Picked up in October 2022 our 2023 XC90 Recharge. In almost one year of ownership I average over 100 mpg. And have only filled my tank 6 times. This means I have spent less then $500 on gas all year. We are also a one car family. Hybrid is the way to go!
We own two xc90’s. One is the t8. Your review is appreciated. Our t8 is a 2016 model which we bought used. One feature that a commuter, who drives to an office with electric charging, can get is nearly 100 mpg in electric mode. However, you have an additional 300+ hp gas engine for long trips. It was one of the earliest cars to have blind spot detection and incredible hands off cruise control with lane assist. I didn’t know about the Toyota transmission. It has been very dependable without any problems. Very classy and timeless design.
My T8 hybrid XC60 gets 42-45 miles on a full charge. The estimated miles, according to the car display on a full tank is over 500 miles. That fluctuates, of course, as it is an estimate. if I stick to local driving during the day, I rarely go to the gas station. When I do, it is to top it off even though I don’t need to. I have not taken it on a long trip yet, but my guess is that I could go 450 miles before I had to fill the tank up. Regarding the Toyota transmission, Toyota has been in the hybrid game longer than anybody. They have worked out the kinks. Continuing to refer to this as a “old system” seems a little disingenuous as the system is pretty fault free, at least for the last two Volvos, I’ve owned. I have a 2024 and absolutely love it.
Love this guy. If you are a car person watching this is so much fun. Being Swedish we kind of think Volvo is normal and the rest is just kind of weird. Strange. Weirdly strange😂
what is this man talking about? Volvo small company? Auto division? Its a Geely car with Volvo badge. Its a masive company and has many divisions. Volvo trucks is not one of them if im not mistaken. That is a Chinese car. Depending where you are buying it you might get Chinese build one or Swedish build one for example.
Regarding the tires, it is justified as safety is their #1 focus. Wider tire patch improves braking and allows this 5000lb SUV to swerve around a moose at 70mph.
We just purchased our third SPA XC90 and this one is a Recharge. When I test drove it, I noticed the lag too. The last two were T6s and they were surprisingly responsive and fun with the Polestar tune. Agreed the third row is hard to access and our son used the hatch. New one is a 6-seater. The infotainment is overall better than the last but the speedometer is barebones still compared to the last QNX based infotainment. I hate the massive blinding screens on other luxury vehicles, but appreciate that the new infotainment in Volvo allows full screen carplay and apple maps in the speedometer. Excited for the ~60km of electric drive for the usual commute, and improved gas mileage for road trips.
Second row seats: pull UP on the handle that controls the seat back angle and the seat back will flip forward flat. That is the easiest way to get into the third row.
Hi. In 2019 I have purchased Volvo XC60 T8 inscription model. I am also owner of 2018 Lexus RX450h. Lexus it’s excellent SUV, reliable, comfortable…. But Volvo it’s all that but twice as good. Gonna wait couple years then I am gonna change my old Lexus for Volvo XC90 T8 new model. What a joy that it’s gonna be.
32:53 The reason for lack of power operated steering wheel is simple: safety. When driver is struck in the car, it is simplier to rescue him. So it is in fact safety feature regardless of car's price.
You just created an excuse for rip off called Volvo. It sounds for me like an obsolete piece of junk and not a car. I planned to get it, but ended with H Pilot because discussed reason. Pilot is way safer than Volvo these days and way more fun to drive.
@@yuriykorenyak2351 in fact even dacia is better build than honda when it comes to rust protection and is cheaper too. Look what cars are the most popular on Iceland
The Toyota Aisin transmission (TF-80c in my case) went out in my 2008 Volvo S80 at only 107k miles. Transmission was extremely well maintained, not sure what the deal is. I believe it out because of a bad car accident I was in with that car. I was rear ended quite hard last September, the car should have been totaled, there was frame damage. At 19, I will now suffer from life long nerve damage and pain and back problems. I love my car so much, and she saved my life. I put a $8000 transmission in my car worth $2800 from the Volvo dealership, and it came with a lifetime warranty at any Volvo dealership from the USA and as long as I never sell the car, which I won’t. I love my car a lot, and Volvos are extremely safe and well made. They are 10x better than some of the German luxury automakers. The Aisin TF-80c Toyota transmission used in my S80 is a very clunky transmission. Even the brand new one is clunky. That is just how they are. Although, my moms 2017 XC60 T5 shares the same transmission as this I believe, and it is much more refined. This is an improvised version of the TF-80c.
Great review! Surprised that you didn't talk about the $3200 optional 19 Speaker Bowers&Wilkins Sound System. It truly is one of the best systems out there in a vehicle.
I drive 2015 volvo vnl 760 semi truck sleeper cab, just wonderful ride, even when you hauling 40k lbs, rides like a luxury car, 12.8 l turbo diesel engine just butter smooth, and love the turbo vistle when going up hills, I enjoy ever second of driving my volvo semi, I don't know much about their cars, never owned one, but they did an amazing job by making semis
Glad to see you covering Volvo. We have several in our family and find that the 10 year extended warranty can smooth out a lot of concerns about reliability. You pay a high price, but you get a lot of engineering and robust materials for that price.
@@StephenOwenthat seems almost unbelievable... There's always deaths in car crashes... That's 21 years. I question how that stat was filtered down. It's nowhere near as common as say a ford explorer, but that's still a lot of miles with no deaths.
Bought xc40 T5AWD in 2018 when it came out. Been driving german glc63s for 2 years, but here I am, looking to sell merc to get myself xc90t8. Once a Volvo owner, always a Volvo owner.
I watch all your videos because you are a master of honesty and integrity! I own two wonderful Toyota hybrid vehicles that run and look just as they did when I drove them off the lot. If I ever require some serious repairs on either vehicle, I will definitely book an appointment with your shop since I live in the Chicago area. Congratulations for your first anniversary! If you become a public corporation, let me know because I will become a shareholder. Then we will both reap the benefits of your success. Bravo!
I have a 2024 S60 Recharge and I don't think the powertrain is clunky. Its fast and efficient. Most of the time I'm driving just to work and around town on all electric. The electric motor does a great job at powering the car with hardly ever needing to power up the engine. Currently, I'm really loving my car. Plus it's nice that you don't see them as often as you do a 3-Series.
I totally agree. Volvo has kept a closed door approach to its vehicle’s technical details. You’ll need to have a VIDA subscription to access information such as repair manuals, service bulletins and wiring diagrams. This practice though, is dependent on each individual country. I’m on my 7th Volvo and I can tell you Volvo is getting tighter and stricter about disseminating technical information. Thank you for the informative video!
Problem is half of stuff here is actually wrong. Every little "weird" thing he accounts for being Swedish is actually Asian and totally not Swedish. There is good reason for that. This is Chinese car. That being said its a nice car and i have to agree that those tires are too big and pretty much just for show because they impede the ride quality.
There is also a fuel driven heater which heats the engine, battery and the cabin. On the newest edition of the engine the mechanical compressor is removed and the integrated starter generator is stronger boosting the engine. Beeing in Norway I cana say that I cant relate to the system not working in the cold because its really good in the cold.
I remember when I had a used Volvo XC90 from 2004. I think that’s when Ford used to own them. Thing lasted for years even after a fender bender I had in it. It finally died last year. Glad to see a Volvo on the channel.
We love Volvo. We have 2 white Volvos. My mom and I. I have a 2008 S80 and she has a 2017 XC60. She was sold, the moment she saw my car. Quality, craftsmanship and safety should be your main focus when buying a Volvo. The cars are extremely safe, and Volvo invests majority of their funds on safety advancements, making it the safest automaker. My 2008 S80 saved my life during a rear end collision, not sure why, but the car was never totaled. It should have been there was frame damage. I am 19 with possible life long issues, but thankful for the car and the WHIPS seats. (Whiplash protection system). I love Volvos, I don’t think we will ever buy any other car.
@@yslee1401 That's wrong. Volvo is Swedish. Please don't call them Chinese. They are owned by a Chinese company but they are still a Swedish-based, Swedish engineered, and Swedish head-designed company. Geely stays in the background and provides support where Volvo picks what they'll use from Geely. In some ways, Geely is part Swedish as they're using some of Volvo's technology in other brands.
I drive the same XC90 2023 T8 and one thing I can say is that it is the best car (for my needs). There are not many luxurious plug-in 7-seaters around and this is probably the best. While most things are as said in the video, I would totally not agree with the statement that it is clumsy. It is NOT clumsy. When you press the pedal to the metal, it flies. Immediately. And is very, very fast. Nobody expects that a 7-seater could be able to outrun most BMWs, but it can. 4.7 secs 0-62 miles. Also, it has a very smooth ride handling and very luxurious feeling inside.
............ Hmmmmmmm/ there is a REASON why the XC90 has a BADDD Reliability & Re-Sale Plummeting in value loss 3ok in two years....THE ATE MADE IN USA!!! at a UNION Shop! In this case "South Carolina".............. Beware: where no one EVER gets fired for BADDD work after a hangover Soooo "OPP's I missed a spot or rivet or ANYTHING.... = Oh Well!........ LEXUS 450h+ "F" Sport is exclusively made in Glorious Japan.........No freaK'n UNION.....Conversely in Japan people LIVE for the company LEXUS and if a problem...WELL out come the Samori Sword!........Think of SONY similar Quality i.e. like “SONY no Baloney............NOW …simply “ ThiMk”....which has Much better build quality/ It's your money......There is a reason why LEXUS has the best DEPENDABILITY & Re-Sale....End of Story!
I have the XC 60, which is built on the same frame as the 90. Obviously it’s smaller and sportier and just feels great to drive. I’m not sure who needs their seven seater to go from 0 to 60 in 5.4 seconds.
I was looking for a PHEV SUV that has very high quality interior but is low key from the outside (with all the crimes in California). I also wanted the option of third row seats for short trips when friends and relatives visit, but don’t want a big SUV that’s too long for my pretty compact garage. To me this is the perfect car for those needs, and offers maximum flexibility with option to run on gas or electric only. One can easily feel the attention to details, and the fact that it uses Google map by default with dashboard display makes the transition even easier. I appreciate this review very much because the cons mentioned are actually pluses for me.
