Road Tests: DAF XF95.530

With little more than a month to go before Daf unveils its all-new XF95 (called the 105, by the way) it might seem daft to roadtest the outgoing model, but stick with us – there’s method in our madness. Sure, as we report in the news this week, the soon-to-arrive new kid on the block has a tricked up interior and facelifted exterior, not to mention the latest Euro-4 13-litre MX lump under the hood. And yes, in theory, you can order one straight from the launch in October. But don’t expect right-hand-drive 6x2s to appear in any numbers much before the second quarter of 2006. In fact, Daf trucks insists it will continue “actively selling the [old] XF95 for another 12 months – or at least up to next September [2006]” when the Euro-4 deadline takes effect.

When it comes to fuel economy we think Daf has a real problem on its hands. How on earth can the new MX-powered model possibly beat the XF95.530 FTG’s astonishing 8.14mpg, even with the promise of better fuel from SCR? For stat freaks this is the first 44-tonner to break the 8mpg barrier around CM’s revised Scottish test route, while on those sections common to both old and new routes the Daf sees off its comparison-group rivals, whether at 44, 41 or even 40 tonnes. Given that result it would be unjust to not add a few caveats…so here they are. First, with the demise of Crane Fruehauf, we’re sourcing our test trailers from SDC and Hill Hire so we were forced to run with Daf’s own box-bodied test trailer instead of our usual curtainsider. That inevitably had a positive effect (judging by previous trials we’d say around 1-2%). Second, the weather (light breezes and temperatures on the second day climbing to over 25oC) was perfect for good fuel results. However, that still doesn’t alter the fact that the XF95.530 clearly dislikes the taste of diesel, despite having 530 horses in harness.# Payload-wise it’s not the lightest ‘big cab’ six wheeler around, but neither is it the heaviest. It just shades the Stralis and definitely beats the Actros 2546 we tested back in 2003. The XF95.530’s average speed and acceleration figures are good too, and that’s without unduly hammering it – had we done so we doubt if we’d have achieved the fuel return we did. So all those owner-drivers who reckon that their 530 is thirstier than their old 480…wake up, smell the coffee and raise your right foot.

When it comes to fuel economy we think Daf has a real problem on its hands. How on earth can the new MX-powered model possibly beat the XF95.530 FTG’s astonishing 8.14mpg, even with the promise of better fuel from SCR? For stat freaks this is the first 44-tonner to break the 8mpg barrier around CM’s revised Scottish test route, while on those sections common to both old and new routes the Daf sees off its comparison-group rivals, whether at 44, 41 or even 40 tonnes. Given that result it would be unjust to not add a few caveats…so here they are. First, with the demise of Crane Fruehauf, we’re sourcing our test trailers from SDC and Hill Hire so we were forced to run with Daf’s own box-bodied test trailer instead of our usual curtainsider. That inevitably had a positive effect (judging by previous trials we’d say around 1-2%). Second, the weather (light breezes and temperatures on the second day climbing to over 25oC) was perfect for good fuel results. However, that still doesn’t alter the fact that the XF95.530 clearly dislikes the taste of diesel, despite having 530 horses in harness.# Payload-wise it’s not the lightest ‘big cab’ six wheeler around, but neither is it the heaviest. It just shades the Stralis and definitely beats the Actros 2546 we tested back in 2003. The XF95.530’s average speed and acceleration figures are good too, and that’s without unduly hammering it – had we done so we doubt if we’d have achieved the fuel return we did. So all those owner-drivers who reckon that their 530 is thirstier than their old 480…wake up, smell the coffee and raise your right foot.