I helped design this first XC90 in Sweden, inside and out. The first concept car for the Detroit show had a windshield that stretched the whole length of the roof. Originally, we intended to have sliding doors, but it took too long to develop them.
That’s really interesting! I’ve always wished there was a more MPV style Volvo I could use for family and business. I’ve used a P2 V70 for the last 5 years. The XC90 would’ve been great with a pan roof. Do you know what the plastic panel at the back of the roof is for? Was there an option for dual sunroof?
What a great review. Thank you, I'm not buying one, but I'm on my third XC90 now. Got the T6 in 2011 in the UK, then got a D5 euro 3 in 2014, now i'm the owner of a D5 euro 4 purchased in Ireland since 2016. You've pretty much hit every major issue these very good cars can have. Thanks for all the tips. Keep it up, Cheers
Hiya, really enjoyed that. I've had 240s,740s,850s,v40s,v70s,xc70s,s60s,i love volvo and have been driving them for 40 years, looking for a xc90 now you have been very helpful. Thank you. Monty.
Solid review ! Good job ! I am on my second D5 now which has close to 400tkm on it......planning to replace it this weekend with another XC90 with less mileage. Just love this car.
Thanks Ian that’s very kind! Perfect car for the dogs, part of why I ended up in my V70 and have had it for nearly 8 years 😊 I have an XC90 again now but use it just for towing.
spot-on information..I have a 2007 xc90 2.4 D5 and only needed Swirl flaps doing at 73K miles..fitted new flaps and arm. Runs perfect, smooth, fast and getting good mpg now that's repaired. A great video looking forward to more to come.
Wow that is early! It’s very common that the arm comes off or breaks but I’m surprised the flaps needed doing at that mileage unless they were just done to be sure it doesn’t happen again. Glad it’s sorted for you and you’re enjoying XC90 ownership. Thank you for the kind words!
Absolute beast car. I have the exact same model as you and honestly it’s my favourite car. My engine mounts are actually broken as you said so you’re spot on👌
Great review man! Just bought myself a 2010 xc90 D5, had to upgrade from my 96 850 T5 as family getting bigger 🤣👌 full service history 89k miles, love it!
Thanks Alan! That sounds like a really good buy. I love the 850s. I’ve been offered a phase 1 V70 T5 but I can’t currently take it on until I’ve fixed and sold my 335i. I hope you enjoy XC90 ownership as much as I have in the past!
I would call it an amazing buy, in love with the XC90. Also I didn't want to sell the 850 but had no choice. I do love the 850s also. Once the kids are grown up ill be looking for an 850 T5 or 850R. Amazing cars and lovely engine noise 👌
Thank you so much for this excellent video! I'm currently looking to replace my V70 with an XC90 and your review/advice has really helped me. You have a way of cutting through the crap and getting to the point and I appreciate that. Cheers Tolly.
Hi Stuart, thanks for the feedback. If I were to continue reviewing cars that's exactly what I would be aiming for so I'm glad that's how it came across. Good luck with your search for an XC90!
I literally just brought a 2005 XC90 for transportation for my Labradors and it has 174,000 miles on it, I have only driven it a couple if time ( brought it about a week ago) It has full service history and just been fully valeted and hardly any marks on the outside so this review helped! I hope mine will keep running for a few years so I can get as much use out of it as possible!
Thank you, you’ve got one of the best early ones for reliability and it’s nice to hear you keep on top of maintenance. I have nearly 300k on my 2004 V70 D5. I absolutely love these cars and can’t wait to own another one day!
@@Newmanplayz I sold it last year, but at the time it was going great. I changed the gearbox oil shortly after I bought it, and it appeared that it had never been changed
Fantastic review, Tolly! Taking delivery of a 2008 XC90 R-Design with the 4.4L Yamaha V8 tomorrow. Really great review. Sad we don’t get the D4 and D5 diesels here in the USA. Cheers for the informative video and in-depth knowledge of the car. Definitely helps me reaffirm the purchase. X
Thank you very much! I envy your purchase very much. I imagine the V8 XC90 will increase in value at some point because it’s the only V8 car Volvo did other than the S80. I’d absolutely love one! Hope you enjoy your purchase 🙂
Tolly Swift mang thanks for the kind words! I’ll report back. Very excited. They just get rarer and rarer. This one has been taken care of and I’m very excited. Thank you for the well wishes!
Thanks for very helpful account of XC90 , gives a good hands on feel .as a prospective buyer am trying to get up to speed with versions etc and this really helped ! ( buying for one reason : ' comfort ' as reckon seating of se lux and exec mega+ good suspension - feel new makes / all makes couldn't compete ! ) gave us a nice insight into the car and look forward to learning more about living with a big Volvo 🤞happy motoring
Fantastic review am seriously considering buying an XC90 ,much needed for family of 5 plus persuaded by the level of comfort .Lot of vehicle for small purchase price.
Hi Tolly, great review! I bought an XC90 D5 AWD Exec. model in 2015 with 77k. Now has 159k. I have had it serviced at least every 10k. Have had a new intercooler, discs all round (usual maintenance), had to change injector wiring loom. Currently have a diesel leak on the fuel return from the top of injector 3. I've removed them all and the retaining clip has worn a groove in all of them but number 3 is particularly bad so changing them all. I've just removed the hose from EGR to inlet manifold and removed approximately 1/2 inch of carbon deposit. EGR next with inlet manifold and swirl valves (I've messaged you on another video on that). Its a great car and is going to get some well needed TLC. Now living in south of France so I'm going to undertake maintenance myself now as have more time. Thanks again for your videos, they've inspired me to do this stuff myself!!
Thanks very much Sean! I’m guessing with you wanting to clean the swirl flaps it’s a later model than this. Hope it all goes well for you. So glad to hear that you’re tackling the jobs yourself now, that’s exactly what I like to hear. Did you take a UK car to France or did you source one locally?
@@IAMASPANNER I imported my 2005 XC90 2.4 D5 AWD Executive last year to France. Is it not possible to clean them on this engine and do I need to replace the swirl flaps? The engine is the D5244T4 👍
@@seanphillips24 after a quick Google that engine number does appear to be the later engine with swirl flaps. There’s a video on my channel which shows how to remove them, it requires removal of the injectors and intake manifold though.
@@seanphillips24 I think Vida is a subscription service, there are alternatives though. In all honesty I’ve never had to use it so aren’t clued up with how it all works. I’d suggest the online forums for the info.
Thank you Gavin, I wasn’t so sure but have been receiving good feedback! Glad you like your car, missing mine now but it wasn’t required anymore due to the lockdown, they won’t make cars like this again!
Great review you get my sub ,off today to buy a 2009 r design xc90 . 1 owner 54 k full Volvo service history . Just come out of a 4 year shogun sport rolling renovation hope the xc is a reliable as the SS . It will certainly be smoooooooother hahahaha. Off now to go through your vids .
Great review mate good to see what common problems there are on these before you buy one! I've currently got a V70 euro3 d5 auto and I absolutely love it, it's fairly powerful quiet and comfortable, im looking at the XC90 as the family is getting bigger so good to see someone giving an honest review. The problem I've found with my V70 is it can be sluggish when you slow down then come to accelerate (like at a give way) is this a common thing with these boxes? Any advice would be great! 😊
Nice one Tolly...Great little review.I,m currently in the market for one of these with about £4.5-£5 k to spend,if you were buying another one and were on my budget....what would be on your shortlist to look for?You mentioned the Euro 3 engine is a better buy,what about cam belt change intervals?Any info you have would be great..thanks
Hi Baz, thank you very much! 4.5-5k is a great budget for an XC90 and it all depends on your preference. There are plenty of newer, lower spec “Active” models available at that price but I would go older. If you want the car to look a little bit fresher look for newer than 2007 or even better an “R-Design” model. If you’re less bothered about looks and more about the reliability overall look at pre-2005 with as low mileage as possible and as few owners as possible. The cam belts are every 90k as far as I can remember but should’ve been done on a 15 year old car regardless of mileage. Personally I would look for a pre 2005 with around 100k miles, a FSH, 1 or 2 previous owners, sat nav, full leather and preferably buy privately and ask lots of questions. I’d then take the car straight for the gearbox oil changing! I have no faith in used car dealers lately and haven’t ever really had a good experience with them. If you want to know anything more specific just ask. Hope some of this helps, I could go on forever! Tolly.
