Volvo XC90 hands-on experience – AutoWeek

The most exciting move for the brand must have been bidding farewell to the iconic five-cylinder. The petrol and diesel engines have been replaced by the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine. Depending on the version, it had (to a greater extent) more or less power, but the most interesting was the plug-in hybrid with a system power of no less than 407 hp. This version has become very popular, thanks to the business tax advantage.

Interior comfort, space and seating

Volvo has also made a big step into comfort and trim options. One contestant describes what his setup looks like. “A beautiful, luxurious interior with a great Bowers & Wilkins sound system, and compared to the 'standard' Inscription equipment, there's also a Scandinavian Line package, a Winter Line package, air suspension, a head-up display, memory seats, privacy glass, 21-inch wheels and running boards.” A version for which the first generation XC90 has no answer.

Another contestant also takes on the new picks. “I have been driving a Volvo for more than fourteen years and have been looking forward to the new Be a fan of minimalist, sometimes almost nihilistic, design choices. This isn't everyone's tastes, but it's definitely mine! “The timeless look and beautiful, cozy interior were very successful,” he concludes.

Is interior design, in addition to beauty, also somewhat practical? “In daily use, the car fully meets our needs!” A third XC90 driver wrote enthusiastically. “Take your kids and your dog with you, and you still have enough space to take your stuff with you (read: all your household items). He went out twice with seven people. If the distance is not too great, this can be done with adults.

Previously, it always applied: who says Volvo, says Chairs. We expected the same with the XC90, but few riders commented on the furniture. Those who do are positive. “The seats are so comfortable it would be strange not to be able to find a comfortable seating position,” the driver writes of his luxury XC90 Inscription. “The seats are widely adjustable and provide plenty of comfort,” writes another Inscription driver, who adds, “Ventilation is a nice thing in the summer.”

How does the XC90 drive?

You've already seen it under the previous headline: For the first time, the XC90 is available with air suspension. It seems that quite a few drivers have chosen this, including the following drivers. “The Volvo is equipped with air suspension, and this makes it a very fun travel car,” says a hybrid car driver from 2016. “Where I preferred to avoid steel panels in my previous Audi, this car cruises quietly over them,” he added. . It's certainly not a sports car, but otherwise the XC90 is neutral in handling.

What is “neutral”? “In terms of the driving experience, I can only say that it is very comfortable to drive, but despite the air suspension, you notice that you are driving a large, heavy car,” explains one diesel driver. “Obviously sporty driving is not for the car, but fortunately I'm a calm driver too.” Another D5 driver corroborates this. “With the air suspension in Comfort mode on winding secondary roads, you can sometimes feel like you're on a boat. In Dynamic mode it's better in corners.”

The driver of the 407 hp hybrid delves into the dynamics. He continued: “In terms of the steering behaviour, it obviously takes some getting used to. This is a 2,250kg SUV and it has a very comfortable suspension and light steering in hybrid mode. The great thing is that you can also put it in power mode, where the car becomes… Low and it steers more directly and heavier. The upshot of all this? “The fact remains, of course, that you don't drive around roundabouts as tight and fast as with a 5 Series, but you know that with a car like this.”

Engines and propulsion system

We've already said that Volvo has made tough choices in propulsion. It's a choice that, as it turns out, doesn't come together. We start with D5 diesel drivers. The first driver begins by evaluating the eight-speed automatic transmission. “Volvo hasn't done a good job of changing gears. When driving too far there is a delay in the car's response. So escaping somewhere, for example, is not possible and gives the feeling that you are asking too much of the mass. About the diesel itself: “The four-block Very noisy cylinders for this class of car. It looks like an old Ford Transit, which is a shame.” Opinion shared by another D5 driver. “Performance is more than adequate. I've noticed that the four-cylinder diesel engine makes a lot of noise when accelerating and under heavy loads.

And then the T8 hybrid car, which can be driven entirely electric if desired. This option is fully used by the owners. “The range in terms of electric driving is enough to get to the office in our case,” wrote an XC90 T8 driver. What range should we consider? “30 kilometers can be done at a constant speed and 22 kilometers through city traffic.” If there is no charge, the image will look different. “The commute is about 30 kilometers one way (highway and internal road) and consumption without charging is still 1 in 10 after three weeks,” says one driver while waiting for his charging facility. “Due to the move and the Christmas period, there are no charging stations installed yet at my home address or office, but I reckon 1 in 10 without charging the car is more than decent with this weight of over 2100kg!”