Waiting on hand and foot for the XC60 evaluation, seriously considering buying one and I would love to get you’re view on it, you reviews are brutally honest!!!
Thanks for doing this review, long time Volvo owner here. Two major things that I love is the feel of the cars similar to a tank and how simple the mechanical stuff is put together. My 98 S70 T5 still has all the original parts on the engine.
I always wanted one of of those. I drive a 2023 Mazda 3 turbo hatch and I love it to death. When I can I'm going to buy another car and fix it up. I love working on cars when it's not a daily driver, as time isn't an issue 😂
Mines a polestar t8, not sure what the standard one is like but the polestar responds well to the pedal and touch over 5s 0-60 is pretty phenomenal for this mobile fortress. Good mix of efficiency and performance if you ask me!
Plug in RECHARGE hybrid is $10,000 more than the non-plug XC90 in 295 hp version.....it will take 100,000 miles for the fuel savings to pay for itself. Unless you need that 455 horsepower, stick to the 295 version and save $10K
I've always owned German cars (Audi, BMW, Posche and VW) but my 2017 XC90 T6 was my first Volvo. I loved it, and in 2022 I bought the XC90 Recharge with the extended range battery and larger electric motor that is identical to the 2023 you describe. I absolutely love this car, even more than the old one. My vehicle is loaded, including the B&W sound system (shame on you for ignoring that as it is incredible) and I've added the Polestar upgrade. I do not experience any of the "lag" you describe in the video. Throttle response, especially in power mode is near instantaneous. And using the B mode while driving Hybrid virtually turns this into a "one pedal" driving experience, which should translate into exceptional brake life. And now with almost 12,000 miles on the car, I'm averaging 45 mpg with about half that mileage accumulated on long distance, multiple day trips where overnight charging was not available. Otherwise, I appreciate your well thought out description of the car. This may not be the car for everyone, but it is for me.
Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts with us. I'm a South African, but Volvo it's my favorite car company(I love Volvo cars). Indeed it's not for everyone cup of tea. My ex girlfriend owns V40 cross country T5(white). I love how it drives (good manners), quality and build to last. They're just good product.
I have a volvo xc60 t8. The response of the car is fast and I do not agree at all with your statement that it reacts too slow and is clunky. I do not experience a lag at all. Sorry.
This was nice! I learned a lot of things I didn’t know about the XC90. Keep reviewing the luxury cars and find their weaknesses and where the might be cutting corners.
@@faheemabbas3965o me reliability takes a back seat, to safely. There is no Japanese car that is as safe as a Volvo. The other thing is the beautiful design. I am sorry but Lexus and Toyotas are simply ugly. I am telling you this as a die hard Toyota owner going back to my 1974 Corona.
@@meenam300zxthat is correct 100%. But we are not talking about much difference here between a safety of this Volvo and a Toyota Highlander. 40 years ago it would probably be a much bigger difference between a safety of a Toyota and a Volvo but the gap is much smaller today.
Found this review because I'm looking at getting a V60 T8 Recharge polestar and this one has the same drivetrain. Really interesting having the system explained! I had no idea it was a bit of an older system, but sounds like no major issues with it so that's nice. Enjoyed the info and humour!
I truly enjoy this Mechanic's reviews and perspective on vehicles! He knows quality, and definitely has knowledge as an expert should!!! Very refreshing to watch and learn about what he and his staff does in the shop!!!
my biggest gripe with current volvo PHEVs, is volvo got rid of the drive mode wheel from earlier SPA cars. there is no dedicated touch point to change drive modes. which, on normal gas cars, I could understand the feature not getting much use, but it's quite a bit more valuable on the PHEVs. If I'm driving in pure (electric) mode and decide i want to kick on the gas motor, it'll take me 3 taps on the infotainment screen or a hard stomp on the throttle, which is dumb. I'm also not fond of the fact that volvo doesn't have android auto on android automotive cars. android automotive works [well enough], but it's obvs dependent on the car having a data connection. our dealership says they'll renew the data plan free of charge after the included 4 years runs out, if we but simply bring our car in for servicing yearly... and we'd be doing that anyways cause we warrantied this thing to kingdom come. but if, 8-10 years down the road, the cellular data standards of today start getting killed off, our car infotainments would be bricks, unless apple were so backwards as to still support a data port with which we could plug in for apple carplay. I don't care how good you think your infotainment is, the ability to use a phone, be it apple or android, should always be an option. Despite all that. I took delivery of a V60 recharge this year in canada, and there is nothing else in the tax bracket i'd rather drive. it's a wagon. it's a PHEV. u could put a roof rack on it and actually reach it without a step ladder. it's a perfect grand tourer/kayak/bike/ski hauler. there's nothing else like it in north america, except maybe a taycan cross turismo. and it bums me out that geely/volvo would rather put lithium into EX30s rather than V60/V90 PHEVs.
Agree with everything you said. Been a long time Volvo owner, still driving two Volvo's bought just before the Spa came out. XC70 witg Drive E engine, physical buttons, no sunroof, 25% discount from msrp. Have had extended test drives of Xc40, V60cc, XC60, XC90, V90cc ... just cannot justify buying Spa Volvos with at BMW money. The only thing I would buy if I really need to replace one of my Volvos would be V60 T8 if rebate is still available. So congrats on your V60!
@@MagicPickleball volvo REALLY doesn't seem to want to sell V60 T8s in canada. currently, volvo's website only lists the polestar trim, which is too expensive to qualify for the canadian (national) rebate. I preordered a 2023 allocation in april of 2022 for laughs, without knowing 2023 final pricing. I got my car over 12 months later, and it qualified for the EV rebate, but the dealership claimed it was also the only allocation they ended up getting...
I really liked your story about this car because first of all I noticed that it was very, very neutral, i.e. honest, and I really liked that and I thank you very much for this.
Heard a good way to change settings is to use audio commands “HEY GOOGLE”, especially while driving & not wanting to take eyes off road. Maybe this is way to put fan on Auto…
I had a 2018 Inscription with air suspension. From my experience, this car doesn't age well esp the suspension. When it reached 50K miles it started to feel very loose and the body control over bumps or turns deteriorated significantly, to the point I started to get car sick when driving it. And the reliability wasn't good either. It had 4 major repairs (air suspension, supercharger seal, o2 sensor, etc) over 50K miles. I sold it when it had about 56K miles, and I don't miss it one bit.
I was cursing at you at your comments about the right rear seat until I realized you were reviewing the XC90. I have an S90 and the right rear passenger can adjust the front seat for more room. I have a 2023 X90 B6 Ultimate Bright Theme.
So when visiting Ireland in Sept 2022, I rented a midsized SUV for 4 people roadtripping across the island for a week. They offered the XC90 Recharge as an option when I went to pick it up. We LOVED it for the trip but we never charged up except the last night. I will say the electric only mode in Dublin was amazing to have, especially when navigating tight corners and parking garages. That being said, when looking at buying an XC60 recharge back in the states, I was surprised that it only takes premium gas and the gas mileage was not as good as I expected. Volvo initial quality looks great but I worry about maintenance costs years later because I tend to drive our cars 100k miles over about 6 years before thinking about buying a new one. Reliability and maintenance are important factors and Volvo is a little shady on both fronts. The XC60 recharge starts at $57k, so that is also too much for my budget for a PHEV compact SUV.
The gas mileage is exactly the same (assuming same engine) in Ireland as in USA. But the Imperial gallon is about 25% larger than US gallon, so the numbers seem less impressive- but the actual gasoline used is the same.
AMD, The Volvo I want to see in your shop is the late Irv Gordon's 1966 P1800 with over 3 MILLION miles.🎉🎉🎉 Of course, any classic rear wheel drive 240 would be welcome as well. Volvo has never been the same under the ownership of Ford of Dearborn or Geely of Hangzhou.
We can reminisce over Volvos golden days all we want but at the end of the day, Volvo would not have survived if they didn't become a global autoplayer and that does mean certain things that enthusiasts might not like.
There is a Motor Trend video, where Irv Gordon's Daughters present their now R.I.P. Irv Gordon Volvo P1800 to a recognized old cars buyer, and, maybe they didn't tried enough selling it on purpose, but the Irv Gordon Volvo P1800 sits now at the Volvo Museum in Sweden. But, last time I visited the Volvo website, the Irv Gordon Volvo P1800 was not even mentioned, not even at the Volvo Museum Section of the Volvo website? Is like a hidden message, that makes you think: either, there is no way to have a current Volvo as simple and reliable as Irv Gordon Volvo P1800, because trying to pass or reach 250,000 miles would be too expensive and hard due to the complexity of modern engines, or Volvo does not want to encourage owners to imitate Irv Gordon.....I also can add more: This Irv Gordon Volvo P1800, was at the showroom of the main local Volvo dealer here in Puerto Rico years ago, before that dealer passed their Volvo exclusive Volvo dealer representation to other dealer, probably after Volvo bought this P1800 due to Irv Gordon Passing Away, and now all Volvo dealers have a similar look. I dont remember and can't find the information on the Internet, but I remember this was not promoted on tv, or the radio or the Internet: it was an exclusive at the Volvo Dealer Volvo P1800 presentation, I recognized the Volvo color as well as the model, I doubt it was a replica, maybe it was, and that is why it was not promoted? I even remember seeing the P1800 parked very close to the marine port, in a lot where new vehicles and others are placed; Is like sending a message that today's Volvos and cars in general, are not made, designed, or even give a real chance to the original owners to even try to imitate Irv Gordon: no matter, if Irv Gordon was alive today, I still remember what he used to say frequently: he didn't paid too much attention to the dealer when it comes to routine maintenance but was very strict with the 3,000 miles oil filter changes; under severe driving conditions and extreme driving conditions, is not a good idea to drive 5,000 miles before an oil filter change. Is an irony that because of excessive overpriced cars today since the Pandemic, most owners and people need to imitate Irv Gordon. With the problem, that most cars and vehicles, with the exemption of commercial vehicles, are not designed to last like Irv Gordon's Volvo. Today Toyotas have to re validate their recognized status of super reliable Toyotas with the owners saying that they are super reliable and not like the others, that at 8 years they believe is time to " think about buying a new vehicle ".