@@IAMASPANNER Thanks so much for your detailed reply Tolly thats really nice of you...one quick question,when you say "Active" model what does that mean?
How u doing great review and the interesting part was the fact u talked about auto box oil change as mine has full Volvo history although I don't actually know what that entails as they can't tell me but I've just purchased 12 LTRs of gen Volvo oil to do flush and drains on the g box . Dubious now after watching your video as u say it can cause issues . What kind of issues do u know . At the moment around 30 to 40mph my car changes up and down too many times for my liking any thoughts
Sometimes the condition of the deteriorating oil can be what’s keeping the gearbox operating properly. What’s I’d do is change the oil and if it makes the gearbox worse add some of that Lucas stuff that basically thickens the oil.
Swapped oil on my s40 2.4i auto, no issues at all. I guess it just depends on the state of the gearbox. Some people report horror movies after swapping gearbox oil. I did mine myself
Really good review. You should do more of them! Looking for a 7 seater and have this shortlisted along with the Mercedes R320 and the Nissan Qashqai+2 2.0L Petrol. Love the light interiors in the XC90 especially with the 4 spoke wheel. Veering more towards the Qashqai due to the ULEZ in London - which is supposed to be extending to cover a larger area. Just wondering if you buy and sell cars? Cheers
Thank you, I hope to do more in the future, currently occupied with a big job on the 335 I bought after the XC90 in the video. The Qashqai would probably be the most economical to run and repair should you have any issues. I’ll always sing praises for the XC90 and it would be my first choice although I have to say if budget allows the R class is a really interesting option and I have always wanted to try one myself. I do buy and sell cars but not as a dealer, just the cars I want to experience and then move on. I hope you find what you’re looking for and would be interested to know how you get on.
hey man, i liked your video! i have a question, you mentioned don't look mileage but service book... i saw 2007 model d5, but it went 330.000 km, the car looks great inside and outside, and service book looks proper... does it make sense buying car that went more than 300k?
Mileage isn’t an issue just make sure the timing and auxiliary belt have been done along with regular oil changes. 2007 will be Euro 4 so not as reliable as pre-2005 but they’re still good if looked after.
Hi Tolly loving the vids very informative i owned an XC90 about 12 years ago a low mileage example but never kept it that long but now want another would you entertain buying an 03 2.4d auto with 208k miles on the clock ?
Thank you! I would consider it yes but I’m able to do the maintenance myself. You’d want to see an extensive service history and receipts for the gearbox being serviced as much as possible at that mileage. The engine itself being a pre-2005 Euro 3 shouldn’t give you any issues. My 2004 V70 2.4 D5 is just about to reach 300k!
@@IAMASPANNER Thanks for the reply i think i will look for another with service history i do as much maintenance as i can but know a friendly mechanic that i use now and then when i can't do the work. I did notice the A/W transmission and 2.4d engines are nowhere near the price or as rare as the Toyota L.C equivalent i had sometime ago so not all bad if its just a straight swap over which i bet it isn't ;-)
@@cbv8 Lexus cars have a service schedule for the gearbox whereas the Volvos are classed as “sealed for life” which is why the Volvos have all the trouble despite being the same gearbox used in many many other cars.
@@IAMASPANNER hi it was a Toyota Landcruiser i was referring to but you are right most autos are said to be sealed for life which is a load of rubbish as the trans fluid has a life span aswell and when that goes bad so does the box my search continues although i am also considering an 06 XC70 2.4 D5 auto 116k mls with fsh decisions decisions anyway keep up the good work ;-)
Excellent review. I’ve just sold my old Range Rover with the 4.4 due to reliability issues and want a car that is at least reliable and does more than 13mpg 🤣 I’m buying tomorrow a 2009 Volvo XC90 2.4D5 with 80k on the clock. If it’s as good as your video states I’m really looking forward to it. Currently have a Mercedes E320 CDI which has been great and very reliable but it’s too low to the ground especially loading kids etc hence the change to the XC90. What’s the difference in spec of the standard XC90 and the SE, SE LUX and executive?
Hi Robert, I'm sure you'll be much happier with the cost of ownership. I've seen many awful jobs on Range Rovers, the XC90 is much better to work on. The trim levels determine standard equipment levels. I think by 2009 base spec. was the Active trim level. I've had an E320 CDI and I agree, with the split tailgate an huge rear doors it's so much easier for loading items and children. I hope you're happy with your purchase!
great video i am looking to buy one as i need an auto and 7 seats and its between this and a touran. What else should i look for, i am uk based i have about £5k to spend. would like a higher spec, leather, electric seats xenons would be perfect. what should i be looking for. Great video, great to se someone so young in a volvo. Do they have isofix in the middle and rear rows? thanks
5k is a great budget for one. I see more issues with swirl flaps on the later ones so look for one that’s had everything to do with the EGR cleaned and check for smoke on startup when cold. Take a look through the receipts for work done and look for anything to do with smoke or loss of power. If you want a high spec one that looks good go for anything later than 2007 and avoid the “active” models as they are the base spec ones. There are plenty of “se lux” and “se lux premium” within your budget. Tourans are a great budget car/van and running costs would be considerably less than the XC90, personally I’d prefer to put my family in the XC90 though! Good luck with your search and thanks for the comment 😁
Hi, watching all the way from Cape Town, South Africa. Some good pointers and insight shared, many thanks. I came across after watching another review with some tips on the error codes. I'm going to view an 97 XC90 2.5 D5 in the morning and these Vids have been helpful. At present, the vehicle has an error message when trying to start up. It says "start prevented, please try again". I understand this to be fob related but I'll see when I get to him in the morning. If you know anything about this error message and why the car starts and doesn't at other times, kindly advise since I could do with more insight since this would be my first Volvo.
@@IAMASPANNER I ended up buying it with hopes to fix this. We're doing a diagnostic this evening after reaching out to a volvo service manager. So let's see where this gets us because I've thus far checked all fuses, relays, I haven't sprayed electrical cleaner into the fuse boxes yet but all fuses looks good. I've also changed the car battery since the battery I got it with was a much smaller battery with practically half the CCA. I've also changed the fob battery and attempted to reset the immobilizer by the known methods of locking and unlocking, switching the key from off to position 2 5 times and on the 6th to start... This helped at times, got it to crank at least but other times just heard the relays clinking away. So I'm hoping to get some results from the diagnostic test and hoping it's nothing major because I actually drove it twice that day when I bought it
@@nabeeljacksonrhoda6480 Good luck Nabeel, hope you’re getting somewhere with it by now. At least the weather looks pretty good for you right now, we’re getting below freezing on a night now. All the best.
As long as you get a Euro 3 engine the most common issue would be an auto gearbox. I didn’t keep the car in the video but I have 2 manual D5 XC90s now.