Another driver thinks “elegance” is something else, but is pleased with the drivetrain's capabilities. “With 407 horsepower and plenty of torque, the performance of this big car is of course fantastic. Especially in 'Power' mode, it pulls well and you can reach 130 km/h in no time. It reaches 180 km/h, but it loses after “That's some of the spirit of it. At least, the final stretch to top speed isn't very fast.” As far as he's concerned, driving at top speed isn't recommended anyway. “Consumption with the small 50/55 liter tank is one thing. During the week I commute to work on the battery (range 27-35 km, depending on the weather), but it is difficult to achieve 1 in 10 when using petrol. Practice is 1 in 8 on the highway (140 km/h) and 1 in 6 in the city and with a cold engine. On the German autobahn, the car barely reaches 1/7 and you have to refuel every 350 km. The modest fuel tank is an inconvenience for many drivers, including Including drivers of the diesel XC90.

Maintenance, malfunctions and irritations

When it comes to reliability, Volvo has a reputation to uphold. After all, enthusiasts claim that a Volvo with 300,000 kilometers on the clock was “just smashed.” Or was that 400,000 kilometers away? However, the second generation XC90 doesn't seem to do justice to this image. Many owners have reported problems with their SUVs. “Sometimes it just won't start,” the driver wrote in one early example. All the electronics seem to be working, but he won't crank it. So the “PRNDB” on the screen remains absent. the solution? “There are two options: a roadside assistance technician does the job or you do it yourself. Our mechanic had already encountered four T8s with the problem in the past week, so they were all affected by it. Fortunately, the problems get resolved over time,” he added. The positive points in my previous report still stand, and some negative points have been resolved. In particular, crashes no longer occur after two software updates,” this rider later adds to his story.

Other plug-in drivers are also reporting problems. “It's not a pure car in terms of quality,” says an enthusiastic owner. “Definitely for the first 10,000 kilometres, I was at the dealer at least once a month with all sorts of (minor) faults, all of which were resolved properly.” This driver expresses concerns about the build quality: “On the outside, the plastic parts (sheet metal) are coming apart and it's a shame the driver's seat is wrinkled. However, the use of materials in the car is excellent, the car is squeak-free and the doors, levers and buttons feel solid and solid. Complains More From drivers of the quality of the seat upholstery. “The leather is wrinkled, discolored and needs to be replaced,” we read, as well as: “Mileage 100,000 and in the meantime the leather on the front seats has been replaced.”

Defective turbo

We are almost accustomed to the fact that an advanced hybrid can cause some technical problems with startup. This is why it is more noticeable that D5 diesel drivers are also reporting problems. The next driver had to deal with it after 132,000 kilometres, after the car was purchased for 89,000 kilometres. “March 2022, loss of power while driving. Just a new turbo for low revs, because high revs were still good. Costs: 2000 euros. Everything was neatly arranged in the garage. There will also be a surprise at 173,000 km. “Now, 2023, MOT, and here our wonderful government approaches again: measuring soot, yes sir, a lot of emissions. Costs: 1,700 euros. This is of course in addition to the regular maintenance of 1,000 euros.

Another driver bought the car with 124,000 km on it and faced a similar problem shortly after that. “Suddenly the car became weak, so it had to go to the garage. What turned out was that the turbo was broken. We don't know what caused that.” Good news: “The turbo was replaced strictly under warranty and for many problem-free kilometers. We hope it stays that way.” This driver has not reported the matter since then, so we hope for his sake that the car is now problem-free.

With the new XC90, Volvo has clearly taken a new path. This seems to have worked, in part, because feeling luxurious is a good thing. Practicality has not been overlooked, as the car is quite versatile. However, there are also complaints. According to drivers, the diesel engine makes a lot of noise and does not match the comfort experience. It also appears that turbines could fail prematurely. The plug-in hybrid model pleases owners more, although it fails to hide its heavy weight. In both cases the fuel tank could be larger. This is a problem that will be solved with the XC90's successor: after all, the Volvo EX90 has always been fully electric.