Love me some Volvo. Leave it to the swedes to not over engineer the mechanics. Although I'm sure some of the "oldness" is how quickly they plan on switching to electric. They've said they aren't putting money into updating their ice power trains for that reason. I personally love the wool blend seats. I think they feel much nicer than cheaper, more basic cloth interiors. They'll also wear much better than leather.
Yes, no point in developing a new engine, very expensive. They'll just use the one they have now and then replace em all with electric. Easy peazy, and cheap!
I have a 2011 XC90 and have had very few issues with it considering it has over 160K miles on it. I trust Volvo and will be getting an XC90 recharge soon :) thanks for this video
I'm in the market for one as well. I drive 2 hrs a day for work but not sure if the t8 recharge is my best option. However, it's such a beautiful car. I lease the t5 xc60 but it's too small and the T8 xc90 is what I want. I need to do more research.
When you said "Once a Volvo owner, always a Volvo owner", I could not agree more. I have a 2012 XC60 with a whopping 238,600 miles and it's still going strong. It is stylish, comfortable, fast as hell, and one of the safest cars ever made. It's also been extremely reliable to boot! So yes, though these things are complicated; they really don't break all that much. Like you said, not much plastic. They overbuild just about everything. And while every other manufacturer is skimping out on interiors and making them feel flimsy, Volvo is doing the opposite. T6 XC90s are a better value proposition. Easier to service, significantly cheaper, and available with everything that came with this car.
wrote: "It's also been extremely reliable to boot!" -- Yes, just open boot on any XC-60 and pip under interior skin... there you'll see how much thermal/sound insolation, enough to keep me warm asleep in rest area while cruising up and down New England coast in the winter. My P2 V-70 only 20 minutes, then frost bit makes me drive to next rest area. Both cars have over 1/4 million miles on odometers. Those are incredible machines, though XC-60 is my favorite by far from all Volvos that I had.
@@paulferreira8342 - P2 V70 uses inline five cylinders 2.5 liters engine. XC60 of 2012 uses 3.2liters naturally inspired and 3.0liters inline six short block.
@@paulferreira8342 -- BTW, unlike previously mentioned engines, all with more then 200k miles, I never owned XC60 with 2.5liter inline 5 engine, but I've seen them for sale, its a good combo too, but my favorite by far 3.2litter naturally inspired that, I currently drive with over 250k miles every day.
I'm from Sweden and it's really fun to hear your thoughts about Swedish design and engineering. It's a really cool car. I do hear your comments on the hybrid-system and see a problem with it living in the Northern parts of Sweden. I myself drive a Rav4 Prime, and though it's not perfect in the winter, it definetely works. When it's below 12-14 degrees C it goes into hybrid mode. Even if I had the money to buy the Volvo I think I would still choose the Rav4.
I am old enough to remember when Volvo made some of the best cars in the world in Sweden and here in Canada. Today I would take the cheapest Toyota over the most expensive Volvo.
Volvo Swedish Engineering? That was once... It's all Chinese engineering, every new model is more Chinese, Based on other Geely models. Very sad for a brand like Volvo, more reason not to buy one.
love your technical viewpoints and underbody reviews that is unique to your channel. Looking forward to more of your reviews on other makes and models!
Excellent Review. We own a 2023 XC90 B6 Ultimate and a 2023 S90 Ultimate. Those two Volvo's are Volvo number 6 & Volvo number 7 for us. I agree with your review and find the car salesman reviews to be ridiculous. We are still not ready for Hybrid or Electric. We would like to see the engine charge batteries like a train locomotive verses what the car industry is doing which seems very strange in my opinion. Volvo from Latin word volvō means “I roll” as Volvo started as a ball bearing manufacturer.
For the heatpump situation. Thats why modern cars or so many diesel cars have / had auxiliary heater like Webasto (which is connected to the cooling system). To warm up the car before the drive or while driving the car in cold conditions like Finland
I have owned 14 Toyotas going back to 1974 Corona when everybody laughed at me for purchasing one. Today, I still have a 2014 Sienna XL, Prius plugin however my 2014 Volvo 3.2 is my dream car. The comfortable seats, saftey of this car is priceless. I can drive over 100mph and this tank is solid as a rock. By the way, it has been a very reliable and easy to work on car. Volvos are the most under rated cars. The other thing about Volvos is that they never rust and all the parts are high quality, starting with your glass front head lights to steel tail pipe. The number #1 reason i didn't buy Highlander or Lexus was their ugly interior and horrific exterior specially the wedge look of Lexus. Unlike the biased Scotty, you have provided a calm, thorough, non judgemetal opinion about this brand.
A good/interesting thing they did is with the placement of the catalytic converter up high and close to the engine. It heats up fast allowing the engine to return to off state quickly when not needed. Some other othe PHEVs will run the engine for 10-15 mins even when the additional power is no longer needed
Some points, Volvo Trucks and Volvo Cars are not the same company and haven't been since the 90s. Volvo Cars were bought up by Ford in the 90s/00s and then Geely bought them in the 10s. Another point, Volvo makes simpler cars that may not be sold in the US. We get versions of the same engine as diesel or petrol that are less stressed with like 150hp or 200hp and those are the normal Volvos you will see on the road. You can get a V60 wagon with a B4 with 190hp for around 35-40,000USD and they're very popular. You guys in the US only get the high end, complicated models - as always. Volvo is seen as a better brand for reliability in Europe than in the US for that reason, same with BMW, Mercedes etc.
Was this always true for Volvo? Or only true with SPA cars? I'm not too familiar with the topic. Feels like the Volvos prior to SPA were more simple and reliable.
@@fbp452 Not necessarily more reliable. Volvo has had some issues with reliability with some models for decades. And all cars are getting more complex, even Toyotas.
I drive a Volvo V70 wagon from 2007. Last model year of the P2 generation with the beautiful naturally aspirated 2,4L 5-cylinder and 5-speed manual transmission. That thing is not fast but it sure makes all the right noises. Volvo has improved their styling and interiors a lot. The old Volvos have quite cheap interior. When they move over to only electric I think Volvo will shine. Their engines as of late haven't been the best, get rid of those and go for simpler electric engines will do the job. Volvo will never be a mass-market car. They sell almost 1M vehicles world-wide and have a loyal customer base that values the focus that Volvo puts on certain things. They're not a BMW or Mercedes replacement, they are something else, for a different kind of customer.
Sold my 2019 xc 90 1.5 years ago. The best decision ever. Had to take it to the dealer 12 times in 16 months pf ownership. Bought at 25k miles with no accıdents. Almost every part of AC got changed. Rotors and breaks are horrible . 100% sure the rotors are very weak for this heavy car. The screen is very lagging and it takes forever for it to come up once u start the car. Also the deal breaker was the leaky sunroof. You wouldn’t believe what we had to deal with during so many family trips in rainy conditions. So happy to say goodbye and never and ever again. Also the fuel economy was pretty bad with premium fuel required which is normal for such a small engine with turbo and supercharge. Literally a ticking time bomb.
Excellent review! You made so many good points that other reviewers omit. Note that the second-row seats are on rails so they can be moved fore and aft. Also, their seat-backs can be inclined. Readers should be aware that Volvo's all-electric, three-row SUV, the EX90, will be available in North America in Q1 or Q2 of 2024. In time it is expected to replace the XC90 Recharge.
Indeed, their stated long term go is to be all electric across their lineup. The plugins fill the gap between gas only and when all electric is viable.
I hope not all electric is impractical given the long charge times and lack of charging at every street corner …. The hybrid mode appears to be a fair compromise as a way to increase gas milage and performance … on the negative side you have to deal with both batter/electic motor maintenance AND gas engine maintenance! It would be nice if they offer a gas only model too… if the goal for the future is battery only, then I will have to stop buying Volvo as they are only usable for short commutes where charging time is not an issue 😢
@@jmazzella1Of course, commute distances for many motorists are less than 100 miles each way and when it comes to road trips many prefer taking a vehicle made by Boeing or Airbus. Even when the car is taken, the extra time charging over pumping is more than offset by the time saved by not having to visit gas stations when not on road trips.
Feeling even better about NOT getting the B8hybrid. I went with my gut to minimize potential problems fir long term ownership by going with the T6 Inscription.
I love this guy so much. You caught me🥰🥰 from 0:00 until the last minute. No car reviewer could do that to me in last 5 years :) I found you. Great job, bro.
Volvos are awesome! Wish they took a leaf out of Toyota or did as much for their cars as they do for their Trucks and machinery with regards to reliability especially now they are Chinese owned. The XC90 is very unique but lags behind its competitors in a few important ways especially that il4 engine. Miss the il6 and the Yamaha V8 of the previous generation. Thanks for featuring it and giving it such a wonderful review. By the way, Volvo enthusiasts are more loyal than iPhone enthusiasts. If you'd have hit them up, they'd have told you everything you need to know about that car.
We have a 19 kia Niro hybrid in Winnipeg Manitoba Canada , four years in no problems . Every year we get -35 c to +35 c . It does get worse milage in the winter , but still better than any car I've had before . Sweden is chilly but not like Canada .
Most of Sweden is mild. It's just the very north parts of Sweden that are in the arctic circle where it can get really cold. I barely get any snow during winters and I live in the middle of Sweden.