Thank you! You can tell by the older all black engine cover however the Euro 3 was only available until 2005 so you’d have to buy an older model. They’re still a good engine later on but if you take a look through my videos I have one that shows how bad my 2007 Euro 4 D5 intake was filled with sludge. Euro 4 went up to 2009 so if you wanted 2009-2011 you’d be getting Euro 5. The earlier years the better in my opinion for reliability but obviously the later models are much better looking so you’d have to weigh up the pros and cons and decide what’s best for you.
@@IAMASPANNER many thanks for the knowledge, i actually sold 2004 T6 2.9 that ran on lpg, was brilliant until the lpg burnt out the vavles seals, had the head redone but was never the same again, local volvo specialist hasbadvised me to go for any D5 as long as the miles are low which is kind of hard to find unless you go forecourt surfing and pay over the odds for a trade in or unrecoded damaged goods.
They’re right to advise the D5 but you could also consider the 2.5t petrol although they are probably just as bad as the 2.9 on fuel so would be good on LPG. I wouldn’t worry so much about the low mileage just try to find ideally a 1/low owner car with full service history and if higher than 150k miles it’d be ideal if the gearbox has been done if you’re after an auto. I bought my V70 on 232k and it now has 297k but that’s manual so I have nothing else to worry about than normal maintenance really. I know you’ll probably be used to driving an XC90 and want to stick with them but the V70/XC70 can offer great value for money if you can manage without the 7 seats or the extra luggage capacity of the XC90.
Aftermarket radio was already fitted, you can get wiring harness adapters that make it plug and play. However, parking sensors and sat nav no longer worked so I’m not sure if there are specialist wiring harnesses available that don’t interfere with this. Also on my V70 my aftermarket stereo stopped the volume buttons on the steering wheel working. Congrats on your purchase!
@@IAMASPANNER yeah I’ve seen them but I believe you need to keep the display unit etc plugged in behind the new radio to stop fault codes etc, just wondered how you got on if you did it yourself but no worries. Cheers on your video here anyways really influenced my purchase 👍🏻
It depends what you want, I’ve had both, they’re both not ideal for such a large car. Mine wasn’t strictly a T5 but the 2.5T used to average less that 20mpg whereas the D5 can average over 30mpg. The injectors aren’t that expensive (£20-60 used) on the D5 and it’s unlikely you’d need to replace the lot anyway. I’d go for the D5 personally or if petrol preferred consider a gas conversion.
I honestly wish cars were still made like this. I regularly see 55-60mpg out of my 296k 2004 V70 D5 😁 the safety side is a big part of it for me too and I’m just glad that even now with Chinese ownership they still push this! But they’ll never be as bombproof as this era of Volvo!
Tolly Swift same here Tolly in the 4 years I have had it I have had replaced fuel pump, front discs & pads, timing belt (as per schedule), alternator pulley, washer pump, rear shoes, only issue is when fuel gets too low on the gauge like in the empty block and light on and tank states 50+ miles left it sometimes cuts out won’t restart eventually will go into limp mode so I never let it get too low apart from that never let me down 100% safe car
Great review, I don’t know weather to go for the XC70 XC90 or V70? The only thing that puts me off the XCs is the diff/4wheel drive system, will I be asking for hidden nightmares?
I’ve never had the XC70 but with the ride height being higher than the V70 I imagine it’s a nice bridge between the V70 and XC90. I wouldn’t worry about the 4wd system and diff over the gearbox to be honest. My first XC90 had had a replacement transfer box though so I’m not sure if there are any common faults. Big cars do put extra strain on things, best world for reliability is manual 2wd so I suppose it depends more on what you need?
With the 5 speed boxes they do rev quite high on the motorway, a little less with the later 6 speed ones. They’re very quiet overall, the engine noise isn’t so noticeable when driving it’s just a very distinct thrum of a 5 cylinder engine. Tyres it would depend what you have fitted, I imagine snow tyres would be pretty loud.
Nice video I’m considering buying a 2005 model with 150k on the clock 2.4 d5 se I’m hesitant the miles may be too high although I’ve seen them with much higher any opinion please
Hi Chris, 2005 is one of the perfect years for reliability. The engine is euro 3 so no DPF or swirl flaps. Volvos are usually religiously serviced regardless of cost early on in their lives so just check the service history carries on after the first owner. The only thing to worry about may be the auto gearbox but issues may not be apparent until the car is very warm, symptoms usually start with a drivetrain shunt you’ll feel when downshifting from 3rd to 2nd or 2nd to 1st which you’d probably notice the first time after a long motorway trip. Never worry about high mileage on the Volvo D5 as long as there’s a full service history. I bought my V70 on 232k 5 years ago and it’s going great at 296k now despite being neglected a bit. Hope this helps but any more questions I’ll try to help where I can. Good luck! Tolly.
Tolly Swift thanks I appreciate the advice that’s great I just did a history check and it has advisories the worst being both rear inner seals slightly corroded and rear sub frame corroded the dealership are offering 3 months warranty but I am slightly put off by finding that out I’m no expert looking at cars is that serious enough to look elsewhere would you say thanks
I hadn’t noticed it having a bad turning circle if it does compared to other cars. Obviously it’s huge so it’s bigger than a lot of cars, just aim to have rear parking sensors!
@@IAMASPANNER Got it for 600 and a blown Toyota sienna. Every warning light is on. Battery MIGHT die overnight (I disconnect it). Pulls bad to the front left when I brake. A clunk if I hit a pot hole front left. Seems to not want to shift into the highway gear. It wants to roll backwards on a steep incline at stop signs. There's a buzz after I turn it off from backseat passenger side (fuel pump?)...And the "open door" bell won't shut off half the time when started. It's peppy, though! I think the turbo is OK...I hope.
Do the gearbox issues and oil change principals apply to the manual box too? That is supposed to be sealed for life too, but if you change the oil can you expect problems? Also what did you mean by issue with the clocks?
I’ve not encountered any issues at all with the manual boxes. My V70 has 296k and has only just started jumping out of 4th when I’m lazy with the changes. I wouldn’t expect issues if you changed the oil in the manual box as in the auto it’s the solenoids in the valve block that cause an issue and the manual doesn’t have anything like that. About the clocks, I’m not sure if there’s the same issue with the XC90 but on the V70 and S60 there are known issues where the speedo stops working for some reason but like I say it’s never happened to me so I’ve never investigated that problem myself.
I’d say the more the better because it’s a big heavy car but they’re not really that bad even with the 163, I towed a fully laden car trailer no problem. Only thing to watch is the later more powerful engines have more issues with the carbon build up, swirl flaps etc, it’s not a reason to avoid them but it’s something to consider.
Hi David, very nice car indeed, naturally the later the engine the more emissions regulation they have so by 2010 they may be up to Euro 5. Just look for one that has been well looked after and you can't really go wrong especially at only 10 years old. If you buy one with pretty low mileage and intend to keep it for a long time then try to get the gearbox oil changed if you get an auto.
Look for a service history that’s around once a year or once every 12,000 miles. The lower the previous owners the better typically. Check if the gearbox has been maintained or replaced as 180,000 is probably when an auto would be misbehaving.
