Poor MPG

[Guineafowl]

As mentioned in another thread, I’ve swapped the Disco 4 for a 2018 Volvo V40 T3 petrol, 34,000 miles.

It’s getting the same usage, and is also an automatic, but is only doing 31.6 mpg. We got nearly that in the 3 tonne, 3L Disco. This car is half the weight and has half the engine, and is eight years newer. It’s almost bad enough to consider rejecting the car, since making the swap was mainly to reduce running costs.

I’ve checked brake discs with the infrared thermometer after a run, and they’re all under 30*C. Will check tyre pressures. Other than looking at fuel trims/MAF/MAP etc, is this to be expected from a modern car?

 

[Gragson]

Got a T6 V90 hybrid same mileage as you, MPG round town is woeful, long runs it is very good.

 

[Misterg]

Doesn't look too dissimilar to the 'Real World' mileage reports for the automatic:

https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/realmpg/volvo/v40-2012/t3-automatic

 

[frank horton]

Think that’s bad try looking at modernBIG motorcycles……

 

[Morrisman]

Think that’s bad try looking at modernBIG motorcycles……

My BMW 1100 gets just 45mpg, but the Yamaha Bulldog 1100 gets 60+

I'm sure the BM used to get a lot more, but it seems to have droppedover the last few years.

 

[JEZGUZ]

V6's are always thirsty, 31 mpg is not bad, my Chevy did around 10 in town and 25 on a run, that was a 4.3 litre auto. Pug is around 35 and the Alfa did about 36.

 

[not done it yet]

As mentioned in another thread, I’ve swapped the Disco 4 for a 2018 Volvo V40 T3 petrol, 34,000 miles.

It’s getting the same usage, and is also an automatic, but is only doing 31.6 mpg. We got nearly that in the 3 tonne, 3L Disco. This car is half the weight and has half the engine, and is eight years newer. It’s almost bad enough to consider rejecting the car, since making the swap was mainly to reduce running costs.

I’ve checked brake discs with the infrared thermometer after a run, and they’re all under 30*C. Will check tyre pressures. Other than looking at fuel trims/MAF/MAP etc, is this to be expected from a modern car?

Driving style/habits have a large effect on mpg. Heavy right foot (on both pedals), short journeys (from cold, in particular), slow journeys around yown (particularly stop/start ones), temperatures (Scotland more than south coast in England). Even type of tyre and fuel will affect mpg. The auto can be worse than manual and how the cruise control (if used) reacts when setting/resetting - I could easily beat the cruise control on my auto by driving it in manual mode).

Running costs are not just limited to fuel economy. Servicing, maintenance, car tax, insurance, etc all add up. But it is bound to be depreciating faster than the other one was, after eight years of ownership….

 

[Migmac]

I’ll cheer you up, my Ranger only does 19mpg.

 

[minimutly]

My wife’s 1.8 turbo does 28 locally, just a fraction more than my 3l V6 jaguar. None of the clatter, adding pigspiss, black oil, failed injectors, blocked dpfs, give me petrol any day....
Diesel is fine in tractors, lorries and big vans

 

[fizzy]

As mentioned in another thread, I’ve swapped the Disco 4 for a 2018 Volvo V40 T3 petrol, 34,000 miles.

It’s getting the same usage, and is also an automatic, but is only doing 31.6 mpg. We got nearly that in the 3 tonne, 3L Disco. This car is half the weight and has half the engine, and is eight years newer. It’s almost bad enough to consider rejecting the car, since making the swap was mainly to reduce running costs.

I’ve checked brake discs with the infrared thermometer after a run, and they’re all under 30*C. Will check tyre pressures. Other than looking at fuel trims/MAF/MAP etc, is this to be expected from a modern car?

Diesel are far better in thr real World.
Police around here have switched to hybrid volvo estates. They can't do a full shift on a tank. Getting about 16 to 18mpg. Their diesels did 34mpg.
I had loads of insignias on lease. Diesel manual with my very heavy right foot got 38mpg. Auto diesel 35mpg. 2l petrol 22mpg. I do drive very hard but even so!
Ford Ranger 2L biturbo auto is doing 28.4mpg. Sprinter van gave me 32mpg.
Worst was a Mates Vauxhall Mocca 1.5 petrol turbo auto. I got 16mpg in that. My Jag 5L V8 535bhp managed 18

 

[500e]

Same as you @fizzy my 2lr Yettie 4wheel driveD 40 + driven hard and only a mile or two pussyfoting

 

[dan treg]

i have a v40 1.5t3 petrol get about 34mpg mainly short journeys as use the van mainly

 

[Ubique]

That's about right for the model/engine in urban traffic - you also need to drive it like a petrol, not a diesel - higher revs are not a bad thing with a petrol, also use the throttle more granularly than you would a diesel. The quality of fuel will also make a minor difference but add-up over the month. different (diesel) vehicle, but I get ~36mpg on a run (just done 380 miles over a couple of days fully loaded) but ~17mpg on the weekday commute, same driving style, no traffic light drag races.

 

[premmington]

My wife’s 1.8 turbo does 28 locally, just a fraction more than my 3l V6 jaguar. None of the clatter, adding pigspiss, black oil, failed injectors, blocked dpfs, give me petrol any day....
Diesel is fine in tractors, lorries and big vans

Diesel is for tractors and lorries... for sure mate!

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Just gave away my xc70 2.5t...it was also an auto. If I drove it at 65 on the motorway...and with a good tail wind I'd manage 30mph but only with the roof bars removed.

...it was an all round cracking car though and I'd buy another if I could find one!

 

[reb78]

As above. I dont think i would expect too much different to what you are getting. Petrol will generally be lower and I always think smaller is not always better in engine terms it may work harder to pull the thing its in.

 

[striker]

My MAF sensor packed in on my little petrol Audi, mpg went from 50 to 30. Also check for dirty air filter and low tyre pressures. In the case of the maf sensor the engine management light came on.

 

[tom 748]

and the egr

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Have a look on honest John real mpg...seems to suggest around 34?

Volvo autos tend to suffer driving round town. Still worth checking the usual suspects mentioned above...I did the same ..cleaned maf, plugs, filter, tyres...no difference for me but definitely worth checking.

On the 2.5t I could test the egr (pcv) by sticking a rubber glove over the oil filler....dunno if yours is the same.

 

[GRW]

It's illuminating that modernish cars like this aren't better on juice.
I'm averaging 36mpg overall in my '99 Octavia 1.6 petrol (& that's shortish trips on hilly back lanes with only the occasional dual carriageway run, though I do drive economically). I reckon 40mpg is within reach on a m-way run.
(It was the same with vans. On a run my hitop LDV with an ancient 2.5di in it topped 34mpg on a long steady m-way run.... something the work low-roof Transit 2.2L couldn't match, averaging 30mpg. It was admittedly much better to drive tho).