The Zhejiang Geely Holding Group is based in Hangzhou, which is located in south-east China’s Zhejiang Province. The company launched their automotive business in 1997 and eventually took over ownership of the Swedish-made Volvo brand in 2010
I was a Volvo/SAAB buyer for years. I had three Volvo S70 T5s (two 1998's and a 1999), all 5-speed manuals. That 2.3 liter inline 5-cylinder turbo engine was bulletproof. As soon as Volvo announced they were changing their engine lineup to all 2.0 liter 4-cylinder turbo engines, even for their large SUVs, I was done with them (that coupled with their new Chinese ownership). The T6 engine (yeah that used to mean an inline 6-cylinder twin-turbo engine, and the T8 designation also meant a V8 engine - yes, Volvo did produce an S80 sedan with a Yamaha-built V8) for many years was a 2.0 liter turbo-supercharged engine with an output of 316 HP (according to this video now the engine just has a larger turbo to extract the 316 HP). That's a lot of power to be pushing out of such a small engine. That won't matter to all of those customers driving them around on a 3-year lease but it will to an owner who wants to keep one for the long haul. It's a shame because Volvo interiors have always been comfortable and attractive. Although you'd think for $100K the center and rear passenger seats would have arm rests....
300hp out of a 2L 4 cylinder isn't abnormal at all. Ford, GM, Honda, Hyundai etc have been doing it for years. Turbo engines aren't what they used to be 20 years ago and in my area there are numerous 2016, 17, 18 higher mileage XC90s still running around. Early models had oil consumption issues at higher mileage but this has been solved, as it was a problem Volvo had even with early model 3.0L I6s before they came out with the 4cyl.
I had a 940 turbo and got literally turned away by multiple mechanics 🤣 one was a tire shop that told me they couldn't even put tires on it! I'm looking at getting another one at some point because they are just so comfortable and nice to drive. I even appreciate a lot of the quirkiness. But I will definitely be taking it to a Volvo specialist 👍
I love the design and the drive of this model XC90. Even considered buying a used 2018 model, until… I found several for sale advertising the huge repairs that were already done (up to €27k/$29k for an engine repair 😱), so I decided to go for a 2023 RAV4 instead. I have to be honest, it doesn’t drive like the Volvo, but it’s still a great ride and I’ll sleep a lot better this way 😉
You remind me of an episode of Sanford & Son. Lamont goes to employment agency and tells the recruiter "I was studying toward my PhD". Then the recruiter asks, so how far did you go? He says up to 9th grade. Rav4 and Volvo XC90 are two different cars and two different clientele. I wanted to buy a Ferrari too, but ended up with Prius.
@@meenam300zx If you decide to put everything and everyone in boxes that’s probably true. My previous car was a full option 2015 Mercedes C220d, bought it new and drove it for almost 8 years (box 1), than I considered a used XC 90 (box 2) and ended up buying a new RAV4 (box 3). Thanks for making me realize the amount of freedom that comes with not caring about which box my car apperently puts me in 👍
Excellent review, appropriate blend of technical and feature narration, and the tone and tempo of your voice is simply superb. I enjoy your videos so much that I may even consider buying a Toyota. I’m a Volvo guy but the more I learn through your videos about Toyota I like the 4Runner. Thank you sharing your knowledge and advice.
Super appreciative of your mechanic review of these vehicles!!!!! It’s often hard for Toyota purist to be non-discriminatory towards other manufactures but you are doing a great job!!!!!! Good show, AMD!!!!
Nice review, and appreciate your level of detail on features and build quality. Having owned one (non hybrid though), you picked up on a lot of its nuances. On the Auto climate control-Volvo let’s you set the maximum fan speed using auto. Apparently this so you can avoid an overly loud fan on a hot day, though at the expense of slower cooling. So, when you hit the “3” setting, notice the Auto button was on. The fan would be limited to the 3rd highest level.
I had for a little over a year a 2022 V90 Recharge. While somethings are different - for example, it uses a T6 engine which is more recent than the T8, and it does have a heatpump. I also prefer the V90 over the XC90 for being an estate. The seats from Volvo are glorious! They are some of the most comfortable seats around, mine in particular was half nappa half alcantara. They also have a very good side support so you barely move side to side even in tighter corners or when doing roundabouts. The Hibrid system from Volvo is very smooth, to the point of not feeling much difference when the petrol engine is running. It was a bit "meh" in terms of accelaration, sometimes a bit more umpff would be welcome but hey people don´t buy Volvos because they are fast. The ammount security features on this are crazy. While some of these systems already exist in most brands, there was a simple detail that I loved: unlike other cars that the seatbelt just yanks you really hard in case of a hard break, Volvo seatbelts feels more like they are hugging you, and then they relax in a comfortable way. The infotainment is full Android. You login with your Google account and then it´s pretty much a Tablet with some restrictions, but since it also pairs with a 4G SIM card, you can actually just install spotify on your car and stream it without ever needing to use your data or connect your phone. The native navigation system is Google maps , and the map you see on the dashboard is actually pretty good. It was the best car I ever had the pleasure to drive long journeys.
I have the 2023 XC90 and LOVE IT! I’m not sure why he says there is delay when hitting the accelerator and combining the electric and gas motors. In my car it responds very fast! To me it is instant and the car Taks off like a rocket. My biggest concern is: the car is designed for off road driving, and constant all wheel drive when you select that option. My concern is how well protected are the under side components when driving off road? My car does not have the manual buttons in the back to raise and lower the air suspension, it is supposed to be automatic. The driver assisted cruise control works up to 125 MPH! According to the manual. This is why the care has these high performance tires.
No front fog lights either. Rear only. There is a button for front fog headlights on the light stalk, but it does nothing. No idea what the lower 4 light cluster (front headlights - immediately below Thors Hammer) is used for. Never turned on for me no matter what I did.
A mate bought one. Update failed and vehicles barely usable. Re issued update and ‘fixed’. Then the main computer in the roof died and the vehicle was un drivable. Flat bed tow and lucky it was parked on gravel. Dealer had no idea. Eventually fixed but…
Great as always. PLEASE do a review on the BMW 330e xDrive Plug In Hybrid. There's only 2 PHEVs available in the compact sport sedan segment. Volvo S60 and BMW 330e. You did Volvo, now please do BMW so we can see how their PHEVs compare. Thanks! Awesome contents.
Really good review covering things not seen or known from others, thanks! The “upgrade” to android automotive does leave a little to be desired but we do see improvements coming such as the addition of CarPlay and steering assist being added back to the left hand steering wheel controls (thank goodness). I hope they continue to add better features and functions to the central driver display such as the media that you’re listening to, and not just map or no map. It would also be relatively easy to add a faster drive mode selector rather than in the ridiculous place it is currently buried. Whilst it’s not perfect, if you want a seven seater with large amounts of storage, quality, safety, phev and beautiful refinement, there really aren’t many other alternatives. I’m upgrading from a D5 inscription pro (which I loved) to a T8 recharge ultimate and whilst it is definitely on the pricey side, all in, you get a lot for your money (and the warranty if you’re buying from new) Thanks again for an excellent review.
The lagged acceleration is not an 'immature hybrid' thing, it's a Volvo thing and it's to do with safety in the event you accidentally jerk the accelerator. And it is most pronounced at
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Picked up in October 2022 our 2023 XC90 Recharge. In almost one year of ownership I average over 100 mpg. And have only filled my tank 6 times. This means I have spent less then $500 on gas all year. We are also a one car family. Hybrid is the way to go!
Hard to believe.... 🤔
And what about your electricity bills to combine?
No difference at all as the battery only takes up to 30 miles.
@Vanshita12345Yeah, we checked the Volvo dealer before going with Toyota anyway. The Volvo we liked was above $80k... No, thank you.
Yeah but for the rest of us who actually drive highway, you will be lucky to get 25mpg
We own two xc90’s. One is the t8. Your review is appreciated. Our t8 is a 2016 model which we bought used. One feature that a commuter, who drives to an office with electric charging, can get is nearly 100 mpg in electric mode. However, you have an additional 300+ hp gas engine for long trips. It was one of the earliest cars to have blind spot detection and incredible hands off cruise control with lane assist. I didn’t know about the Toyota transmission. It has been very dependable without any problems. Very classy and timeless design.
How many miles you have on t8?
@@ceylontea5877 70,000
Так какой расход? На сколько миль хватает полного бака на дальнюю поездку??
My T8 hybrid XC60 gets 42-45 miles on a full charge. The estimated miles, according to the car display on a full tank is over 500 miles. That fluctuates, of course, as it is an estimate. if I stick to local driving during the day, I rarely go to the gas station. When I do, it is to top it off even though I don’t need to. I have not taken it on a long trip yet, but my guess is that I could go 450 miles before I had to fill the tank up. Regarding the Toyota transmission, Toyota has been in the hybrid game longer than anybody. They have worked out the kinks. Continuing to refer to this as a “old system” seems a little disingenuous as the system is pretty fault free, at least for the last two Volvos, I’ve owned. I have a 2024 and absolutely love it.
@Vanshita12345I’m planning to buy one in CA US
Volvos taillight and headlight design is awesome
Love this guy. If you are a car person watching this is so much fun. Being Swedish we kind of think Volvo is normal and the rest is just kind of weird. Strange. Weirdly strange😂
But Volvo is Geely = Chinese nowadays
what is this man talking about? Volvo small company? Auto division? Its a Geely car with Volvo badge. Its a masive company and has many divisions. Volvo trucks is not one of them if im not mistaken. That is a Chinese car. Depending where you are buying it you might get Chinese build one or Swedish build one for example.
Regarding the tires, it is justified as safety is their #1 focus. Wider tire patch improves braking and allows this 5000lb SUV to swerve around a moose at 70mph.
Im on my 4th Volvo and cant see myself living without one! Volvo for Life
I love these vehicles. We have a XC60, 60k miles and going just fine.
great video! very detailed. My wife bought this car and says it's the only car she has ever loved. it's crazy comfortable, seats and ride.
@Vanshita12345 sure, we'd be interested
We just purchased our third SPA XC90 and this one is a Recharge. When I test drove it, I noticed the lag too. The last two were T6s and they were surprisingly responsive and fun with the Polestar tune. Agreed the third row is hard to access and our son used the hatch. New one is a 6-seater. The infotainment is overall better than the last but the speedometer is barebones still compared to the last QNX based infotainment. I hate the massive blinding screens on other luxury vehicles, but appreciate that the new infotainment in Volvo allows full screen carplay and apple maps in the speedometer.
Excited for the ~60km of electric drive for the usual commute, and improved gas mileage for road trips.