I’ve got the exact same model, almost. The only difference is mine is 2007 and has no TVs at the back, but it’s Executive model. Got few question if you could help: 1. The speaker system only has very high tones. It seams as there’s no bass at all. Any clue here? 2. My car didn’t come with a spare wheel. I bought a space saver and keep it in the boot. Is there a way to keep the space saver underneath the car? 3. The plastics panel on the driver seat that’s around the seat position changing buttons is broken. How do I find a new one? Is it easy to replace? 4. What radio do you have? Did you fit it yourself? I’m looking to do the same. Thanks in advance for all the help! Cheers! Raf
Hi Raf, I’ll try to help where I can. 1. The sound systems are very good as standard on Volvos so I imagine that the settings may have been messed with to raise the treble or lower the bass. I haven’t got one to check at the moment but if you try the manual you should be able to find guidance on how to raise the bass or lower the treble. 2. I had this exact scenario on my previous XC90. The spare wheel is supposed to be underneath the car. I can’t recall how it is attached but you’ll need to check if there’s a bracket there and see if you can obtain an original spare wheel. 3. The plastic on the sides of the seats breaks on all the XC90, V70 and S60s I have seen. It is possible to replace with only one or two small screws and an electrical connector attached. You can look for a second hand one on eBay or at a breakers. 4. This car had a Kenwood double din fitted already however I have replaced them on the V70. You’d need an alternative fascia costing around £30 and whatever stereo you want to fit but you may find this a tricky job on your own. Also make sure you have whatever wiring adapters are required. I have a removal video here: ruclips.net/video/cE3Ko7kdIqc/видео.html
It depends on exactly what you want but you’ll definitely appreciate all the extra cup holders? I had a w203 with the electronic steering lock problem but I never fixed it unfortunately.
Running costs of the XC90 will be significantly more, you could consider the V70 as a compromise but without knowing your requirements it’s hard to comment.
@@IAMASPANNER I just want a big and safe vehicle, and volvo is the safest out there ,also an affordable option. A Range rover or something similar from bmw etc will be an endless money pit. I will definitely check out your suggestion also
Recently having issues with gear shifting on geartronic gearbox 2007 V70 170000+ miles. You mentioned in feedback with Scimitar123 that issue could be solenoid valve problems. My question is could a TCM software upgrade resolve the issues that I am having?.... Any info would be greatly appreciated.
If you’re very lucky a combination of an oil treatment (not change) and a software update could help but at 170k I’d be very surprised. My C30 2.4 D5 Geartronic wouldn’t improve at all even at only 130k. An oil change could make the gearbox behave even worse. If the problems are really bad now then it may already be too late for a simple fix unfortunately.
Are the Mercs on air suspension? Without knowing I’d still assume the XC90 is cheaper on parts. The XC90 isn’t the lookers option even if the R-design looks better but it is the one I’d always choose based on reliability and maintenance costs.
@@IAMASPANNER my ML350 doesn't have air, but prices have come way down on non oem air suspension parts on those rides. As cheap as $150 per corner and there are plenty of how to videos on youtube. Buyers shouldn't fear these Mercs anymore. They are typically diy friendly with many parts costing less than what's on my Ford Taurus X (built on the Volvo XC90 platform). Most have very solid drivetrains. The noise of the the cheap interior plastics in this video make me cringe. To each his own though.
I've 2003 XC90 2.4 Diesel MK5 5 seat - 5 gear auto at 335.000 kilometres. Only one in my country Turkey because it's import from Italy. Don't buy it unless you have balls to pay up. Go buy proper reliable car.
Huh, I never knew that. I always heard people saying 5 cylinders sounds like a baby v10. I want a 5 cylinder xc90 because not everyone has a 5 cylinder. Thanks for some of the info.
I helped design this first XC90 in Sweden, inside and out. The first concept car for the Detroit show had a windshield that stretched the whole length of the roof. Originally, we intended to have sliding doors, but it took too long to develop them.
That’s really interesting! I’ve always wished there was a more MPV style Volvo I could use for family and business. I’ve used a P2 V70 for the last 5 years. The XC90 would’ve been great with a pan roof. Do you know what the plastic panel at the back of the roof is for? Was there an option for dual sunroof?
@@IAMASPANNER
From what i recall,il was meant to be a hatch for carrying long items verically.
I love this cars design
@@IAMASPANNER which plastic panel do u mean?
@@seesikopter right at the back on top of the roof.
I'm looking to buy one of these. Great review and thanks for taking the time to put this together.
Thanks Gavin, really appreciate this!
Did you end up buying? Do you regret it?
I saw a dealership in zion illinois i think they had a crap tone of them
What a great review. Thank you, I'm not buying one, but I'm on my third XC90 now. Got the T6 in 2011 in the UK, then got a D5 euro 3 in 2014, now i'm the owner of a D5 euro 4 purchased in Ireland since 2016.
You've pretty much hit every major issue these very good cars can have.
Thanks for all the tips.
Keep it up,
Cheers
Supreme Unicorn Thank you kindly, glad to help!
Great Review! I've just bought a D5 2003 XC90 with 260k on the clock. Still going strong and in very good order for it's age. Keep up the good work.
Hiya, really enjoyed that. I've had 240s,740s,850s,v40s,v70s,xc70s,s60s,i love volvo and have been driving them for 40 years, looking for a xc90 now you have been very helpful. Thank you. Monty.
From all the volvo's , which one would you reccomend to be the most reliable?
I drive a 2003 model. 120k on the clock. Love it.
Finally, someone that knows what he's talking about!!! Looks like a great car, looking forward to getting one soon.
Enjoy! I can’t wait to buy another!
Solid review ! Good job ! I am on my second D5 now which has close to 400tkm on it......planning to replace it this weekend with another XC90 with less mileage. Just love this car.
Best XC 90 review I’ve seen on RUclips, thank you for making this. I’m considering buying an XC 90 is a second car to run the dogs around in.
Thanks Ian that’s very kind! Perfect car for the dogs, part of why I ended up in my V70 and have had it for nearly 8 years 😊 I have an XC90 again now but use it just for towing.
spot-on information..I have a 2007 xc90 2.4 D5 and only needed Swirl flaps doing at 73K miles..fitted new flaps and arm. Runs perfect, smooth, fast and getting good mpg now that's repaired. A great video looking forward to more to come.
Wow that is early! It’s very common that the arm comes off or breaks but I’m surprised the flaps needed doing at that mileage unless they were just done to be sure it doesn’t happen again. Glad it’s sorted for you and you’re enjoying XC90 ownership. Thank you for the kind words!
Absolute beast car. I have the exact same model as you and honestly it’s my favourite car. My engine mounts are actually broken as you said so you’re spot on👌
i have this car it has 382 000 KM on it and still runs like a charm and sart up even in -25c after sitting for 2 weeeks
Great review man! Just bought myself a 2010 xc90 D5, had to upgrade from my 96 850 T5 as family getting bigger 🤣👌 full service history 89k miles, love it!
Thanks Alan! That sounds like a really good buy. I love the 850s. I’ve been offered a phase 1 V70 T5 but I can’t currently take it on until I’ve fixed and sold my 335i. I hope you enjoy XC90 ownership as much as I have in the past!
I would call it an amazing buy, in love with the XC90. Also I didn't want to sell the 850 but had no choice. I do love the 850s also. Once the kids are grown up ill be looking for an 850 T5 or 850R. Amazing cars and lovely engine noise 👌
Hey, man. Good video.
I like your style - genuine, honest. Don't change anything. It's working. Ppl can relate to it. 🙂
Thank Vinz, that’s very kind of you to say, I’ll try my best!
Thank you so much for this excellent video! I'm currently looking to replace my V70 with an XC90 and your review/advice has really helped me. You have a way of cutting through the crap and getting to the point and I appreciate that. Cheers Tolly.
Hi Stuart, thanks for the feedback. If I were to continue reviewing cars that's exactly what I would be aiming for so I'm glad that's how it came across. Good luck with your search for an XC90!
I literally just brought a 2005 XC90 for transportation for my Labradors and it has 174,000 miles on it, I have only driven it a couple if time ( brought it about a week ago) It has full service history and just been fully valeted and hardly any marks on the outside so this review helped! I hope mine will keep running for a few years so I can get as much use out of it as possible!
