Volvo XC60 Tuning

"Thank you for reading my XC60 tuning tips"

We review XC60 tuning and summarise the best mods that offer good returns when tuned and with carefully picked parts you can definitely maximise your driving enjoyment.

A very practical and well designed SUV the XC60 has wide appeal and is versatile enough to fulfil all your car needs.

The XC60 is popular among our members for tuning projects With the right mods your XC60 can be transformed into an awesome motor. Don't waste money, do your homework and follow our unbiased guides to each performance upgrade to avoid wasting money.

Handling/Suspension upgrades

Handling modifications are high on most peoples lists for the XC60, the ride is somewhat soft, certainly not as sharp and crisp as the Volvo brochure would have us believe.

The air suspension is quite complicated so unless you particularly like the soft ride it offers, stick with the conventional setup and uprate it with coilovers.

Good suspension tweaks that dramatically benefit handling for the XC60 include a couple of degrees negative camber and 1-1.5 degrees of toe in or out on the front wheels. Toe in for stability, or Toe out to improve cornering. It would also pay to improve the brakes, by adding larger discs and or higher friction pads..

We suggest that you fit uprated suspension and lower the car by 30mm - 45 mm. Larger drops require arch work - especially on models already equipped with motorsport suspension.

Turning our attention to the engine we need to get a bit more power out of the top end.

To be completely frank and honest, on the more modest engine sizes you are wasting your time spending money on modifications, so if this applies to you get yourself an engine swap then apply the following mods.

Tuning modifications.

A wide selection of engines have been offered on the XC60 over the years in a number of different power bands, and states of tune.

• 2009–2010 B6304T2 285 PS (210 kW; 281 hp) @5600 400 Nm (295 lbft) @1500–4800 2,953 cc (180.2 in3)
• 2010–2010 B6324S[20] 238 PS (175 kW; 235 hp) @6200 320 Nm (236 lbft) @3200 3,192 cc (194.8 in3)
• 2010–2011 B4204T6 203 PS (149 kW; 200 hp) @6000 300 Nm (221 lbft) @1750–4000 1,999 cc (122.0 in3)
• 2011–2014 B6324S5 243 PS (179 kW; 240 hp) 320 Nm (236 lbft) @3200 3,192 cc (194.8 in3)
• 2011–2015 B6304T4[23] 304 PS (224 kW; 300 hp) @5600 440 Nm (325 lbft) @2100–4200 2,953 cc (180.2 in3)
• 2011–2016 B6304T4[24] 329 PS (242 kW; 324 hp)[25] @5600 487 Nm (359 lbft) @2100–4200 2,953 cc (180.2 in3)
• 2012–2013 B4204T7 240 PS (177 kW; 237 hp) @5500 320 Nm (236 lbft) @1800–5000 1,999 cc (122.0 in3)
• 2012–2015 D4162T 115 PS (85 kW; 113 hp) 270 Nm (199 lbft) @1750–2500 1,560 cc (95.2 in3)
• 2012–2015 D5204T4  177 PS (130 kW; 175 hp) 400 Nm (295 lbft) @1750–2750 1,984 cc (121.1 in3)
• 2012–2015 D5204T6  150 PS (110 kW; 148 hp) 350 Nm (258 lbft) @1500–2750 1,984 cc (121.1 in3)
• 2014–2017 B4204T11 245 PS (180 kW; 242 hp) @5500 350 Nm (258 lbft) @1500–4800 1,969 cc (120.2 in3)
• 2014–2017 B4204T9 306 PS (225 kW; 302 hp) @5700 400 Nm (295 lbft) @2100–4500 1,969 cc (120.2 in3)
• 2015–2016 B5254T12 254 PS (187 kW; 251 hp) @5500 360 Nm (266 lbft) @1800–4200 2,497 cc (152.4 in3)
• 2015–2019 D4204T14  192 PS (141 kW; 189 hp) 400 Nm (295 lbft) @1750–2500 1,969 cc (120.2 in3)
• 2015–2019 D4204T8  121 PS (89 kW; 119 hp) 280 Nm (207 lbft) @1500–2250 1,969 cc (120.2 in3)
• 2015–2019 D4204T9  152 PS (112 kW; 150 hp) 320 Nm (236 lbft) @1750–3000 1,969 cc (120.2 in3)