Second row seats: pull UP on the handle that controls the seat back angle and the seat back will flip forward flat. That is the easiest way to get into the third row.
Hi. In 2019 I have purchased Volvo XC60 T8 inscription model. I am also owner of 2018 Lexus RX450h. Lexus it’s excellent SUV, reliable, comfortable…. But Volvo it’s all that but twice as good. Gonna wait couple years then I am gonna change my old Lexus for Volvo XC90 T8 new model. What a joy that it’s gonna be.
32:53 The reason for lack of power operated steering wheel is simple: safety. When driver is struck in the car, it is simplier to rescue him. So it is in fact safety feature regardless of car's price.
-- Hah, interesting fact!
You just created an excuse for rip off called Volvo. It sounds for me like an obsolete piece of junk and not a car. I planned to get it, but ended with H Pilot because discussed reason. Pilot is way safer than Volvo these days and way more fun to drive.
@@yuriykorenyak2351 honda is made of paper-thin steel and has ZERO rust protection.
@@roberto_88 keep dreaming
@@yuriykorenyak2351 in fact even dacia is better build than honda when it comes to rust protection and is cheaper too. Look what cars are the most popular on Iceland
The Toyota Aisin transmission (TF-80c in my case) went out in my 2008 Volvo S80 at only 107k miles. Transmission was extremely well maintained, not sure what the deal is. I believe it out because of a bad car accident I was in with that car. I was rear ended quite hard last September, the car should have been totaled, there was frame damage. At 19, I will now suffer from life long nerve damage and pain and back problems. I love my car so much, and she saved my life. I put a $8000 transmission in my car worth $2800 from the Volvo dealership, and it came with a lifetime warranty at any Volvo dealership from the USA and as long as I never sell the car, which I won’t. I love my car a lot, and Volvos are extremely safe and well made. They are 10x better than some of the German luxury automakers. The Aisin TF-80c Toyota transmission used in my S80 is a very clunky transmission. Even the brand new one is clunky. That is just how they are. Although, my moms 2017 XC60 T5 shares the same transmission as this I believe, and it is much more refined. This is an improvised version of the TF-80c.
Great review! Surprised that you didn't talk about the $3200 optional 19 Speaker Bowers&Wilkins Sound System. It truly is one of the best systems out there in a vehicle.
I just got a lightly used 2019 XC90 T8 with these and boy is that sound system amazing.
I took that upgrade too, it really is an exceptional setup
I love mine. When I first got it I would go for drives just to listen to music! $3,200 seemed like a ton of money at the time, but it is worth it.
I have a "lowly" 2017 T6 XC90 R Design and the B&W sound system sounds just as impressive in mine.
It’s been said by sound engineers that it’s the best sound system ever built into a car.
this guy is a dictionary in car I don't think on Volvo Manuel or any car will get all that information RESPECT
I drive 2015 volvo vnl 760 semi truck sleeper cab, just wonderful ride, even when you hauling 40k lbs, rides like a luxury car, 12.8 l turbo diesel engine just butter smooth, and love the turbo vistle when going up hills, I enjoy ever second of driving my volvo semi, I don't know much about their cars, never owned one, but they did an amazing job by making semis
If you’re not paying attention, you don’t feel the gear changes
Glad to see you covering Volvo. We have several in our family and find that the 10 year extended warranty can smooth out a lot of concerns about reliability. You pay a high price, but you get a lot of engineering and robust materials for that price.
It’s important to find what you like because you are paying for it. Volvo are very nice vehicles.
Also SAFETY! PROVEN SAFETY! biggest con! not a lot of Volvo Dealers throughout AMERICA :(
@@gearmonkey5904theyre not as reliable as lexuses
@@KuyaArbeesince the xc90 shipped in 2002 there have been zero fatalities in car accidents.
Zero!
@@StephenOwenthat seems almost unbelievable... There's always deaths in car crashes... That's 21 years. I question how that stat was filtered down.
It's nowhere near as common as say a ford explorer, but that's still a lot of miles with no deaths.
Bought xc40 T5AWD in 2018 when it came out. Been driving german glc63s for 2 years, but here I am, looking to sell merc to get myself xc90t8. Once a Volvo owner, always a Volvo owner.
Great video. I have this car and love it. I came from a Range Rover and thought I would be disappointed but I love it.
I watch all your videos because you are a master of honesty and integrity! I own two wonderful Toyota hybrid vehicles that run and look just as they did when I drove them off the lot. If I ever require some serious repairs on either vehicle, I will definitely book an appointment with your shop since I live in the Chicago area. Congratulations for your first anniversary! If you become a public corporation, let me know because I will become a shareholder. Then we will both reap the benefits of your success. Bravo!
I have a 2024 S60 Recharge and I don't think the powertrain is clunky. Its fast and efficient. Most of the time I'm driving just to work and around town on all electric. The electric motor does a great job at powering the car with hardly ever needing to power up the engine. Currently, I'm really loving my car. Plus it's nice that you don't see them as often as you do a 3-Series.
Man, you are the best RUclipsr reviewing the cars especially the mechanical components
Thanks,
I totally agree. Volvo has kept a closed door approach to its vehicle’s technical details. You’ll need to have a VIDA subscription to access information such as repair manuals, service bulletins and wiring diagrams. This practice though, is dependent on each individual country. I’m on my 7th Volvo and I can tell you Volvo is getting tighter and stricter about disseminating technical information.
Thank you for the informative video!
Or if you have access to Geely diagnostic tools, it will work just fine
The XC90 is a piece of art. I love my ‘17 R-design
Possibly@Vanshita12345
Im loving these car reviews by a real mechanic.
A Nice review, honest and real. I do drive a Volvo XC60T6, I do like the car and I can relate to all your comments.
Thank you. Vastly better than the standard auto journalist review.
We have an XC90 recharge. The best car we have ever owned. Have had Mercedes, Jaguar, BMW Clearly the finest.
Luvluvluc CCN Reviews!
This channel gets better and better. Polished and professional too
Problem is half of stuff here is actually wrong. Every little "weird" thing he accounts for being Swedish is actually Asian and totally not Swedish. There is good reason for that. This is Chinese car. That being said its a nice car and i have to agree that those tires are too big and pretty much just for show because they impede the ride quality.
@@hagestad 👍
There is also a fuel driven heater which heats the engine, battery and the cabin. On the newest edition of the engine the mechanical compressor is removed and the integrated starter generator is stronger boosting the engine. Beeing in Norway I cana say that I cant relate to the system not working in the cold because its really good in the cold.
I remember when I had a used Volvo XC90 from 2004. I think that’s when Ford used to own them.
Thing lasted for years even after a fender bender I had in it. It finally died last year. Glad to see a Volvo on the channel.
We love Volvo. We have 2 white Volvos. My mom and I. I have a 2008 S80 and she has a 2017 XC60. She was sold, the moment she saw my car. Quality, craftsmanship and safety should be your main focus when buying a Volvo. The cars are extremely safe, and Volvo invests majority of their funds on safety advancements, making it the safest automaker. My 2008 S80 saved my life during a rear end collision, not sure why, but the car was never totaled. It should have been there was frame damage. I am 19 with possible life long issues, but thankful for the car and the WHIPS seats. (Whiplash protection system). I love Volvos, I don’t think we will ever buy any other car.
Volvos from 2004 are still Swedish. It’s now Chinese
@@yslee1401The company is listed company. Geely is a majority owner.
@@yslee1401 That's wrong. Volvo is Swedish. Please don't call them Chinese. They are owned by a Chinese company but they are still a Swedish-based, Swedish engineered, and Swedish head-designed company. Geely stays in the background and provides support where Volvo picks what they'll use from Geely. In some ways, Geely is part Swedish as they're using some of Volvo's technology in other brands.
I drive the same XC90 2023 T8 and one thing I can say is that it is the best car (for my needs). There are not many luxurious plug-in 7-seaters around and this is probably the best.
While most things are as said in the video, I would totally not agree with the statement that it is clumsy. It is NOT clumsy. When you press the pedal to the metal, it flies. Immediately. And is very, very fast. Nobody expects that a 7-seater could be able to outrun most BMWs, but it can. 4.7 secs 0-62 miles. Also, it has a very smooth ride handling and very luxurious feeling inside.
I agree with you but perhaps they have updated the software since this video came out since I don't notice any lag. It just flies.
5.4 sec
............ Hmmmmmmm/ there is a REASON why the XC90 has a BADDD Reliability & Re-Sale Plummeting in value loss 3ok in two years....THE ATE MADE IN USA!!! at a UNION Shop! In this case "South Carolina".............. Beware: where no one EVER gets fired for BADDD work after a hangover Soooo "OPP's I missed a spot or rivet or ANYTHING.... = Oh Well!........ LEXUS 450h+ "F" Sport is exclusively made in Glorious Japan.........No freaK'n UNION.....Conversely in Japan people LIVE for the company LEXUS and if a problem...WELL out come the Samori Sword!........Think of SONY similar Quality i.e. like “SONY no Baloney............NOW …simply “ ThiMk”....which has Much better build quality/ It's your money......There is a reason why LEXUS has the best DEPENDABILITY & Re-Sale....End of Story!
I have the XC 60, which is built on the same frame as the 90. Obviously it’s smaller and sportier and just feels great to drive. I’m not sure who needs their seven seater to go from 0 to 60 in 5.4 seconds.
@@mvm3016 I don’t think XC60 is build on the same platform as XC90
I was looking for a PHEV SUV that has very high quality interior but is low key from the outside (with all the crimes in California). I also wanted the option of third row seats for short trips when friends and relatives visit, but don’t want a big SUV that’s too long for my pretty compact garage. To me this is the perfect car for those needs, and offers maximum flexibility with option to run on gas or electric only. One can easily feel the attention to details, and the fact that it uses Google map by default with dashboard display makes the transition even easier. I appreciate this review very much because the cons mentioned are actually pluses for me.
You might like the Mazda CX-90 PHEV. Interior is very nice, but much lower price tag vs the Volvo.
This is the specific kind of car review I have been looking for !!!