I hope it does you well Carl, I miss mine tremendously but can't hold on to every car unfortunately. I'm glad the video helped you too!
@@IAMASPANNER it did help - yeah there have been a few cars over the years I’ve wanted to keep but regrettably had to part with.
Great review thanks. I drive a 04 model. 220,000 miles and still never missed a beat. With that said, it gets an oil change every 7k.
Thank you, you’ve got one of the best early ones for reliability and it’s nice to hear you keep on top of maintenance. I have nearly 300k on my 2004 V70 D5. I absolutely love these cars and can’t wait to own another one day!
What about your gearbox on that millage still going strong?.
@@Newmanplayz I sold it last year, but at the time it was going great. I changed the gearbox oil shortly after I bought it, and it appeared that it had never been changed
never missed a beat my ass lmfao I've '03 XC90 at 350k kilometres and I know the wear on this car.
Fantastic review, Tolly! Taking delivery of a 2008 XC90 R-Design with the 4.4L Yamaha V8 tomorrow. Really great review. Sad we don’t get the D4 and D5 diesels here in the USA. Cheers for the informative video and in-depth knowledge of the car. Definitely helps me reaffirm the purchase. X
Thank you very much! I envy your purchase very much. I imagine the V8 XC90 will increase in value at some point because it’s the only V8 car Volvo did other than the S80. I’d absolutely love one! Hope you enjoy your purchase 🙂
Tolly Swift mang thanks for the kind words! I’ll report back. Very excited. They just get rarer and rarer. This one has been taken care of and I’m very excited. Thank you for the well wishes!
Great review fella, im thinking of buying a 2010/11 , this was a great help thanx👍
Hope you find a good one, good luck!
I had a XC 70 and i loved it! If i didn't need a van i'd still have it. Would like the 90 next though , for the ground clearance.
Thanks for very helpful account of XC90 , gives a good hands on feel .as a prospective buyer am trying to get up to speed with versions etc and this really helped !
( buying for one reason : ' comfort ' as reckon seating of se lux and exec mega+ good suspension - feel new makes / all makes couldn't compete ! ) gave us a nice insight into the car and look forward to learning more about living with a big Volvo 🤞happy motoring
Glad to help Brian, I hope you find the car for you!
Fantastic review am seriously considering buying an XC90 ,much needed for family of 5 plus persuaded by the level of comfort .Lot of vehicle for small purchase price.
Thanks Stephen. A lot more reliable than the competition too with much less to go wrong. Hope you find a good one 👍
Best review I’ve watched !
Thankyou
Thank you for the kind words Shane!
Nice video, I've just brought my first xc90 2007, picking her up Saturday 😁
Hi Tolly, great review! I bought an XC90 D5 AWD Exec. model in 2015 with 77k. Now has 159k. I have had it serviced at least every 10k. Have had a new intercooler, discs all round (usual maintenance), had to change injector wiring loom. Currently have a diesel leak on the fuel return from the top of injector 3. I've removed them all and the retaining clip has worn a groove in all of them but number 3 is particularly bad so changing them all. I've just removed the hose from EGR to inlet manifold and removed approximately 1/2 inch of carbon deposit. EGR next with inlet manifold and swirl valves (I've messaged you on another video on that). Its a great car and is going to get some well needed TLC. Now living in south of France so I'm going to undertake maintenance myself now as have more time. Thanks again for your videos, they've inspired me to do this stuff myself!!
Thanks very much Sean! I’m guessing with you wanting to clean the swirl flaps it’s a later model than this. Hope it all goes well for you. So glad to hear that you’re tackling the jobs yourself now, that’s exactly what I like to hear. Did you take a UK car to France or did you source one locally?
@@IAMASPANNER I imported my 2005 XC90 2.4 D5 AWD Executive last year to France. Is it not possible to clean them on this engine and do I need to replace the swirl flaps? The engine is the D5244T4 👍
@Tolly Swift - A piece of advice please? Where do I buy the Vida software and Service manual please.
@@seanphillips24 after a quick Google that engine number does appear to be the later engine with swirl flaps. There’s a video on my channel which shows how to remove them, it requires removal of the injectors and intake manifold though.
@@seanphillips24 I think Vida is a subscription service, there are alternatives though. In all honesty I’ve never had to use it so aren’t clued up with how it all works. I’d suggest the online forums for the info.
love that number of bottle holders and a fridge! It should have a toilet too! LOL! I want one of these cars xx
I'm getting one!!!
Thank you for your advice. Best regards.
You are welcome!
I went and looked at one of these today and your review has really helped me out, thank you!
I’m really glad to hear that, hope you find a good one!
Great review Tolly mines a 2008 XC90 brilliant car, just got a click now and again when I brake, it's in for a service next week so should get sorted.
Thank you Gavin, I wasn’t so sure but have been receiving good feedback! Glad you like your car, missing mine now but it wasn’t required anymore due to the lockdown, they won’t make cars like this again!
nice review, what year is it?
Pre 2005
A bit late but better than never uh, you did a great review here, well done.
Thank you 🙏
Great review you get my sub ,off today to buy a 2009 r design xc90 . 1 owner 54 k full Volvo service history . Just come out of a 4 year shogun sport rolling renovation hope the xc is a reliable as the SS . It will certainly be smoooooooother hahahaha. Off now to go through your vids .
A 54k XC90 should be a dream to drive, I’m very jealous, hope you enjoy XC90 ownership and thanks for the sub!
Very good review. Thank you!
Thanks Vladimir that’s very kind 👍
Very good review 👍
Thanks for watching! 👍
Great review thanks
Great video! Love the review! :)
Thank you Rafal!
Top video !
Thanks Matt!
Good review, thank you.
are you the lad on the bike from the Hovis ad
I'm 23 and would love a first gen XC90... don't know why haha always thought they were cool
Get one they’re great, I miss mine but too many cars currently!
Great review mate good to see what common problems there are on these before you buy one! I've currently got a V70 euro3 d5 auto and I absolutely love it, it's fairly powerful quiet and comfortable, im looking at the XC90 as the family is getting bigger so good to see someone giving an honest review. The problem I've found with my V70 is it can be sluggish when you slow down then come to accelerate (like at a give way) is this a common thing with these boxes? Any advice would be great! 😊
I love an automatic but these Volvo auto gearboxes often ruin the car. I think even a well serviced one isn’t the best gearbox no matter what you do.
Great video,I’m going for a 2011 with 200 bhp ,thanks
Very helpful thanks!
Glad to help!
Useful review thanks for sharing.
Very timely review am impressed. Getting a used similar specs from Uk with 100k miles 2014 . Would love to hear your reviews on the 2013-2014 models
I’d love to get access to a 2013/14 model and do a review. Hope you enjoy your new car as much as I would!
@@IAMASPANNER Thanks will keep you posted. Am subscribed
Nice one Tolly...Great little review.I,m currently in the market for one of these with about £4.5-£5 k to spend,if you were buying another one and were on my budget....what would be on your shortlist to look for?You mentioned the Euro 3 engine is a better buy,what about cam belt change intervals?Any info you have would be great..thanks
Hi Baz, thank you very much! 4.5-5k is a great budget for an XC90 and it all depends on your preference. There are plenty of newer, lower spec “Active” models available at that price but I would go older. If you want the car to look a little bit fresher look for newer than 2007 or even better an “R-Design” model. If you’re less bothered about looks and more about the reliability overall look at pre-2005 with as low mileage as possible and as few owners as possible. The cam belts are every 90k as far as I can remember but should’ve been done on a 15 year old car regardless of mileage. Personally I would look for a pre 2005 with around 100k miles, a FSH, 1 or 2 previous owners, sat nav, full leather and preferably buy privately and ask lots of questions. I’d then take the car straight for the gearbox oil changing! I have no faith in used car dealers lately and haven’t ever really had a good experience with them. If you want to know anything more specific just ask. Hope some of this helps, I could go on forever! Tolly.
