OCTOBER 2019 | CARMAGAZINE.CO.UK 49
Pumping irony
You don’t get on the News at Ten by talking
about integrated starter-generators and in-
cremental mpg improvements of up to 15 per
cent. You grab the headlines by making grand
statements about all your new cars being fitted
with electric motors by 2019. And you spend the
next couple of years talking sceptics down from
the heights of indignation while they demand
to know why you’re making new cars that run
on diesel and are free from charging cables.
The B5 version of the XC90 is part of Volvo’s
new wave of mild hybrids; the big push on
plug-in hybrids and full EVs comes later. Volvo
is using the phrase ‘mild hybrid’ to denote the
same technology Mercedes has been employing
so effectively: kinetic energy-recovery braking;
an electric motor that doubles as a starter-gen-
erator; and an extra 48-volt battery in the boot.
The B5 replaces the D5 diesel. It’s slightly
more expensive, slightly more economical,
slightly more powerful, with slightly less spacein the still massive boot. There will also be B5
and B6 petrol mild hybrids. The system cap-
tures surplus energy from the braking process,
and uses it to ease the burden on the diesel
engine. The electricity helps with smooth
and quick starting and restarting; it can give a
power boost during acceleration; and it can fa-
cilitate seamless transitions between cruising
at speed and being propelled by the engine.
What it doesn’t provide is any sort of EV-only
mode for silent driving, and there’s no option
for the driver to choose to charge the battery,
either from the mains (like a plug-in hybrid or
EV) or on the move (like a ‘self-charging’ Toyota
hybrid). That leaves you with a driving expe-
rience that’s remarkably similar to a regular
diesel or petrol XC90. It’s rather more satisfac-
tory than the T8 plug-in hybrid, which involves
a lot of fuss and expense for very little gain.
On the road, the XC90 B5’s powertrain soon
fades into the background and you’re left with
the latest evolution of one of the most comfort-
able, accommodating and accomplished cars
ever made. It’s a new diesel Volvo, and a very
good one. No need to hold the front page.
COLIN OVERLANDFeel free to be surprised at the arrival of a
great new diesel from EV evangelists Volvo
VOLVO XC90 B5
THE FIRST HOUR
1 minute
I’m looking for
special knobs and
dials. Coming up
empty. Just a regular
XC903 minutes
Engage Eco mode.
Feels like the right
thing to do. Expect lag
and stutter. Get none12 minutes
Try Normal mode.
The same but better32 minutes
Check the trip. It’s
averaging in the high
30s. Not great for a
green car, but good for
a big, heavy 4x454 minutes
Glance at the
instruments and
notice it’s telling me
the car’s cruising. I had
no idea. This is very
slick indeedFirst verdict
Incremental progress. Technology used cleverly
to extend the life of the stuff people like about
normal cars, but a bit greener
★★★★★PRICE
£56,585
(B5 D R-Design)POWERTRAIN
1969cc 16v twin-
turbodiesel mild-hybrid
four-cylinder, eight-speed
automatic, all-wheel drivePERFORMANCE
232bhp @ 4000rpm,
354lb ft @ 1750rpm,
7.6sec 0-62mph,
137mphWEIGHT
2172kgO N S A L E
NowDataEFFICIENCY
37.7- 4 4.1 m p g ,
154g/km CO2▲
PLUS
Exceptionally smooth
and refined diesel;
traditional XC90
virtues left intactMINUS
▼
Still big and heavy;
minimal mpg
improvement