Waiting on hand and foot for the XC60 evaluation, seriously considering buying one and I would love to get you’re view on it, you reviews are brutally honest!!!
we just bought one. lovely car v pleased.
Thanks for doing this review, long time Volvo owner here. Two major things that I love is the feel of the cars similar to a tank and how simple the mechanical stuff is put together. My 98 S70 T5 still has all the original parts on the engine.
I always wanted one of of those. I drive a 2023 Mazda 3 turbo hatch and I love it to death. When I can I'm going to buy another car and fix it up. I love working on cars when it's not a daily driver, as time isn't an issue 😂
@@jackpowell8155 I know what you mean my car is toy car!
Please compare the polestar upgrade to the XC90 T8, it sounds so much better quality drive. Thanks so much for reviewing a Volvo! More of these please
Mines a polestar t8, not sure what the standard one is like but the polestar responds well to the pedal and touch over 5s 0-60 is pretty phenomenal for this mobile fortress. Good mix of efficiency and performance if you ask me!
Plug in RECHARGE hybrid is $10,000 more than the non-plug XC90 in 295 hp version.....it will take 100,000 miles for the fuel savings to pay for itself. Unless you need that 455 horsepower, stick to the 295 version and save $10K
I've always owned German cars (Audi, BMW, Posche and VW) but my 2017 XC90 T6 was my first Volvo. I loved it, and in 2022 I bought the XC90 Recharge with the extended range battery and larger electric motor that is identical to the 2023 you describe. I absolutely love this car, even more than the old one. My vehicle is loaded, including the B&W sound system (shame on you for ignoring that as it is incredible) and I've added the Polestar upgrade. I do not experience any of the "lag" you describe in the video. Throttle response, especially in power mode is near instantaneous. And using the B mode while driving Hybrid virtually turns this into a "one pedal" driving experience, which should translate into exceptional brake life. And now with almost 12,000 miles on the car, I'm averaging 45 mpg with about half that mileage accumulated on long distance, multiple day trips where overnight charging was not available. Otherwise, I appreciate your well thought out description of the car. This may not be the car for everyone, but it is for me.
It's somewhat similar to a German car but with a different personality. That feeling of heft and solidity is in it.
Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts with us. I'm a South African, but Volvo it's my favorite car company(I love Volvo cars). Indeed it's not for everyone cup of tea. My ex girlfriend owns V40 cross country T5(white). I love how it drives (good manners), quality and build to last. They're just good product.
I have a volvo xc60 t8. The response of the car is fast and I do not agree at all with your statement that it reacts too slow and is clunky. I do not experience a lag at all. Sorry.
Immediately subscribed. Not because of the car, because of the presenter.
This was nice! I learned a lot of things I didn’t know about the XC90. Keep reviewing the luxury cars and find their weaknesses and where the might be cutting corners.
The most overlooked luxury is having a peace of mind.
Reliability.
@@faheemabbas3965 Facts!
@@faheemabbas3965o me reliability takes a back seat, to safely. There is no Japanese car that is as safe as a Volvo. The other thing is the beautiful design. I am sorry but Lexus and Toyotas are simply ugly. I am telling you this as a die hard Toyota owner going back to my 1974 Corona.
Totally second your thought. A lot of faults exposed here that lower this in my ranking while looking for a car for my wife.
@@meenam300zxthat is correct 100%. But we are not talking about much difference here between a safety of this Volvo and a Toyota Highlander. 40 years ago it would probably be a much bigger difference between a safety of a Toyota and a Volvo but the gap is much smaller today.
Found this review because I'm looking at getting a V60 T8 Recharge polestar and this one has the same drivetrain. Really interesting having the system explained! I had no idea it was a bit of an older system, but sounds like no major issues with it so that's nice. Enjoyed the info and humour!
Did you end up getting the vehicle? I'm looking to get one in the autumn
I truly enjoy this Mechanic's reviews and perspective on vehicles! He knows quality, and definitely has knowledge as an expert should!!! Very refreshing to watch and learn about what he and his staff does in the shop!!!
I agree, I just saw Scotty segment on Volvo that he made 3 days ago and it was so disgusting and immature.
my biggest gripe with current volvo PHEVs, is volvo got rid of the drive mode wheel from earlier SPA cars. there is no dedicated touch point to change drive modes. which, on normal gas cars, I could understand the feature not getting much use, but it's quite a bit more valuable on the PHEVs. If I'm driving in pure (electric) mode and decide i want to kick on the gas motor, it'll take me 3 taps on the infotainment screen or a hard stomp on the throttle, which is dumb. I'm also not fond of the fact that volvo doesn't have android auto on android automotive cars. android automotive works [well enough], but it's obvs dependent on the car having a data connection. our dealership says they'll renew the data plan free of charge after the included 4 years runs out, if we but simply bring our car in for servicing yearly... and we'd be doing that anyways cause we warrantied this thing to kingdom come. but if, 8-10 years down the road, the cellular data standards of today start getting killed off, our car infotainments would be bricks, unless apple were so backwards as to still support a data port with which we could plug in for apple carplay. I don't care how good you think your infotainment is, the ability to use a phone, be it apple or android, should always be an option.
Despite all that. I took delivery of a V60 recharge this year in canada, and there is nothing else in the tax bracket i'd rather drive. it's a wagon. it's a PHEV. u could put a roof rack on it and actually reach it without a step ladder. it's a perfect grand tourer/kayak/bike/ski hauler. there's nothing else like it in north america, except maybe a taycan cross turismo. and it bums me out that geely/volvo would rather put lithium into EX30s rather than V60/V90 PHEVs.
Agree with everything you said. Been a long time Volvo owner, still driving two Volvo's bought just before the Spa came out. XC70 witg Drive E engine, physical buttons, no sunroof, 25% discount from msrp. Have had extended test drives of Xc40, V60cc, XC60, XC90, V90cc ... just cannot justify buying Spa Volvos with at BMW money.
The only thing I would buy if I really need to replace one of my Volvos would be V60 T8 if rebate is still available.
So congrats on your V60!
@@MagicPickleball volvo REALLY doesn't seem to want to sell V60 T8s in canada. currently, volvo's website only lists the polestar trim, which is too expensive to qualify for the canadian (national) rebate. I preordered a 2023 allocation in april of 2022 for laughs, without knowing 2023 final pricing. I got my car over 12 months later, and it qualified for the EV rebate, but the dealership claimed it was also the only allocation they ended up getting...
When the temperature goes below -15c the heating solution using the ICE may actually be the most efficient.
I really liked your story about this car because first of all I noticed that it was very, very neutral, i.e. honest, and I really liked that and I thank you very much for this.
Heard a good way to change settings is to use audio commands “HEY GOOGLE”, especially while driving & not wanting to take eyes off road.
Maybe this is way to put fan on Auto…
I had a 2018 Inscription with air suspension. From my experience, this car doesn't age well esp the suspension. When it reached 50K miles it started to feel very loose and the body control over bumps or turns deteriorated significantly, to the point I started to get car sick when driving it. And the reliability wasn't good either. It had 4 major repairs (air suspension, supercharger seal, o2 sensor, etc) over 50K miles.
I sold it when it had about 56K miles, and I don't miss it one bit.
I was cursing at you at your comments about the right rear seat until I realized you were reviewing the XC90. I have an S90 and the right rear passenger can adjust the front seat for more room. I have a 2023 X90 B6 Ultimate Bright Theme.
I hope you would get your hands on the new CX-90, it does seems to be an exciting new platform for Mazda.
So when visiting Ireland in Sept 2022, I rented a midsized SUV for 4 people roadtripping across the island for a week. They offered the XC90 Recharge as an option when I went to pick it up. We LOVED it for the trip but we never charged up except the last night. I will say the electric only mode in Dublin was amazing to have, especially when navigating tight corners and parking garages.
That being said, when looking at buying an XC60 recharge back in the states, I was surprised that it only takes premium gas and the gas mileage was not as good as I expected. Volvo initial quality looks great but I worry about maintenance costs years later because I tend to drive our cars 100k miles over about 6 years before thinking about buying a new one. Reliability and maintenance are important factors and Volvo is a little shady on both fronts. The XC60 recharge starts at $57k, so that is also too much for my budget for a PHEV compact SUV.
The gas mileage is exactly the same (assuming same engine) in Ireland as in USA. But the Imperial gallon is about 25% larger than US gallon, so the numbers seem less impressive- but the actual gasoline used is the same.
AMD, The Volvo I want to see in your shop is the late Irv Gordon's 1966 P1800 with over 3 MILLION miles.🎉🎉🎉 Of course, any classic rear wheel drive 240 would be welcome as well.
Volvo has never been the same under the ownership of Ford of Dearborn or Geely of Hangzhou.
We can reminisce over Volvos golden days all we want but at the end of the day, Volvo would not have survived if they didn't become a global autoplayer and that does mean certain things that enthusiasts might not like.
There is a Motor Trend video, where Irv Gordon's Daughters present their now R.I.P. Irv Gordon Volvo P1800 to a recognized old cars buyer, and, maybe they didn't tried enough selling it on purpose, but the Irv Gordon Volvo P1800 sits now at the Volvo Museum in Sweden. But, last time I visited the Volvo website, the Irv Gordon Volvo P1800 was not even mentioned, not even at the Volvo Museum Section of the Volvo website? Is like a hidden message, that makes you think: either, there is no way to have a current Volvo as simple and reliable as Irv Gordon Volvo P1800, because trying to pass or reach 250,000 miles would be too expensive and hard due to the complexity of modern engines, or Volvo does not want to encourage owners to imitate Irv Gordon.....I also can add more: This Irv Gordon Volvo P1800, was at the showroom of the main local Volvo dealer here in Puerto Rico years ago, before that dealer passed their Volvo exclusive Volvo dealer representation to other dealer, probably after Volvo bought this P1800 due to Irv Gordon Passing Away, and now all Volvo dealers have a similar look. I dont remember and can't find the information on the Internet, but I remember this was not promoted on tv, or the radio or the Internet: it was an exclusive at the Volvo Dealer Volvo P1800 presentation, I recognized the Volvo color as well as the model, I doubt it was a replica, maybe it was, and that is why it was not promoted? I even remember seeing the P1800 parked very close to the marine port, in a lot where new vehicles and others are placed; Is like sending a message that today's Volvos and cars in general, are not made, designed, or even give a real chance to the original owners to even try to imitate Irv Gordon: no matter, if Irv Gordon was alive today, I still remember what he used to say frequently: he didn't paid too much attention to the dealer when it comes to routine maintenance but was very strict with the 3,000 miles oil filter changes; under severe driving conditions and extreme driving conditions, is not a good idea to drive 5,000 miles before an oil filter change. Is an irony that because of excessive overpriced cars today since the Pandemic, most owners and people need to imitate Irv Gordon. With the problem, that most cars and vehicles, with the exemption of commercial vehicles, are not designed to last like Irv Gordon's Volvo. Today Toyotas have to re validate their recognized status of super reliable Toyotas with the owners saying that they are super reliable and not like the others, that at 8 years they believe is time to " think about buying a new vehicle ".
