Nowadays, people often look back nostalgically at the year 2016; the last year before AI took its big leap with all its pros and – in this context – cons. Also in 2016: the introductions of the new Volvo V90 and the BMW 5-series of the same type, whose Touring (internal: G31) arrived a year after the sedan (G30). EVs were making a cautious advance, but these kinds of big boys were still available with a range of internal combustion engines. And because many drivers still often prefer diesels over EVs, this week we’re featuring three of these workhorses.
Alright, we have a 5-series Touring and a V90. Their biggest competitors were the Audi A6 Avant and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate. Since the E-Class has already appeared in this column frequently, we’ll leave it aside. For 20 grand, almost nothing new is for sale anymore, but as a used car…
Volvo V90 D3 Inscription auto. – 2019 – 194,882 kilometers – € 18,950
Complaints about high used car prices are frequent – and justified. Since diesel has been banned and its future is at stake (think of environmental zones), self-igniters have escaped that ‘inflation’. For less than €19,000, we find this robust Volvo V90, which, as a D3 Inscription, had a – bare – price tag of over €64,000 less than seven years ago. The K-083-RS came to our country in 2021 and has had two owners since. The odometer reading of less than two hundred thousand is – especially for a Volvo – peanuts. Unfortunately, no word on warranty.
This generation of V90 only features two-liter four-cylinder engines. The D3 in question is equipped with two turbos (emission class: Euro 6), but the power output is limited to 150 hp. Its performance in combination with the eight-speed sequential automatic transmission is not groundbreaking; the fuel consumption, together with the 55-liter tank, provides a range of 1,100 kilometers. You cover that distance with a high degree of comfort, space, luxury, and safety, although the traditional strong point of Volvo station wagons – the cargo space – scores slightly less high. Certainly, with a maximum of 1,526 liters, you won’t fall short, but it’s significantly less than an E-Class Estate. In the cabin, built from beautiful materials, we find fantastic furniture and a more or less minimalist dashboard incorporating a large and fast-operating touchscreen. As an Inscription, you lack little: leather upholstery, seat heating, electrically adjustable front seats with memory, navigation system, LED lighting, electric tailgate, DAB audio, and a whole host of safety features. All in all, an ideal four-wheeler for long (holiday) trips. It comes with a suspension that doesn’t tire you out. And indeed, you see the hood sway over the asphalt, but you barely notice imperfections gliding under the wheels. A grand touring car, but… a diesel. Who dares?
BMW 520D Touring Corporate Executive auto. – 2019 – 170,160 kilometers – € 19,999
If a V90 is a bit too soft for you, BMW offers a more dynamic alternative with the 5-series Touring, without, incidentally, losing sight of the comfort aspect. At a BMW specialist, we find this BMW 5-Series in a beautiful brown/grey metallic. Like the V90, the H-130-XX was imported (in 2020) – apparently, there was still a market for it then – and has also served two owners since. The mileage is somewhat lower than that of the Volvo, so the asking price is higher. Fun fact: this Fünfer costs €65,000 new… Bovag warranty is not included in the asking price. That costs an extra €795, but at least that option is offered here (always do it with such a complex car). A leather interior is also possible (as the German car lacks it) for an additional €1,500. This implies that this used car is somewhat less lavishly equipped than the V90. That’s true, but the high-quality interior certainly doesn’t come across as shabby, partly due to its high-tech appearance.
Here too, you have ample living space both front and rear, and the luggage compartment is larger than that of the Swede. The ‘5’s chassis is more comfortably tuned than that of the previous generation, but the car is by no means soft. When needed, it responds immediately, and the chassis proves to have ample reserves. Thanks to its weight loss program (this generation weighs an average of 100 kg less than its predecessor due to the extensive use of aluminum. Yet it is heavier than the Volvo), the 520d makes a light-footed impression, full of vitality and enthusiasm. The 190 hp diesel in combination with the ZF eight-speed automatic transmission fits perfectly. The drivetrain brings the 520d up to speed quickly and without disturbing shocks. The great thing is: this diesel is not only faster than the V90’s but also more economical. The 66-liter tank provides a maximum range of almost 1,500 kilometers.
Audi A6 Avant 2.0TDI Ultra 150 hp Premium Edition aut. – 2017 – 160,273 kilometers – € 18,900
The oldest used car in this week’s search has the least mileage and (therefore) the mildest price tag. And yes, this Audi A6 Avant Diesel is also an import. The P-360-LR only entered our country in 2022, precisely when the energy transition from diesel to petrol-hybrid and electricity was in full swing. Consequence: this used car is still waiting for its first Dutch owner! This also means that its MOT has expired for over 2.5 years. A fresh inspection report is included in the asking price, but you have to pay extra for a warranty. Always do it, as repairs at Audi can get quite out of hand financially.
Here too, a turbocharged two-liter engine is at work under the hood. It’s the notorious ‘defeat device’ diesel, even though the engine itself can’t do anything about it. It does its job neatly and without complaint, aided by a seven-speed DSG automatic transmission (here called ‘S-Tronic’). Its 150 hp provides Volvo-like performance with BMW-like economy, with the 73-liter tank ensuring a range of over 1,650 kilometers. On the road, this front-wheel-drive car also sits between the others: not ultimate comfort like the V90, less dynamic than the 520d. The interior is built from high-quality materials, is traditional in design, and looks as if it’s built for eternity (although the leather on the driver’s seat is less taut than on the passenger seat). In the front, you have plenty of space; in the back, long-legged people will quickly bump their knees against the front seats. In the very back, you won’t be short of anything, and the – present, detachable – tow bar is rated for 1,800 kg braked.
In addition to the already quite complete equipment of this Premium Edition, the first owner ticked various pleasant options. We already mentioned the leather upholstery and the detachable tow bar, but also xenon lighting, premium audio, an electric tailgate, memory function for the electrically adjustable exterior mirrors, and heated front seats are present, among others. And a timeless appearance.
Three spacious, diesel-powered station wagons. Who dares?
It’s been quite a while since we focused on diesels in this column, but let’s be honest: under the hoods of these spacious touring cars, such quietly humming and torquey self-igniters are not out of place. The V90 is primarily comfortable, the 520d has a nicely dynamic side, while the A6 sits neatly in between. The V90 is the most generously equipped, the 520d the least, but it seems to be the only one that can be provided with a Bovag warranty. That’s highly recommended, because as big as these E-segmenters are, so big are their bites out of the household budget. Which one should it be?