Diesel Engines

• 2009 D5244T4 185 PS (136 kW; 182 hp) @4000 400 Nm (295 lbft) @2000–2750 2,400 cc (146.5 in3)
• 2009 D5244T5 163 PS (120 kW; 161 hp) @4000 340 Nm (251 lbft) @1750–2750 2,400 cc (146.5 in3)
• 2010–2010 D5244T14 175 PS (129 kW; 173 hp) @3000–4000 420 Nm (310 lbft) @1500–2750 2,400 cc (146.5 in3)
• 2010–2011 D5244T10 205 PS (151 kW; 202 hp) @4000 420 Nm (310 lbft) @1500–3250 2,400 cc (146.5 in3)
• 2010–2011 D5244T16 163 PS (120 kW; 161 hp) @4000 420 Nm (310 lbft) @1750–3000 2,400 cc (146.5 in3)
• 2011–2011 D5204T2[23] 163 PS (120 kW; 161 hp) @3000 400 Nm (295 lbft) @1400–2850 1,984 cc (121.1 in3)
• 2012–2015 D5204T3 163 PS (120 kW; 161 hp) @3500 400 Nm (295 lbft) @1500–2760 1,984 cc (121.1 in3)
• 2012–2015 D5204T7 136 PS (100 kW; 134 hp) @3500 350 Nm (258 lbft) @1500–2250 1,984 cc (121.1 in3)
• 2012–2015 D5244T11 215 PS (158 kW; 212 hp) @4000 420 Nm (310 lbft) @1500–3250 2,400 cc (146.5 in3)
• 2012–2015 D5244T15 215 PS (158 kW; 212 hp) @4000 440 Nm (325 lbft) @1500–3000 2,400 cc (146.5 in3)
• 2012–2017 D5244T17 163 PS (120 kW; 161 hp) @4000 420 Nm (310 lbft) @1500–3250 2,400 cc (146.5 in3)
• 2014–2014 D5244T12 181 PS (133 kW; 179 hp) @4000 420 Nm (310 lbft) @1500–2500 2,400 cc (146.5 in3)
• 2014–2015 D4204T5 181 PS (133 kW; 179 hp) @4250 400 Nm (295 lbft) @1740–3250 1,969 cc (120.2 in3)
• 2014–2017 D4204T14 190 PS (140 kW; 187 hp) @4250 400 Nm (295 lbft) @1740–3250 1,969 cc (120.2 in3)
• 2016–2017 D4204T4 150 PS (110 kW; 148 hp) @4250 350 Nm (258 lbft) @1500–2520 1,969 cc (120.2 in3)
• 2016–2017 D5244T20 220 PS (162 kW; 217 hp) @4000 440 Nm (325 lbft) @1500–3000 2,400 cc (146.5 in3)
• 2016–2017 D5244T21 190 PS (140 kW; 187 hp) @4000 420 Nm (310 lbft) @1500–3000 (manual)
• 2016–2017 D5244T21 190 PS440 Nm (325 lbft) @1500–2760 (automatic) 2,400 cc (146.5 in3)
• 2016–2017 D5244T22 220 PS (162 kW; 217 hp) @4000 420 Nm (310 lbft) @1500–3480 2,400 cc (146.5 in3)

In  2019 Volvo XC60 offered 3 engine options:  T5, T6, and T8. They share a 2.0L displacement, T6 = supercharged & the T8 = supercharged plug-in hybrid.

The following modified upgrades are usually fitted by our members, decide how far you wish to go in your tuning project before you begin.

Getting the best tuning upgrades for your planned usage of the car is vital. Stage 3 competition upgrades just don't work well on the road and will make the car undrivable.

Please watch our video which covers the 5 principles of tuning your car. Be sure to keep up with our latest YouTube content and subscribe.

Best Engine Mods for your car

1. Engine Tunes - engine tuning/remapping provides the most advantage in terms of cost savings,  aftermarket ECUs, and piggyback ECUs are all alternatives.
2. Fast road cams are one of the most significant mechanical changes, but they must be installed by someone who knows what they're doing and they are not always easy to source but you might find a local firm to regrind a stock camshaft.
3. Intake and Exhaust - Note that on their own these mods will NOT ADD POWER in most cases, but they can help enhance power after other mods by removing the restriction.
4. Upgrades to turbochargers and superchargers - forced induction is the most efficient approach to increase air supply, allowing you to burn more fuel and make more power. It is one of the most costly upgrades but provides the best gains.
5. Head work - The goals of porting and flowing the head are to get air flowing into the engine while removing flow restrictions and turbulence.