Volvo is now owned by Geely of China
Love me some Volvo. Leave it to the swedes to not over engineer the mechanics. Although I'm sure some of the "oldness" is how quickly they plan on switching to electric. They've said they aren't putting money into updating their ice power trains for that reason.
I personally love the wool blend seats. I think they feel much nicer than cheaper, more basic cloth interiors. They'll also wear much better than leather.
Yes, no point in developing a new engine, very expensive. They'll just use the one they have now and then replace em all with electric. Easy peazy, and cheap!
I have a 2011 XC90 and have had very few issues with it considering it has over 160K miles on it. I trust Volvo and will be getting an XC90 recharge soon :) thanks for this video
I'm in the market for one as well. I drive 2 hrs a day for work but not sure if the t8 recharge is my best option. However, it's such a beautiful car. I lease the t5 xc60 but it's too small and the T8 xc90 is what I want. I need to do more research.
@@nazorineulysse3797 Hugs!! Lets both get our dream cars :)
When you said "Once a Volvo owner, always a Volvo owner", I could not agree more. I have a 2012 XC60 with a whopping 238,600 miles and it's still going strong. It is stylish, comfortable, fast as hell, and one of the safest cars ever made. It's also been extremely reliable to boot! So yes, though these things are complicated; they really don't break all that much. Like you said, not much plastic. They overbuild just about everything. And while every other manufacturer is skimping out on interiors and making them feel flimsy, Volvo is doing the opposite.
T6 XC90s are a better value proposition. Easier to service, significantly cheaper, and available with everything that came with this car.
wrote: "It's also been extremely reliable to boot!"
-- Yes, just open boot on any XC-60 and pip under interior skin... there you'll see how much thermal/sound insolation, enough to keep me warm asleep in rest area while cruising up and down New England coast in the winter. My P2 V-70 only 20 minutes, then frost bit makes me drive to next rest area. Both cars have over 1/4 million miles on odometers. Those are incredible machines, though XC-60 is my favorite by far from all Volvos that I had.
Inline 6 cyl engine, I presume? They also used that engine in Land Rover LR2 for years
@@paulferreira8342 - P2 V70 uses inline five cylinders 2.5 liters engine. XC60 of 2012 uses 3.2liters naturally inspired and 3.0liters inline six short block.
@@paulferreira8342 -- BTW, unlike previously mentioned engines, all with more then 200k miles, I never owned XC60 with 2.5liter inline 5 engine, but I've seen them for sale, its a good combo too, but my favorite by far 3.2litter naturally inspired that, I currently drive with over 250k miles every day.
@@paulferreira8342 Yes, a 3.0 liter turbo I6.
That's good looking car. Every time I see someone opt for bright chrome rather than black... a part of my soul dies.
I'm from Sweden and it's really fun to hear your thoughts about Swedish design and engineering. It's a really cool car. I do hear your comments on the hybrid-system and see a problem with it living in the Northern parts of Sweden. I myself drive a Rav4 Prime, and though it's not perfect in the winter, it definetely works. When it's below 12-14 degrees C it goes into hybrid mode. Even if I had the money to buy the Volvo I think I would still choose the Rav4.
I am old enough to remember when Volvo made some of the best cars in the world in Sweden and here in Canada. Today I would take the cheapest Toyota over the most expensive Volvo.
Volvo Swedish Engineering? That was once...
It's all Chinese engineering, every new model is more Chinese, Based on other Geely models. Very sad for a brand like Volvo, more reason not to buy one.
love your technical viewpoints and underbody reviews that is unique to your channel. Looking forward to more of your reviews on other makes and models!
Excellent Review.
We own a 2023 XC90 B6 Ultimate and a 2023 S90 Ultimate.
Those two Volvo's are Volvo number 6 & Volvo number 7 for us.
I agree with your review and find the car salesman reviews to be ridiculous.
We are still not ready for Hybrid or Electric.
We would like to see the engine charge batteries like a train locomotive verses what the car industry is doing which seems very strange in my opinion.
Volvo from Latin word volvō means “I roll” as Volvo started as a ball bearing manufacturer.
The engine can recharge the drive battery. I have v90t8 turbo and supercharger
For the heatpump situation. Thats why modern cars or so many diesel cars have / had auxiliary heater like Webasto (which is connected to the cooling system). To warm up the car before the drive or while driving the car in cold conditions like Finland
a proper review on XC90 seen in many years.
I have owned 14 Toyotas going back to 1974 Corona when everybody laughed at me for purchasing one. Today, I still have a 2014 Sienna XL, Prius plugin however my 2014 Volvo 3.2 is my dream car. The comfortable seats, saftey of this car is priceless. I can drive over 100mph and this tank is solid as a rock. By the way, it has been a very reliable and easy to work on car. Volvos are the most under rated cars. The other thing about Volvos is that they never rust and all the parts are high quality, starting with your glass front head lights to steel tail pipe.
The number #1 reason i didn't buy Highlander or Lexus was their ugly interior and horrific exterior specially the wedge look of Lexus.
Unlike the biased Scotty, you have provided a calm, thorough, non judgemetal opinion about this brand.
How many miles on your 2014 3.2?
@ceylontea5877 As of today, I have only changed tires, spark plugs and oil changes every 8k miles. It been very reliable.
It has 94k on it
I liked this mechanic's review! You gave us a lot of info not found elsewhere.
Do you have plans to review Audi Q5/Q7 or BMW X5? hybrids?
A good/interesting thing they did is with the placement of the catalytic converter up high and close to the engine. It heats up fast allowing the engine to return to off state quickly when not needed. Some other othe PHEVs will run the engine for 10-15 mins even when the additional power is no longer needed
Best review of an xc90 !
Some points, Volvo Trucks and Volvo Cars are not the same company and haven't been since the 90s. Volvo Cars were bought up by Ford in the 90s/00s and then Geely bought them in the 10s.
Another point, Volvo makes simpler cars that may not be sold in the US. We get versions of the same engine as diesel or petrol that are less stressed with like 150hp or 200hp and those are the normal Volvos you will see on the road. You can get a V60 wagon with a B4 with 190hp for around 35-40,000USD and they're very popular. You guys in the US only get the high end, complicated models - as always. Volvo is seen as a better brand for reliability in Europe than in the US for that reason, same with BMW, Mercedes etc.
Was this always true for Volvo? Or only true with SPA cars? I'm not too familiar with the topic. Feels like the Volvos prior to SPA were more simple and reliable.
@@fbp452 Not necessarily more reliable. Volvo has had some issues with reliability with some models for decades. And all cars are getting more complex, even Toyotas.
I drive a Volvo V70 wagon from 2007. Last model year of the P2 generation with the beautiful naturally aspirated 2,4L 5-cylinder and 5-speed manual transmission. That thing is not fast but it sure makes all the right noises. Volvo has improved their styling and interiors a lot. The old Volvos have quite cheap interior. When they move over to only electric I think Volvo will shine. Their engines as of late haven't been the best, get rid of those and go for simpler electric engines will do the job. Volvo will never be a mass-market car. They sell almost 1M vehicles world-wide and have a loyal customer base that values the focus that Volvo puts on certain things. They're not a BMW or Mercedes replacement, they are something else, for a different kind of customer.
Agree
Also, bring Saab back
Sat next to a Volvo mechanic last year. He said whatever you do…don’t buy an electric Volvo. He said they all come back in for repairs when new.
Old Volvos cheap interior but good reliability.
New Volvos expensive interior but poor reliability.
Those were the good old days where Volvo was not under Geely
Sold my 2019 xc 90 1.5 years ago. The best decision ever. Had to take it to the dealer 12 times in 16 months pf ownership. Bought at 25k miles with no accıdents. Almost every part of AC got changed. Rotors and breaks are horrible . 100% sure the rotors are very weak for this heavy car. The screen is very lagging and it takes forever for it to come up once u start the car. Also the deal breaker was the leaky sunroof. You wouldn’t believe what we had to deal with during so many family trips in rainy conditions. So happy to say goodbye and never and ever again. Also the fuel economy was pretty bad with premium fuel required which is normal for such a small engine with turbo and supercharge. Literally a ticking time bomb.
Awesome, European car! More of them please, so we in Europe can also benefit from your in-depth reviews 💪
European? Volvo = owned by Geely = Chinese.
@@redwhite_040 I mean cars being available in Europe to be precise
Excellent review! You made so many good points that other reviewers omit. Note that the second-row seats are on rails so they can be moved fore and aft. Also, their seat-backs can be inclined. Readers should be aware that Volvo's all-electric, three-row SUV, the EX90, will be available in North America in Q1 or Q2 of 2024. In time it is expected to replace the XC90 Recharge.
Indeed, their stated long term go is to be all electric across their lineup. The plugins fill the gap between gas only and when all electric is viable.
I hope not all electric is impractical given the long charge times and lack of charging at every street corner …. The hybrid mode appears to be a fair compromise as a way to increase gas milage and performance … on the negative side you have to deal with both batter/electic motor maintenance AND gas engine maintenance!
