New Volvo D5 Diesel Helps Balance Environment And Performance For Company Car Drivers

28 June 2011

• Refined and improved D5 engine has increased power and better fuel economy
• Environmental and performance considerations are no longer a compromise for the company car driver
• S80 an impressive 129g/km CO2 which equates to a corresponding Benefit-in-Kind (BIK) of as little as 18% yet performance is a mighty 215hp
• V70 D5 ES; V70 D5 SE; and V70 D5 SE LUX all fall into the 19% BIK category

Volvo's newly enhanced D5 range has tipped the scales rebalancing environmental and performance factors despite larger engine sizes.

Sometimes a higher performing and inevitably bigger engine is what's required from a company car which would usually compromise environmental concerns as well as attracting higher fuel costs and tax liability. Volvo's latest D5 diesel range, however, steers a path through these conflicting positions providing a number of models with impressive fuel economy and CO2 emissions.

The upgraded versions of the Volvo V70, XC70 and S80 are the first in the model range to feature sharpened versions of the five-cylinder D5 turbo-diesels which boost performance and torque from 205 hp/420 Nm to 215 hp/440 Nm while at the same time reducing fuel consumption by as much as eight percent.

"We have made these vehicles more enjoyable and as cost efficient as possible to drive," explains Selwyn Cooper Volvo UK's national sales manager. "With that comes lower CO2 which means company car drivers have a widened choice of vehicles powered by larger engines without the expected hike in the amount of tax they would have to pay."

Fuel consumption (EU Combined) of a Volvo S80 D5 is now an impressive 57.7 mpg (129 g/km of CO2) with manual gearbox and start/stop, placing it in the 18% BIK category. The corresponding figures for the automatic version are 44.1 mpg (159 g/km of CO2). The figures for a Volvo V70 are 55.4 mpg (134 g/km) with the manual gearbox and 45.6 mpg with the automatic (164g/km). Fuel consumption in the XC70 D5 AWD manual is 50 mpg (149 g/km) in the AWD version with manual gearbox and 41.5 mpg (179 g/km) with the automatic.

The Volvo V70, XC70 and S80 have been upgraded with a number of features including driveline, interior and exterior equipment including the latest user-friendly Volvo Sensus infotainment system, and are available to order now with on-the-road prices for D5 versions starting from £30,100 for the V70 D5 (215hp) ES Start/Stop; £31,135 for the S80 D5 (215hp) SE Start/Stop; and £32,765 for the XC70 D5 AWD (215 hp) ES Start/Stop.

New Volvo D5 engine range - Benefit in Kind details 2011/12

2008 saw the introduction of the DRIVe badge, a collective symbol for Volvo Cars' dedication to greener motoring. The symbol reflects the company's commitment to sustainable mobility and zero emissions and a promise of constant improvement. Volvo Car's vision is to develop cars that are entirely free from harmful exhaust emissions and environment-impacting carbon dioxide.

This vision is called "DRIVe Towards Zero" and steps are continuously taken to reach that vision. In 2009 alone, Volvo introduced seven high-efficiency diesel DRIVe models with very low CO2 emissions and the company's ambitious electrification strategy promises that plug-in hybrids will on the market in 2012. Its D5 range has been designed to offer company car drivers and fleet managers a wider choice whilst having as little impact as possible on the environment.