Why We Dumped the Volvo XC90 | Pros and Cons

We cover the 2023 Volvo XC90 Recharge updates and discuss the good and bad of the changes. This old SUV was released in 2015, and while certain things were great, many things were equally bad. We talked about why we bought one and why we sold it. Acura MDX, BMW X7, Audi Q7, Kia Telluride, and Toyota Grand Highlander are other SUVs to consider.

#cars #family #technology

Index:
00:00 The Pros and Cons of the Interior and Exterior
4:00 Why I sold it and the Problems
7:06 Platform Explanation
8:30 Driving Impressions and Final Thoughts

[UraniumTwoThirtyFive]

I've been waiting for this review. I bought one of the first XC90 T6 R-Designs (with Polestar tune) to hit the market, brand new; December 2015 was the build date. We drove it 50K miles, and we had not a single issue. I had read on forums of the some reported supercharger and even spark plug issues, but we never had a single issue with that car and those were extremely rare by volume. We loved it, but after our extended warranty ran out (which we never used), we had the itch for something else and couldn't justify buying a 2022/2023 given how our 2016 felt exactly the same (testament to the timelessness). Ironically, we bought one of the first off the line 2023 BMW X7 M60is, July 2022 build. I've had three CELs within the first 1, 000 miles and had to have a Driver Assistant computer replaced, but mostly all of those were just errors on the screen and not anything I could feel any negative consequence with. My air suspension failed entirely recently, but I found steps online to reboot the air suspension computer and it resolved itself despite initially telling me dealer service was required. Our Volvo air suspension never failed.

On air ride, I would get XC90 loaners often when I'd get my annual service, the coil spring XC90s rode so much rougher. My father has a 2015 Lexus RX350 he bought at the same time as we bought our XC90, every time he would drive or ride in our XC90 he was in awe about how much smoother the ride was and how awesome the air-ride was. I am similarly enjoying the X7's air ride, but I felt the XC90 air ride was night and day better than the coil spring XC90s, and the big Volvo community forum would agree with me based on "must have" options/opinions.

On brakes, within the first year or so of ownership, the brakes squealed, there was a recall and the dealer replaced rotors and pads and we drove on those for 40K miles without issues. I used adaptive cruise a lot and we made 5 or 6 long road trips to Colorado mountains with a lot of cruise control and hills. I also only bought one set of tires, Michelin Latitudes (<$1000 at Costco) at around 30k miles, granted I had to 20" wheels, the 22's seemed like a recipe for disaster.

I definitely think you had bad luck and a bad car. I used a machine car wash and never had any leaks, I wonder if your's had a poor windshield replacement done. Our Volvo was magical. I will say the Polestar mode and overall tuning of the transmission pales in comparison to BMW, it still was a great car that soaked up miles had and had plenty of power, but the drivetrain clearly isn't as refined and is more happy chilling or using it's great torque curve to effortlessly pass or charge hills; it's not great at the limit. The interior was exceptional as was the utility, although I'm loving power folding seats in the X7.

I believe your poor fuel economy was related to a variety of inter-related issues with your car including the running rich. Although I agree, the mileage wasn't super impressive considering it was a 2.0L, but we routinely got 23-24 on the highway and 20 in mixed. I'm getting 18 mixed with the M60i and it's got the mild hybrid, in general I'm getting 10-15% less MPG in the BMW but given its power, I can totally accept that.

I love your channel and videos, but all recent Volvo reviews seem to have a negative spin due to your single experience which puts a bias into the videos. I think is unfortunate and relatively isolated. I've owned 3 Volvos and currently have a 2022.5 V60 Polestar Engineered Extended Range as well. I've had nothing but fabulous, worry-free ownership experiences with all of them, and my dealer has been great about fixing things other dealers wouldn't (like small rattles, broken plastic AC vents from my abusive child and A/C smell cleaning). Anyways, keep up the good work, thanks for sharing your story, and for those on the fence on Volvo, I can testify owning three cars continuously since 2012 including the same car he had, they're fine automobiles!

[moloono]

The fact that Mark and Jack don’t sugar coat their reviews to appease manufactures makes my subscription that much more justified. Keep telling it like it is guys!

[MarkRVillano]

When they first came out with the option to have a supercharger *AND* a turbocharger, while also offering the ability to throw an electric hybrid system into the mix, I knew instinctively that this vehicle was going to be a hot mess. Toss in the notorious unreliability of an air suspension and you've got a vehicle that is all but guaranteed to be paying off your mechanic's mortgage all by itself.

[votekyle]

Volvos look new for a solid decade every generation. Even the 240 doesn’t look like anything else from the 70s

[Cv]

I admire your straight talk on the Volvo. After your review of the Highlander, I was left thinking "why do they judge the Highlander so harshly" ... but your comments on the Volvo reminded me why I have never considered that brand. A mechanic friend of mine loves Volvos. He said that over the years, repairs on Volvos, put his two kids through college. Great video!