It would be nice if they offer a gas only model too… if the goal for the future is battery only, then I will have to stop buying Volvo as they are only usable for short commutes where charging time is not an issue 😢
@@jmazzella1Of course, commute distances for many motorists are less than 100 miles each way and when it comes to road trips many prefer taking a vehicle made by Boeing or Airbus. Even when the car is taken, the extra time charging over pumping is more than offset by the time saved by not having to visit gas stations when not on road trips.
@@jmazzella1 the lack of infrastructure is temporary, I doubt Volvo will go all electric before infrastructure is ubiquitous.
Feeling even better about NOT getting the B8hybrid. I went with my gut to minimize potential problems fir long term ownership by going with the T6 Inscription.
My first volvo was a used s40 2008 and I fel in love with volvos, and just recently got my xc60 2021 the disel b4 engine and I am in love with it
I love this guy so much. You caught me🥰🥰 from 0:00 until the last minute. No car reviewer could do that to me in last 5 years :) I found you. Great job, bro.
I'd like to see you review a ford escape hybrid and compare it to all of the other hybrids you have reviewed
Thank you! We’re looking at a 2021 model, and this was very helpful. My biggest pause seeing this is the entry into the real looks like a pain.
Outstanding review. Hopefully someone at Volvo will watch this.
Volvos are awesome! Wish they took a leaf out of Toyota or did as much for their cars as they do for their Trucks and machinery with regards to reliability especially now they are Chinese owned. The XC90 is very unique but lags behind its competitors in a few important ways especially that il4 engine. Miss the il6 and the Yamaha V8 of the previous generation. Thanks for featuring it and giving it such a wonderful review. By the way, Volvo enthusiasts are more loyal than iPhone enthusiasts. If you'd have hit them up, they'd have told you everything you need to know about that car.
We have a 19 kia Niro hybrid in Winnipeg Manitoba Canada , four years in no problems . Every year we get -35 c to +35 c . It does get worse milage in the winter , but still better than any car I've had before . Sweden is chilly but not like Canada .
Most of Sweden is mild. It's just the very north parts of Sweden that are in the arctic circle where it can get really cold. I barely get any snow during winters and I live in the middle of Sweden.
The Zhejiang Geely Holding Group is based in Hangzhou, which is located in south-east China’s Zhejiang Province. The company launched their automotive business in 1997 and eventually took over ownership of the Swedish-made Volvo brand in 2010
I was a Volvo/SAAB buyer for years. I had three Volvo S70 T5s (two 1998's and a 1999), all 5-speed manuals. That 2.3 liter inline 5-cylinder turbo engine was bulletproof. As soon as Volvo announced they were changing their engine lineup to all 2.0 liter 4-cylinder turbo engines, even for their large SUVs, I was done with them (that coupled with their new Chinese ownership).
The T6 engine (yeah that used to mean an inline 6-cylinder twin-turbo engine, and the T8 designation also meant a V8 engine - yes, Volvo did produce an S80 sedan with a Yamaha-built V8) for many years was a 2.0 liter turbo-supercharged engine with an output of 316 HP (according to this video now the engine just has a larger turbo to extract the 316 HP). That's a lot of power to be pushing out of such a small engine. That won't matter to all of those customers driving them around on a 3-year lease but it will to an owner who wants to keep one for the long haul. It's a shame because Volvo interiors have always been comfortable and attractive. Although you'd think for $100K the center and rear passenger seats would have arm rests....
300hp out of a 2L 4 cylinder isn't abnormal at all. Ford, GM, Honda, Hyundai etc have been doing it for years.
Turbo engines aren't what they used to be 20 years ago and in my area there are numerous 2016, 17, 18 higher mileage XC90s still running around. Early models had oil consumption issues at higher mileage but this has been solved, as it was a problem Volvo had even with early model 3.0L I6s before they came out with the 4cyl.
best of the best review of Volvo xc 90!
great video, Thank you !!!
I had a 940 turbo and got literally turned away by multiple mechanics 🤣 one was a tire shop that told me they couldn't even put tires on it!
I'm looking at getting another one at some point because they are just so comfortable and nice to drive. I even appreciate a lot of the quirkiness. But I will definitely be taking it to a Volvo specialist 👍
At 32:00, you can actually fold the seat for better access to the third row
I love the design and the drive of this model XC90. Even considered buying a used 2018 model, until… I found several for sale advertising the huge repairs that were already done (up to €27k/$29k for an engine repair 😱), so I decided to go for a 2023 RAV4 instead.
I have to be honest, it doesn’t drive like the Volvo, but it’s still a great ride and I’ll sleep a lot better this way 😉
Looks like Geely/Volvo joins the Germans as endless money pits
I’ll bet.👍👍👍👍
It sucks when there’s no variety in reliability…
You remind me of an episode of Sanford & Son. Lamont goes to employment agency and tells the recruiter "I was studying toward my PhD". Then the recruiter asks, so how far did you go? He says up to 9th grade.
Rav4 and Volvo XC90 are two different cars and two different clientele.
I wanted to buy a Ferrari too, but ended up with Prius.
@@meenam300zx If you decide to put everything and everyone in boxes that’s probably true.
My previous car was a full option 2015 Mercedes C220d, bought it new and drove it for almost 8 years (box 1), than I considered a used XC 90 (box 2) and ended up buying a new RAV4 (box 3).
Thanks for making me realize the amount of freedom that comes with not caring about which box my car apperently puts me in 👍
Excellent review, appropriate blend of technical and feature narration, and the tone and tempo of your voice is simply superb. I enjoy your videos so much that I may even consider buying a Toyota. I’m a Volvo guy but the more I learn through your videos about Toyota I like the 4Runner. Thank you sharing your knowledge and advice.
the timing belt has a life of 200k km..the gearbox is also used in FWD BMW's
Amazing review. I wonder if you could do a 2023 XC60 as well. Thanks
Best car I have ever owned. Love it
Super appreciative of your mechanic review of these vehicles!!!!! It’s often hard for Toyota purist to be non-discriminatory towards other manufactures but you are doing a great job!!!!!! Good show, AMD!!!!
"Ask me how I know that..."
Made me laugh out loud.
Really great, detailed review from top to bottom and underside.
Thank you!
Nice review, and appreciate your level of detail on features and build quality. Having owned one (non hybrid though), you picked up on a lot of its nuances. On the Auto climate control-Volvo let’s you set the maximum fan speed using auto. Apparently this so you can avoid an overly loud fan on a hot day, though at the expense of slower cooling. So, when you hit the “3” setting, notice the Auto button was on. The fan would be limited to the 3rd highest level.
I had for a little over a year a 2022 V90 Recharge. While somethings are different - for example, it uses a T6 engine which is more recent than the T8, and it does have a heatpump. I also prefer the V90 over the XC90 for being an estate.
The seats from Volvo are glorious! They are some of the most comfortable seats around, mine in particular was half nappa half alcantara. They also have a very good side support so you barely move side to side even in tighter corners or when doing roundabouts.
The Hibrid system from Volvo is very smooth, to the point of not feeling much difference when the petrol engine is running. It was a bit "meh" in terms of accelaration, sometimes a bit more umpff would be welcome but hey people don´t buy Volvos because they are fast.
The ammount security features on this are crazy. While some of these systems already exist in most brands, there was a simple detail that I loved: unlike other cars that the seatbelt just yanks you really hard in case of a hard break, Volvo seatbelts feels more like they are hugging you, and then they relax in a comfortable way.
The infotainment is full Android. You login with your Google account and then it´s pretty much a Tablet with some restrictions, but since it also pairs with a 4G SIM card, you can actually just install spotify on your car and stream it without ever needing to use your data or connect your phone. The native navigation system is Google maps , and the map you see on the dashboard is actually pretty good.
It was the best car I ever had the pleasure to drive long journeys.
I have the 2023 XC90 and LOVE IT! I’m not sure why he says there is delay when hitting the accelerator and combining the electric and gas motors. In my car it responds very fast! To me it is instant and the car Taks off like a rocket. My biggest concern is: the car is designed for off road driving, and constant all wheel drive when you select that option. My concern is how well protected are the under side components when driving off road? My car does not have the manual buttons in the back to raise and lower the air suspension, it is supposed to be automatic. The driver assisted cruise control works up to 125 MPH! According to the manual. This is why the care has these high performance tires.
Vieo is great, review is great, but your jump to close the hood was the best... Keep up the good work.
No front fog lights either. Rear only. There is a button for front fog headlights on the light stalk, but it does nothing. No idea what the lower 4 light cluster (front headlights - immediately below Thors Hammer) is used for. Never turned on for me no matter what I did.
Over the years? It went to Turbo Charger only with the 2022 model.
A mate bought one. Update failed and vehicles barely usable. Re issued update and ‘fixed’. Then the main computer in the roof died and the vehicle was un drivable. Flat bed tow and lucky it was parked on gravel. Dealer had no idea. Eventually fixed but…
Great as always. PLEASE do a review on the BMW 330e xDrive Plug In Hybrid. There's only 2 PHEVs available in the compact sport sedan segment. Volvo S60 and BMW 330e. You did Volvo, now please do BMW so we can see how their PHEVs compare. Thanks! Awesome contents.
Really good review covering things not seen or known from others, thanks!
The “upgrade” to android automotive does leave a little to be desired but we do see improvements coming such as the addition of CarPlay and steering assist being added back to the left hand steering wheel controls (thank goodness). I hope they continue to add better features and functions to the central driver display such as the media that you’re listening to, and not just map or no map. It would also be relatively easy to add a faster drive mode selector rather than in the ridiculous place it is currently buried.
Whilst it’s not perfect, if you want a seven seater with large amounts of storage, quality, safety, phev and beautiful refinement, there really aren’t many other alternatives. I’m upgrading from a D5 inscription pro (which I loved) to a T8 recharge ultimate and whilst it is definitely on the pricey side, all in, you get a lot for your money (and the warranty if you’re buying from new)
Thanks again for an excellent review.
The lagged acceleration is not an 'immature hybrid' thing, it's a Volvo thing and it's to do with safety in the event you accidentally jerk the accelerator. And it is most pronounced at