. I already know that my D4 (pre-dated by a D3) will be replaced by a D5. I guess in brand loyalty that makes me an easy sale come replacement time!
PS Do think the new XC90 looks a bit odd. Might be better in the metal mind.2014MY Discovery
31st May 2015 2:02 pm
Wolfpack
Member Since: 28 Jul 2014
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 121
I've driven Volvos for 30+ years...10 different models. I would still be driving one now if an Italian hadn't lost control and wiped out the XC70 in a headon in Tuscany last May. We walked away with just a few breaks ...the car did its job. We were eventually sent a D4 by the insurers to tow our caravan home. The wife fell in love with it.
We had, in the past, looked at the old XC90 a number of times, as it offered extra kerbweight for better towing stability. But with the same engine as the XC70, giving inferior performance and lower mpg, as well as it being ripe for an update, we didn't go for one. Instead we bought a D4.
I am not totally in love with my 2012 D4 XS.
I personally feel the seats are not as comfortable as the Volvo seat...maybe the HSE seat is better!? This D4 doesn't sit on the road as faithfully as my old bus...but the D4 stands taller and wallows a bit more. Even wondered if the 20†wheels were contributing? The mpg isn't as good...but not unsurprising given the extra weight. It's more expensive to run (insurance, road tax, tyres!, and servicing) .........BUT .....
It tows the caravan as if it's not there....even in recent gales. It takes huge payloads and just gets on with working.
We had said that when the new XC90 comes out we will consider it. But the price and question around a new models unproven performance (especially towing) will put a brake on any thoughts of changing for some time!
Now if I could just get a more comfy seat in this car......
31st May 2015 9:03 pm
fat bloke
Member Since: 07 Aug 2006
Location: OXFORD
Posts: 1255
What's hard to work out is Volvo techs have had 11 yrs just to b a tad better? Don't say much then the Bavarian masters who bought L/R just to get hold of 4x4 tech on the cheap and quicker and again for all their Techs X5 is still not better
So D5 what will it need to be better than what it is now apart from weight ratio? The strange thing is i struggle to know what they could improve on as off road tool/winter snow etc perfect so all they need is interior refinement and tweek of engines....
3rd Jun 2015 8:08 am
Wolfpack
Member Since: 28 Jul 2014
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 121
I suspect that it was more of marketing strategy than technical tardiness. Changing ownership twice wouldn't have helped Volvo concentrate on too many new models. They were for a while merely focusing on the more economic models that the greater number of 'none towers' were wanting.
3rd Jun 2015 2:04 pm
pjb
Member Since: 05 Jun 2007
Location: Sunny Oxon
Posts: 308
Sadly I'm not in a position to buy a Disco 4 personally so my car is a company car so subject to company car tax.
A Disco 4 has Co2 of 213gkm so BIK is 35% of list price, so not an option, I currently have a Disco 4 commercial as BIK is £3,190.
Many of the 4x4 manufacturers have brought in hybrids, and the Volvo XC90 T8 is one with a co2 of 49gkm so BIK of 5% of list price, Landrover seem to be a bit behind on this, at least at sensible level Co2, ie the Range Rover Hybrid Co2 is still 189gkm.
I'm looking forward to getting a vehicle that can tow nearly 2t of caravan but also has 7 seats and I can afford the BIK on - so I'm looking seriously at the XC90 hybrid.
Its not a proper 4x4 as both axles whilst driven are driven by different power sources, the front axle a petrol engine the rear axle an electric engine, not sure how well it will work only time will tell, but I hope with decent tyres it will at least get me on & off caravan pitches & be okay in the winter - it comes from Sweden so they should be able to set up a car for winter use.
Wish me luck Previously those that have a special place in my heart
BV55YZD G4 RRS
BP52GJE G4 110
3rd Jun 2015 4:59 pm
Red Merle
Member Since: 30 Aug 2014
Location: Liskeard
Posts: 7441
Be careful. Those low BiK charges on hybrids are not going to stay that low for very long. Make sure you know what the charges will be over the entire contract period.
I got out of Company cars 18 months ago, sick of paying the tax and being taxed out of what I wanted....2011 - 2015: 3 x FL2
2015 - 2017: 2 x D4
2017 to date: FFRR SDV8
2023 to date: 2 x FL2 as “second” cars 🙄
2021 to date: Hinckley built ‘14 Triumph Trophy 1200
2022 to date: Hinckley built ‘14 Triumph Trophy 1200 & sidecar!
(One of only two known to exist in the world!)
3rd Jun 2015 5:30 pm
sbatchel
Member Since: 26 Feb 2014
Location: England
Posts: 25
Swapped from an XC90 last year to an MY14 disco HSE. Definitely the disco has a more rugged image and feel than the "soccer mums" xc90, and a lot more go. The only real deference I miss is that the Volvo felt a lot more premium inside, in terms of materials and action of knobs and buttons. But I suppose the disco needs to be differentiated from Range Rover somehow.
3rd Jun 2015 11:09 pm
Partickpebbles
Member Since: 23 Feb 2015
Location: Leeds
Posts: 269
Might topple in autocar....
Not really gonna topple in the thick stuff!
I had a Volvo in fact 2 before.......
I know what I prefer! Black D4 December 2014
Side Steps
Oh and now I have a Labrador!
Previous cars (Recent to first!):
Nissan Navara
SAAB 9-3
Renaultsport Clio
Citroen C2 GT
Mercedes A Class
Volvo S40
Renault Clio 16v Williams Blue
Citroen Saxo VTR
Audi A3
Renault Clio 16V Black
Vauxhall Corsa SRI
Ford Fiesta 1.1 Popular Plus
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, so given the new XC90 has a somewhat interesting looking front end, I was a little disappointed the back end wasn't more interesting and different from the original.
loads of stuff, proper off-roader, modifiable, so much cool overland kit out there, safe as 