[quixomega]

Mark's Volvo experience is exactly what I was worried about when I was looking at buying an XC40. I'm not saying I would have had the same problem, but it makes me glad I went with the Mazda CX-30 instead. I've had no problems in the first 2 years.

[JoeJHX]

We have a 2021 XC 90 T6 momentum, no issues with drivetrain, suspension or any of the issues you mentioned. I think you had a lemon 🍋 honestly. Very reliable so far and would probably buy again.

[mtunofun]

I’m an insurance adjuster in CA that’s been dealing with a lot of water leak claims this winter. I’ve seen this on countless makes and models including Toyotas, Fords, Honda, BMW, Mercedes, Audi. While the majority are 10+ years old, some were only 5 years old or newer. In your case, if it’s not a drain tube, it could be a worn seal on the windshield or sunroof.

PSA: regularly clean your sunroof drains and cowl grilles to remove any debris that may block the drain channels. If you don’t, water will go where it’s not supposed to.

[albertkee]

I own a 2017 Volvo XC90 T6 Inscription. Drive like the day I got it from the dealership. Literally zero 0000 problem. Considering the harsh and extreme climate here in Toronto Canada. I have no intention of parting with my Volvo soon. 💪

[williamdrijver]

Volvo's 2 liter gas and diesel engines are about cost cutting and greenwashing. As mentioned in the video, German car mags have tested the diesel against 3 liter six cylinder diesels: same fuel consumption because the small Volvo engine had to work harder.

[JeffreyARycus]

I own a 2016 XC90 T6 Inscription loaded with air ride, Polestar, etc. and I have not experienced a single problem that you have described. I get 24 + MPG on the highway and 20 around town. I just upgraded the vehicle's modem to 4G. Still haven't seen anything that I like better. I'm sorry you have had such a lousy experience, but, I LOVE my Volvo!!!

[sphaera]

The XC90 is arguably the best looking SUV in the market today, and with excellent ergonomics and practicality to boost. Still one of my preferred even with all its flaws… But I drive a Honda Pilot ;-)

[thebusinessend]

I can say your experience is nothing like mine. I have a 2016 xc90 t6 so not the plugin but its been amazingly reliable. The only issue I had around 55k was covered under warranty after my warranty had expired. Its the longest I have owned any car because we just like it so much. My plaid S is a POS on the other hand.

[Fabulousprofound]

I know someone who used to lease a xc90 that was nothing but grief, and it was the supercharger issue mentioned in this video that finally broke him. They told him because of lack of parts it would take half a month to fix (pre pandemic). There was about a month left on his lease at that point, so he told them he was done with it, walked to the bmw dealership across the automall he was at, and went home in a new x5 the next day, which he still drives and loves.

[jclouw]

As a Volvo diehard, this video put into words what I’ve always feared about the SPA Volvos. I remember when the new driveline was announced thinking that there was no way you could throw “all the things” at a 2.0 4 cylinder and maintain the long-term reliability and durability that Volvo has made a name on. I just hate to see that I was right.

Volvo’s whole schtick has always been interesting, but reliable powertrains. That’s how we got things like my 04’ XC70 turbo 5cyl that has 270k miles and still has the original turbo (only have had to replace seals), my 09’ XC70 T6 turbo inline-6 with 160k miles is following that same reliable path as well. I hope Volvo takes the lessons from the SPA cars and really, really irons out the powertrains in the next generation of cars. If not, Volvo will be losing a lot of long term clients. Which, for a brand with some of the largest returning-customer numbers of any brand, won’t turn out good for them.

[taylortunstill]

Most car review channels (that I’ve seen) don’t speak to reliability so this is so helpful! I was considering this car but had the same concerns you mentioned. Thank you for this!!

[ryanspeck]

The t5 4cyl in my v60 has been wonderful. 145k and maybe the best car I've ever had. So moral is no air suspension and no t6 it seems.

[ValdeSanus]

Sad you guys never got the turbo diesel. It's an old, but solid unit. None of the complication of the dual turbo and supercharger with more torque and better fuel economy. Way more popular than the petrol elsewhere for a reason.

You can pick up one of these outside of the USA with the D5 and you know the engine (old and well known) and gearbox (built by Aisin/Toyota), from a reliability perspective, is as good as anything else on the road.

Volvo had great petrol engines right before they decided to do this weird 4cyl experiment at the end. Yamaha 4.4L V8, 3.0L T6 (esp. in Polestar tune), 2.5L 5cyl Turbo. All solid, reliable, characterful engines (that all liked a drink though).

[shvkpr]

We're coming to the end of a 2020 xc90 T8 lease and we haven't had any issues with the engine or the mechanicals. The tech inside decides to randomly just not work, more so on the s60 we leased alongside. Idk if it's because my parents drive like NPCS or if it's because we've just been lucky but this is the second XC90 (first one was a 2018 T6) and yeah weirdly no problems

[briant]

wife has a 2021 T6 - absolutely no problems at all. Totally rock solid through 44k miles. The hybrid powertrain was just becoming available at the time - we decided to stay away from it. It seems we made a good decision. By the way, it gets 24 mpg routinely.