Blog | Newsletter
FREE Subscription

Volvo Penta V8 twin 380 6.2L EVC2 w/Joystick

Boat Reviews

Boat Review by: Rick Layzell

Photo Gallery

As a worldwide leader in the automotive, trucking, construction, bus and commercial marine categories, it comes as no surprise that for decades Volvo Penta has held a leadership position in the marine market. Innovation and a first-to-market commitment from their engineering teams have led Volvo Penta to delivering countless industry ‘firsts’ for recreational boaters.

Firsts like – sterndrive engine packages, Duo Prop offerings, joystick control systems, glass cockpit technology, and their well-respected Forward Drive. All these have been part of a global commitment to exceptional quality control around everything that bears the Volvo Penta brand.

Today’s test featured a pair of V8/6.2L engines with EVC 2 – Electronic Vessel Control – and a host of other consumer driven benefits all aimed at achieving the goal of easy boating. Our test boat was be the magnificent Regal 38 Grand Coupe, and with good weather on our sides we were looking forward to the many teachings that would come as we experienced this technology at our fingertips.

About that V8 – she’s a North American built engine from a little company that’s built a block or two – General Motors. The aluminum block is sent to the team at Volvo Penta to be prepped for marine use and an aluminum casting yields the lightest weight engine in her class. Volvo Penta then adds in technologies like Variable Valve Timing and Direct Fuel Injection, meaning not only do you benefit from lightweight but you also now benefit from incredible power and performance.

Catalytic converters come standard on the V8 6.2L package giving you clean emissions and a closed cooling system keeps your engines running at cooler temperatures. An Easy Drain feature on the engine means with the push of a knob you can extend your boating season. Easy Drain simply drains all the water from the manifolds and heat exchanger leaving you without fear of freeze up in early spring or late fall. Volvo Penta stands behind their product with a 5-year standard warranty that is backed and administered by their own factory personnel. It is also fully transferable without any administration fees.

Let’s depart the engine room and head up to the helm where we are welcomed with a pair of 16” screens on the dash. This is Glass Cockpit and this is where EVC comes together to simplify all aspects of vessel operations from engine to driveline to navigation, including diagnostics and performance. As an admitted ‘non-techy guy’ I quickly learned to love the simplicity of these touchscreens and the available intel they provide. Zoom is literally accomplished with a finger pinch, and the digital switchboard serves like a smart hub allowing control of even the light and audio systems.

With knowledge that the system will prioritize warnings and alarms you can move on to planning your next route with confidence using the smart guidance feature. Built in GPS provides 10x per second position and heading management, ensuring you have the tools you need to stay on course. And Glass Cockpit is easily customizable so you can adapt the information in front of you to your specific boating activities.

To your right lies Volvo Penta’s joystick control. It’s a game changer. Joystick control is integrated directly with the drive system – listen carefully and you might hear the 380 V8 talking to the joystick. Just kidding, this technology makes for simple stress-free maneuvering and that’s all that matters. You’ve also got joystick driving at your fingertips. Imagine the benefits of integration of shift, throttle and steering into one single joystick movement. This is easy boating at it’s finest. And there’s autopilot – a complete steering solution delivering accurate course keeping and smooth turns at all speeds – all designed to support the captain. Last but certainly not least is Dynamic Positioning System. This fingertip control feature on the joystick holds position regardless of wind or wake and you can continue to make slight adjustments as needed. Think about the confidence as you wait your turn to enter a lock, head toward the fuel dock, or as you dock in your assigned slip at a busy marina with loads of onlookers.

All this power and innovative technology still must deliver exceptional performance results, so we eagerly pushed away from shore and onto the calm waters of a late June afternoon on Lake Simcoe. With the Regal 38 Grand Coupe resting at 18,000 pounds and with 81% fuel capacity onboard, we were looking forward to putting those twin V8’s to work.

As we acknowledged open waters all around we took a moment to breathe in the silence. It was striking to all of us onboard how quietly 760 HP of Volvo Penta power operates at a range of RPM levels. Moving towards performance, she confidently lifted the Regal from dead stop zero to 30 MPH in under 12 seconds. Very impressive. Side note: she also incorporates a ‘silent shift’ feature meaning as she moves in and out of gear the old days of ‘clunking’ are no more (thank you Volvo Penta!).

We took time to run her out and she smoothly climbed her way to a maximum speed of 43 MPH at 6,000 RPM. I smiled inwardly as I imagined the shock on some captains faces as they watched us move a boat of this size with ease and in this speed range. Cruising speeds is what matters most to many captains, and we consistently found the Volvo Penta package held confident anywhere between 20 – 29 MPH with engines purring between 4,000 and 4,500 RPM. This is also where gallons per hour of fuel consumption were most reasonable ranging from 26 – 32 GPH.

The evolution of both sterndrive and helm technology over the last ten or so years is like nothing we have ever witnessed in recreational boating. Volvo Penta’s commitment to Easy Boating is a clear sign that their leadership position and passion for innovation and industry firsts are here to stay.