[stan]

While I won't be ordering my XC40 for another few months (when the lease on my wife's Jaguar expires), I've been checking them out at the nearest Volvo dealer. Today I test drove the XC40 for the first time. It was a Momentum T4. I really liked the comfort, handling and looks, but the T4 engine really sounded buzzy and didn't have the response that I'm used to with my VW TDI or with the Jaguar TDI. ****, I wish Volvo would import a good TDI here, but no such luck.

Anyway, the dealer just received a Momentum T5 but it hasn't been prepped yet and won't be ready to test drive until next week. Hopefully the T5 will meet my expectations because I certainly like everything else about the car.

Stan

 

[Aizen]

You're looking at a 60hp jump as you step to the T5, and 250 should be more than enough in a crossover of this size. Be sure to less us know what you're impressions are after getting some time behind the wheel.

 

[stan]

Ya, my guess is that 250 will be fine. My VW (with a Malone tune) in only 179 HP and the Jaguar is 180 hp and both have plenty of power, but it might be their torque that's so impressive. But the 248 ft tq should be fine on the T5.

 

[stan]

I've test driven the XC 40 T5 and was very impressed. It has plenty of power for every day driving and I believe will work fine as a tow vehicle. I tow an aluminum trailer with my ATV and the combined weight is 1,000 lbs. My VW TDI with 170 HP tows it well through the Sierra Nevada mountains and I believe that the XC 40 should work just fine. The acceleration with the T5 is good. I tested it on freeway on ramps and in passing from 60 MPH and both seemed very good. I had my choice narrowed down to the Mercedes GLC Coupe and the XC40 and the Volvo won out for the more comfortable seats and the better exterior color combinations. I'm sure that we'll be very pleased with our choice when we pick it up in Sweden in October.

 

[David1]

We just picked up a R-Line T5. I can not imagine having less than 250hp. This motor does loosen up around 600 miles and gets spunky but it needs another 20hp and better mapping of the wastegate. Most of my cars are all 300+ horsepower so this Volvo is just adequate to me but my wife likes it. Once your at 90mph its out of breath.

 

[stan]

David, do you know of anyone who's developed a tune for the T5? I'll check with Malone as I'm very pleased with the Malone tune that I have on my VW TDI.

 

[tiburonh]

Stan- Actually Volvo has done their own tune of the XC40 through their Polestar group (which is similar to Mercedes's AMG group). You can order it as an option on new car, or you can buy it from your dealer on an existing car. Here's a link to the list of changes it makes in the US edition of the 2020 XC40 T5:

https://engineered.polestar.com/us/product/optimisation/xc40-t5-drive-e-awd-automatic-2020-1

 

[stan]

tiburonh, a gain of 3 hp and 3 ft lb tq doesn't sound like enough of a difference to mess with. But thanks for mentioning it.

 

[David1]

The Polestar is a waste. There are a couple good tunes over in the UK for folks that race other cars with this motor. This car doesn't need anymore power in the midrange. It needs it higher up in the rev band. If the ECU would hold max boost past 5k rpm I would be happy. I car hear it reducing boost. Plus I want a tune that will make the trans less lurchy when just letting off the brake. Dynamic mode smooths out the tranny but then doesn't use the upper gears unless you manually shift it. The T5 has a soul, it just needs some fine tuning like the old R models back in the day.

 

[U4ic]

I test drove both T4 and T5 yesterday. I like both but have the dealer looking for a T5 with the specs i like. Honestly I cant see myself driving in the XC40 for a long haul but I think it shines in the city and every day driving.

Personally i would add an upper front sway bar before I go the tuning route.

Doesn't a chip tune void the warranty??

 

[stan]

Usually a tune does not void the warranty on a vehicle, unless the tune itself is the cause of the problem. But it depends on the manufacturer.

Your comment on adding an upper front sway bar is interesting. Does anyone make them?

 

[David1]

All tunes void the warranty for all manufactures (I have been down that road many times) unless it like polestar offered by the manufacturer. Manufacturer tunes are EPA and Carb certified. Most manufactures can detect if a tune was on the car and removed before service. This is usually not at the dealer level but the field techs can go deeper into the data especially when the cars info is downloaded to corporate. I have been playing the tune cat and mouse game for a long time now with piggybacks and flash tunes.

 

[U4ic]

All tunes void the warranty for all manufactures (I have been down that road many times) unless it like polestar offered by the manufacturer. Manufacturer tunes are EPA and Carb certified. Most manufactures can detect if a tune was on the car and removed before service. This is usually not at the dealer level but the field techs can go deeper into the data especially when the cars info is downloaded to corporate. I have been playing the tune cat and mouse game for a long time now with piggybacks and flash tunes.

So @David1 can you make any suggestions for a piggy back system?



Also I found this but i have no numbers on it as far as if its only a sound mod or there is actual HP gain as well?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=J1xMAy7vkIM

 

[U4ic]

Your comment on adding an upper front sway bar is interesting. Does anyone make them?

I don't know of any personally but a fast google search came up with this, but i'm ALMOST sure its a lower sway bar:

https://www.volvowholesalepartsdirect.com/a/Volvo__XC40/71856590__7468040/Anti-roll-bar-front/GR-439371.html

 

[stan]

David, I personally have never had a problem under warranty, so have no personal experience, however, I've read on chat forums where both VW and Mercedes have honored warranty items because the tune was not involved with the problem. I have had both VW and Mercedes (both TDI's) and added tunes when they were still under warranty, but never experienced any problems. I've since sold the Mercedes (replaced with a Jaguar XE TDI) and the VW has 130,000 miles with no problems.

 

[David1]

David, I personally have never had a problem under warranty, so have no personal experience, however, I've read on chat forums where both VW and Mercedes have honored warranty items because the tune was not involved with the problem. I have had both VW and Mercedes (both TDI's) and added tunes when they were still under warranty, but never experienced any problems. I've since sold the Mercedes (replaced with a Jaguar XE TDI) and the VW has 130,000 miles with no problems.

For routine stuff/issues they don't care until there is a big problem. On the Audi RS cars for example, the tune is detected during an oil change when they plug in for diagnostics and the car is immediately flagged. For GM, no drivetrain work can be done under warranty without a firmware scan screen shot of captured max parameters. You can bet if your Volvo needs a motor or trans they will look at the data.

 

[David1]

So @David1 can you make any suggestions for a piggy back system?



Also I found this but i have no numbers on it as far as if its only a sound mod or there is actual HP gain as well?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=J1xMAy7vkIM

I wouldn't do a piggyback on this car without knowing the ECU safety protocols and how and where Volvo hides the tamper codes.

 

[David1]

I don't know of any personally but a fast google search came up with this, but i'm ALMOST sure its a lower sway bar:

https://www.volvowholesalepartsdirect.com/a/Volvo__XC40/71856590__7468040/Anti-roll-bar-front/GR-439371.html

A sway bar won't do much for the XC40. It needs to be lowered some with much better shocks and struts. The shock valving is way to soft.

 

[Jezza]

I completely agree with what David1’s written on this one. Would just stress that the transmission is what, to me, prevents really spirited driving from being fun.. The car is designed for easy zipping around town, really not sporty driving. Sort of wish I’d been able to wait a bit for the new V60 or had test driven an X3... but then I would have gotten the x3 and I kind of wanted a Volvo this time ?

 

[David1]

So @David1 can you make any suggestions for a piggy back system?



Also I found this but i have no numbers on it as far as if its only a sound mod or there is actual HP gain as well?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=J1xMAy7vkIM

I am working on possibly getting a tune to test. Stay tuned.