Typical stage 1 mods often include: Sports exhaust, Alloy wheels, Panel air filter, Lighter flywheel, Suspension upgrade (drop 30-45mm), Remap.

Typical stage 2 mods often include: Power/Sport clutch, Fast road cam, high flow fuel injector, fuel pump upgrades, Ported and polished head.

Typical stage 3 mods often include: Competition cam, Sports gearbox, Engine balancing, Internal engine upgrades (pistons/head/valves), Adding or upgrading forced induction (turbo/supercharger).

You really need to keep as much low end power as possible and aim to get a wide power band rather than a narrow top end power spike.

In this article we shall give a limited introduction to the best modifications for your car, but we'd encourage you to spend some time on the site looking into the details of each type of performance mod.A fast road camshaft proves to be one of the best NASP power modifications you can do with a single part fitted to your engine.

The exhaust and intake flow play a large part in your cars power band, but be careful here, getting this wrong can upset the idle and make the car impossible to drive in traffic. You'd need to follow a camshaft upgrade with other mods and finish with a performance chip for the best performance gains.

Don't forget to pay attention to the fuelling when you are increasing the power - it makes the car more thirsty.

Using high octane fuel is another option if you find you are suffering from pinking or premature ignition on your Volvo project after fitting other modified kits. Improved injectors will enable you to supply sufficient fuel to the engine.

A fuel pump will only deliver a finite amount of fuel, so you may need to uprate this if your injectors are demanding more fuel.

Intake and Exhaust Tuning.

Breathing mods are usually next up. Contrary to popular belief there is generally very little if any power gain reached by fitting an induction kit, they only become beneficial and are recommended after you boos the engines power to the point where the standard air intake box cannot cope!

Maximum power gains come from a full induction kit with a cold air feed on heavily tuned engines, this can be sited within an air box but a panel filter should suffice for most applications. TorqueCars suggest you use a panel air filter as these are easy to clean and maintain and generally perform better than paper ones.

Do not go with the biggest exhaust you can find this will slow up the exhaust flow rate - the best exhausts for power gains are usually between 1.5 to 2.5 inches. It is the shape and material more than the bore size.

Head work including a gas flow (ported and polished) and 3 or 5 angle valve job will really help to release the potential of the engine. Your clutch can fail as you increase the power if it starts to break and the standard clutches are only ever good for power gains of up to 45%. Fit clutch to avoid power losses through the transmission.

The best mods we would do for your XC60 are remaps, sports camshafts and induction improvements.

Remaps offer impressive power gains on all turbo charged cars. On NA (naturally aspirated) engines the benefits are doubtful. However a flashed ecu on a NA (naturally aspirated) engine will help unleash the potential if you have done a lot of mods.

We've also seen some tuners toying with twincharging conversions and making some seriously high power gains.

Despite the large cost involved adding forced induction to a NA (naturally aspirated) engine will give large power gains. It is usually simpler to add a supercharger than it is to bolt on a turbo. Turbos provide boost in exponential proportion to increasing engine speed and this can make mapping difficult.

Superchargers however will give a boost which is proportional to engine speed so is simpler. To cope with forced induction you will usually need to decrease the engine compression ratio .

Alloy wheel upgrades.

The benefits of alloys include lowering your unsprung weight and more efficient brake cooling via the extra air flow they allow. Further improvements can be made to your cars handling with the addition of directional tread pattern tire. Please note that although they can look cool on the XC60 large alloy wheels will actually decrease your performance. The larger you go the lower your acceleration will be - this to the change in your effective final drive ratio.

Due to this aim to keep the overall rolling diameter of the wheel the recommended OEM sizes. In all cases avoid going over 17 inches unless you can live with the harsher ride, and tendency to tramline particularly on 18's.

If you would like to know more, or just get some friendly advice on Tuning your car please join us in our friendly forum where you can discuss XC60 options in more detail with our XC60 owners. It would also be worth reading our unbiased Volvo tuning articles to get a full grasp of the benefits and drawbacks of each modification.

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This article is flagged for an update, so please pass on specific tips below that I can include. All articles, and content was written by me, Waynne Smith TorqueCars founder. Some outlines are just too general so I appreciate your feedback and suggestions. This entry was filed under Volvo. You can leave a response below or join our forum to discuss this article and car modification in detail with our members.

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