@@IAMASPANNER Thanks so much for your detailed reply Tolly thats really nice of you...one quick question,when you say "Active" model what does that mean?
How u doing great review and the interesting part was the fact u talked about auto box oil change as mine has full Volvo history although I don't actually know what that entails as they can't tell me but I've just purchased 12 LTRs of gen Volvo oil to do flush and drains on the g box . Dubious now after watching your video as u say it can cause issues . What kind of issues do u know . At the moment around 30 to 40mph my car changes up and down too many times for my liking any thoughts
Sometimes the condition of the deteriorating oil can be what’s keeping the gearbox operating properly. What’s I’d do is change the oil and if it makes the gearbox worse add some of that Lucas stuff that basically thickens the oil.
Thanks
subscribed, nice review
Thank you! 🙏
Swapped oil on my s40 2.4i auto, no issues at all. I guess it just depends on the state of the gearbox. Some people report horror movies after swapping gearbox oil. I did mine myself
Really good review. You should do more of them! Looking for a 7 seater and have this shortlisted along with the Mercedes R320 and the Nissan Qashqai+2 2.0L Petrol. Love the light interiors in the XC90 especially with the 4 spoke wheel. Veering more towards the Qashqai due to the ULEZ in London - which is supposed to be extending to cover a larger area. Just wondering if you buy and sell cars? Cheers
Thank you, I hope to do more in the future, currently occupied with a big job on the 335 I bought after the XC90 in the video. The Qashqai would probably be the most economical to run and repair should you have any issues. I’ll always sing praises for the XC90 and it would be my first choice although I have to say if budget allows the R class is a really interesting option and I have always wanted to try one myself. I do buy and sell cars but not as a dealer, just the cars I want to experience and then move on. I hope you find what you’re looking for and would be interested to know how you get on.
Well done tolly good video, would you say the last XC 90 original platform made which would be 2014, would be the best buy?
Thanks Geoffrey, I certainly would, I'd absolutely love a 2014 XC90. The end of an era of properly built to last Volvos.
hey man, i liked your video!
i have a question, you mentioned don't look mileage but service book... i saw 2007 model d5, but it went 330.000 km, the car looks great inside and outside, and service book looks proper...
does it make sense buying car that went more than 300k?
Mileage isn’t an issue just make sure the timing and auxiliary belt have been done along with regular oil changes. 2007 will be Euro 4 so not as reliable as pre-2005 but they’re still good if looked after.
Hi Tolly loving the vids very informative i owned an XC90 about 12 years ago a low mileage example but never kept it that long but now want another would you entertain buying an 03 2.4d auto with 208k miles on the clock ?
Thank you! I would consider it yes but I’m able to do the maintenance myself. You’d want to see an extensive service history and receipts for the gearbox being serviced as much as possible at that mileage. The engine itself being a pre-2005 Euro 3 shouldn’t give you any issues. My 2004 V70 2.4 D5 is just about to reach 300k!
@@IAMASPANNER Thanks for the reply i think i will look for another with service history i do as much maintenance as i can but know a friendly mechanic that i use now and then when i can't do the work. I did notice the A/W transmission and 2.4d engines are nowhere near the price or as rare as the Toyota L.C equivalent i had sometime ago so not all bad if its just a straight swap over which i bet it isn't ;-)
@@cbv8 Lexus cars have a service schedule for the gearbox whereas the Volvos are classed as “sealed for life” which is why the Volvos have all the trouble despite being the same gearbox used in many many other cars.
@@IAMASPANNER hi it was a Toyota Landcruiser i was referring to but you are right most autos are said to be sealed for life which is a load of rubbish as the trans fluid has a life span aswell and when that goes bad so does the box my search continues although i am also considering an 06 XC70 2.4 D5 auto 116k mls with fsh decisions decisions anyway keep up the good work ;-)
How l access the sound in the rear entertainment
TOLLY SWIFT BRILLIANT YOUNG MAN .
Why so many? Did the others break?
Excellent review.
I’ve just sold my old Range Rover with the 4.4 due to reliability issues and want a car that is at least reliable and does more than 13mpg 🤣
I’m buying tomorrow a 2009 Volvo XC90 2.4D5 with 80k on the clock.
If it’s as good as your video states I’m really looking forward to it.
Currently have a Mercedes E320 CDI which has been great and very reliable but it’s too low to the ground especially loading kids etc hence the change to the XC90.
What’s the difference in spec of the standard XC90 and the SE, SE LUX and executive?
Hi Robert, I'm sure you'll be much happier with the cost of ownership. I've seen many awful jobs on Range Rovers, the XC90 is much better to work on. The trim levels determine standard equipment levels. I think by 2009 base spec. was the Active trim level. I've had an E320 CDI and I agree, with the split tailgate an huge rear doors it's so much easier for loading items and children. I hope you're happy with your purchase!
I’ve just bought one and trying to figure out how to get the phone to work.
There a slot for a SIM card in the dash but I’m not sure if you’d also need to register for Volvo On Call.
is the exec the highest spec on the mk1?
great video i am looking to buy one as i need an auto and 7 seats and its between this and a touran. What else should i look for, i am uk based i have about £5k to spend. would like a higher spec, leather, electric seats xenons would be perfect. what should i be looking for. Great video, great to se someone so young in a volvo. Do they have isofix in the middle and rear rows? thanks
5k is a great budget for one. I see more issues with swirl flaps on the later ones so look for one that’s had everything to do with the EGR cleaned and check for smoke on startup when cold. Take a look through the receipts for work done and look for anything to do with smoke or loss of power. If you want a high spec one that looks good go for anything later than 2007 and avoid the “active” models as they are the base spec ones. There are plenty of “se lux” and “se lux premium” within your budget. Tourans are a great budget car/van and running costs would be considerably less than the XC90, personally I’d prefer to put my family in the XC90 though! Good luck with your search and thanks for the comment 😁
*Isofix is only on the outer 2 seats in the middle row but you have a built in booster in the middle*
Hi, watching all the way from Cape Town, South Africa. Some good pointers and insight shared, many thanks. I came across after watching another review with some tips on the error codes. I'm going to view an 97 XC90 2.5 D5 in the morning and these Vids have been helpful. At present, the vehicle has an error message when trying to start up. It says "start prevented, please try again". I understand this to be fob related but I'll see when I get to him in the morning. If you know anything about this error message and why the car starts and doesn't at other times, kindly advise since I could do with more insight since this would be my first Volvo.
It's not something that has ever happened to any of my cars, I hope you got sorted if you did buy the car.
@@IAMASPANNER I ended up buying it with hopes to fix this. We're doing a diagnostic this evening after reaching out to a volvo service manager. So let's see where this gets us because I've thus far checked all fuses, relays, I haven't sprayed electrical cleaner into the fuse boxes yet but all fuses looks good. I've also changed the car battery since the battery I got it with was a much smaller battery with practically half the CCA. I've also changed the fob battery and attempted to reset the immobilizer by the known methods of locking and unlocking, switching the key from off to position 2 5 times and on the 6th to start... This helped at times, got it to crank at least but other times just heard the relays clinking away. So I'm hoping to get some results from the diagnostic test and hoping it's nothing major because I actually drove it twice that day when I bought it
@@nabeeljacksonrhoda6480 Good luck Nabeel, hope you’re getting somewhere with it by now. At least the weather looks pretty good for you right now, we’re getting below freezing on a night now. All the best.
So this was a few years ago. Do you still have it? What issues did you have ect please. I’m thinking of buying one.
As long as you get a Euro 3 engine the most common issue would be an auto gearbox. I didn’t keep the car in the video but I have 2 manual D5 XC90s now.
thank you for getting back to me on that. I really appreciate it. @@IAMASPANNER
Excuse me, How did you change the radio for the screen (the after-market stereo)? what type of adaptation did you use?
Thanks!
great video, how can find what engine type an xc90 has, i am hunting for 90k miles 09-11 year but now want to make sure its Euro 3
Thank you! You can tell by the older all black engine cover however the Euro 3 was only available until 2005 so you’d have to buy an older model. They’re still a good engine later on but if you take a look through my videos I have one that shows how bad my 2007 Euro 4 D5 intake was filled with sludge. Euro 4 went up to 2009 so if you wanted 2009-2011 you’d be getting Euro 5. The earlier years the better in my opinion for reliability but obviously the later models are much better looking so you’d have to weigh up the pros and cons and decide what’s best for you.
@@IAMASPANNER many thanks for the knowledge, i actually sold 2004 T6 2.9 that ran on lpg, was brilliant until the lpg burnt out the vavles seals, had the head redone but was never the same again, local volvo specialist hasbadvised me to go for any D5 as long as the miles are low which is kind of hard to find unless you go forecourt surfing and pay over the odds for a trade in or unrecoded damaged goods.
They’re right to advise the D5 but you could also consider the 2.5t petrol although they are probably just as bad as the 2.9 on fuel so would be good on LPG. I wouldn’t worry so much about the low mileage just try to find ideally a 1/low owner car with full service history and if higher than 150k miles it’d be ideal if the gearbox has been done if you’re after an auto. I bought my V70 on 232k and it now has 297k but that’s manual so I have nothing else to worry about than normal maintenance really. I know you’ll probably be used to driving an XC90 and want to stick with them but the V70/XC70 can offer great value for money if you can manage without the 7 seats or the extra luggage capacity of the XC90.
@@IAMASPANNER thanks bought a mint late 09 D5 R design with 130k 2 owner fsh, had it a few days now, love it, paid £5k
Sounds great, very jealous! Hope it serves you well for years to come and the price sounds good too.
Did you put in the aftermarket radio?
Was there any trouble with wiring it in?
Just got an 04’ d5 manual xc90 loving the build quality!
Aftermarket radio was already fitted, you can get wiring harness adapters that make it plug and play. However, parking sensors and sat nav no longer worked so I’m not sure if there are specialist wiring harnesses available that don’t interfere with this. Also on my V70 my aftermarket stereo stopped the volume buttons on the steering wheel working. Congrats on your purchase!
@@IAMASPANNER yeah I’ve seen them but I believe you need to keep the display unit etc plugged in behind the new radio to stop fault codes etc, just wondered how you got on if you did it yourself but no worries. Cheers on your video here anyways really influenced my purchase 👍🏻
Do you think the d5 a better bet than the t5 petrol?
I’m just scared coz a friends Nissan diesel when the injectors went it was 6k to replace.
It depends what you want, I’ve had both, they’re both not ideal for such a large car. Mine wasn’t strictly a T5 but the 2.5T used to average less that 20mpg whereas the D5 can average over 30mpg. The injectors aren’t that expensive (£20-60 used) on the D5 and it’s unlikely you’d need to replace the lot anyway. I’d go for the D5 personally or if petrol preferred consider a gas conversion.
Mines done 178k it’s an 02/03 still doing 30mpg
I read online that since these were made there have not been any fatalities driver or passenger 😊
I honestly wish cars were still made like this. I regularly see 55-60mpg out of my 296k 2004 V70 D5 😁 the safety side is a big part of it for me too and I’m just glad that even now with Chinese ownership they still push this! But they’ll never be as bombproof as this era of Volvo!
Tolly Swift same here Tolly in the 4 years I have had it I have had replaced fuel pump, front discs & pads, timing belt (as per schedule), alternator pulley, washer pump, rear shoes, only issue is when fuel gets too low on the gauge like in the empty block and light on and tank states 50+ miles left it sometimes cuts out won’t restart eventually will go into limp mode so I never let it get too low apart from that never let me down 100% safe car
2012 with 119k on the clock 2.4 d5 awd
Great review, I don’t know weather to go for the XC70 XC90 or V70? The only thing that puts me off the XCs is the diff/4wheel drive system, will I be asking for hidden nightmares?
I’ve never had the XC70 but with the ride height being higher than the V70 I imagine it’s a nice bridge between the V70 and XC90. I wouldn’t worry about the 4wd system and diff over the gearbox to be honest. My first XC90 had had a replacement transfer box though so I’m not sure if there are any common faults. Big cars do put extra strain on things, best world for reliability is manual 2wd so I suppose it depends more on what you need?
@@IAMASPANNER thank you for your input, just want an estate for a couple of grand with less than 150k on the clock.
Just a manual V70 D5 pre 2005 with a full service history I would suggest, should last you forever!
lots of useful info Just sub'd will watch your other vids Thanks !
I can live with the fact that the engine is noisy, but how noisy is the car while cruising on a highway with 90mph (enviroment, tires, etc)?
With the 5 speed boxes they do rev quite high on the motorway, a little less with the later 6 speed ones. They’re very quiet overall, the engine noise isn’t so noticeable when driving it’s just a very distinct thrum of a 5 cylinder engine. Tyres it would depend what you have fitted, I imagine snow tyres would be pretty loud.
Nice video I’m considering buying a 2005 model with 150k on the clock 2.4 d5 se I’m hesitant the miles may be too high although I’ve seen them with much higher any opinion please
Hi Chris, 2005 is one of the perfect years for reliability. The engine is euro 3 so no DPF or swirl flaps. Volvos are usually religiously serviced regardless of cost early on in their lives so just check the service history carries on after the first owner. The only thing to worry about may be the auto gearbox but issues may not be apparent until the car is very warm, symptoms usually start with a drivetrain shunt you’ll feel when downshifting from 3rd to 2nd or 2nd to 1st which you’d probably notice the first time after a long motorway trip. Never worry about high mileage on the Volvo D5 as long as there’s a full service history. I bought my V70 on 232k 5 years ago and it’s going great at 296k now despite being neglected a bit. Hope this helps but any more questions I’ll try to help where I can. Good luck! Tolly.
Tolly Swift thanks I appreciate the advice that’s great I just did a history check and it has advisories the worst being both rear inner seals slightly corroded and rear sub frame corroded the dealership are offering 3 months warranty but I am slightly put off by finding that out I’m no expert looking at cars is that serious enough to look elsewhere would you say thanks
What are the symptoms indicative of?
Are 185 bhp ok for power , thanks
would you reccomend a 2005 163 hp over a 2007 185 hp?
Any day of the week, yes.
Is the turning circle as bad as they say? Thanks!
I hadn’t noticed it having a bad turning circle if it does compared to other cars. Obviously it’s huge so it’s bigger than a lot of cars, just aim to have rear parking sensors!
$1200 for a 2006 135000 mile xs90 with a bad turbo. Very clean, one owner. Any advice?
Get it bought if you haven’t already, turbo doesn’t look too hard to change on these, should be plenty of room in the XC90 engine bay!
@@IAMASPANNER Got it for 600 and a blown Toyota sienna. Every warning light is on. Battery MIGHT die overnight (I disconnect it). Pulls bad to the front left when I brake. A clunk if I hit a pot hole front left. Seems to not want to shift into the highway gear. It wants to roll backwards on a steep incline at stop signs. There's a buzz after I turn it off from backseat passenger side (fuel pump?)...And the "open door" bell won't shut off half the time when started.
It's peppy, though! I think the turbo is OK...I hope.
@@jeremiahshine sounds like you’re going to have your hands full! Great price though.
@@IAMASPANNER Yeppers.
Which seats have Isofix for child seats? (i'm asking regarding the middle and back row).
Do the gearbox issues and oil change principals apply to the manual box too? That is supposed to be sealed for life too, but if you change the oil can you expect problems? Also what did you mean by issue with the clocks?
I’ve not encountered any issues at all with the manual boxes. My V70 has 296k and has only just started jumping out of 4th when I’m lazy with the changes. I wouldn’t expect issues if you changed the oil in the manual box as in the auto it’s the solenoids in the valve block that cause an issue and the manual doesn’t have anything like that. About the clocks, I’m not sure if there’s the same issue with the XC90 but on the V70 and S60 there are known issues where the speedo stops working for some reason but like I say it’s never happened to me so I’ve never investigated that problem myself.
Hi Tolly, my 2007 xc90 would it be euro3 or 4, and where is the turbo and pcv box situated?
Many thanks Geoff
Hi Geoffrey, Euro 4 and the turbo is at the back of the engine. I'm not sure about the PCV off the top of my head, sorry.
If the 185 bhp is ok for power ,is there no need for the 200 bhp , thanks
I’d say the more the better because it’s a big heavy car but they’re not really that bad even with the 163, I towed a fully laden car trailer no problem. Only thing to watch is the later more powerful engines have more issues with the carbon build up, swirl flaps etc, it’s not a reason to avoid them but it’s something to consider.
@@IAMASPANNER thanks mate 🙏
@@IAMASPANNER I might go for 185 then ,what about high milers , thanks
@@IAMASPANNER what about high mileage cars ,are they ok if they’ve got full history
Yes take a good look at history, low previous owners and long time owned by a family as these tend to have had money thrown at them.
Looking rough for 26 haha
Feeling rough for 26 too
what do you think about a volvo xc90 2010 executive 2.4 d5 , are they good?
Hi David, very nice car indeed, naturally the later the engine the more emissions regulation they have so by 2010 they may be up to Euro 5. Just look for one that has been well looked after and you can't really go wrong especially at only 10 years old. If you buy one with pretty low mileage and intend to keep it for a long time then try to get the gearbox oil changed if you get an auto.
What about one with 180000 mls 2006
Look for a service history that’s around once a year or once every 12,000 miles. The lower the previous owners the better typically. Check if the gearbox has been maintained or replaced as 180,000 is probably when an auto would be misbehaving.
@@IAMASPANNER Thanks 👍
I’ve got the exact same model, almost. The only difference is mine is 2007 and has no TVs at the back, but it’s Executive model.
Got few question if you could help:
1. The speaker system only has very high tones. It seams as there’s no bass at all. Any clue here?
2. My car didn’t come with a spare wheel. I bought a space saver and keep it in the boot. Is there a way to keep the space saver underneath the car?
3. The plastics panel on the driver seat that’s around the seat position changing buttons is broken. How do I find a new one? Is it easy to replace?
4. What radio do you have? Did you fit it yourself? I’m looking to do the same.
Thanks in advance for all the help!
Cheers!
Raf
Hi Raf,
I’ll try to help where I can.
1. The sound systems are very good as standard on Volvos so I imagine that the settings may have been messed with to raise the treble or lower the bass. I haven’t got one to check at the moment but if you try the manual you should be able to find guidance on how to raise the bass or lower the treble.
2. I had this exact scenario on my previous XC90. The spare wheel is supposed to be underneath the car. I can’t recall how it is attached but you’ll need to check if there’s a bracket there and see if you can obtain an original spare wheel.
3. The plastic on the sides of the seats breaks on all the XC90, V70 and S60s I have seen. It is possible to replace with only one or two small screws and an electrical connector attached. You can look for a second hand one on eBay or at a breakers.
4. This car had a Kenwood double din fitted already however I have replaced them on the V70. You’d need an alternative fascia costing around £30 and whatever stereo you want to fit but you may find this a tricky job on your own. Also make sure you have whatever wiring adapters are required. I have a removal video here: ruclips.net/video/cE3Ko7kdIqc/видео.html
I hope some of that helps although it’s all from memory. All the best, Tolly.
if there no bass, there is a relay in the rear fusebox that needs replacing
coming from a w203 mercedes c220 ,is this car worth it?
It depends on exactly what you want but you’ll definitely appreciate all the extra cup holders? I had a w203 with the electronic steering lock problem but I never fixed it unfortunately.
Tolly Swift my w203 is in a good condition just scratches on my the paint outside but i was looking for a bigger vehicle
Running costs of the XC90 will be significantly more, you could consider the V70 as a compromise but without knowing your requirements it’s hard to comment.
@@IAMASPANNER I just want a big and safe vehicle, and volvo is the safest out there ,also an affordable option. A Range rover or something similar from bmw etc will be an endless money pit. I will definitely check out your suggestion also
does this volvo xc90 have a handbreak
They have a foot pedal parking brake so no handbrake.
@@IAMASPANNER tysm
Recently having issues with gear shifting on geartronic gearbox 2007 V70 170000+ miles. You mentioned in feedback with Scimitar123 that issue could be solenoid valve problems.
My question is could a TCM software upgrade resolve the issues that I am having?....
Any info would be greatly appreciated.
If you’re very lucky a combination of an oil treatment (not change) and a software update could help but at 170k I’d be very surprised. My C30 2.4 D5 Geartronic wouldn’t improve at all even at only 130k. An oil change could make the gearbox behave even worse. If the problems are really bad now then it may already be too late for a simple fix unfortunately.
@@IAMASPANNER Much appreciated for feedback Tolly.
Let me know if you are salting it
I sold this before the video was even released, can’t wait to own another though!
The back row is horrible for tall people, but everything else plenty of room :)
I find it difficult to get in but it’s still impressive the seats are usable even if they are better for kids
Mercedes isn't perfect, but is the best. Why an XC90 over an ML350?
Are the Mercs on air suspension? Without knowing I’d still assume the XC90 is cheaper on parts. The XC90 isn’t the lookers option even if the R-design looks better but it is the one I’d always choose based on reliability and maintenance costs.
@@IAMASPANNER my ML350 doesn't have air, but prices have come way down on non oem air suspension parts on those rides. As cheap as $150 per corner and there are plenty of how to videos on youtube. Buyers shouldn't fear these Mercs anymore. They are typically diy friendly with many parts costing less than what's on my Ford Taurus X (built on the Volvo XC90 platform). Most have very solid drivetrains. The noise of the the cheap interior plastics in this video make me cringe. To each his own though.
I've 2003 XC90 2.4 Diesel MK5 5 seat - 5 gear auto at 335.000 kilometres. Only one in my country Turkey because it's import from Italy.
Don't buy it unless you have balls to pay up.
Go buy proper reliable car.
Ee, bah goom.
My thoughts exactly when I first started listening to myself talk in videos 😂
Sounds like a diesel lol
The 5 cylinder has a particular thrum though. Much like you can recognise the smoothness of a V6 diesel. 4 cylinders just make a racket!
Huh, I never knew that. I always heard people saying 5 cylinders sounds like a baby v10. I want a 5 cylinder xc90 because not everyone has a 5 cylinder. Thanks for some of the info.
Top video!
Great review,thanks
How long is the boot space with the third and second row collapsed?
is the fridge stock on the exec?