Torque Steer on T8

[stevew321]

Anyone with a XC60 or XC90 experience torque steer in their cars? I know this is hard to eliminate in a high powered transverse engine, especially with all power from the ICE going to front wheels. Just tried to overtake someone coming off a roundabout and when then car kicked down, I had to make a quick correction as the car pulled to one side unexpectedly. I have noticed this before On uneven roads especially when accelerating hard from low speeds. Is this normal? I’d say it’s borderline dangerous if your not expecting it. What are other people’s experiences? I’m a bit gutted as I feel like I don’t 100% feel confident when overtaking and miss the complete confidence I had in my 435d xDrive previously.

[dhr90]

Have you tried to be a little more progressive with the throttle pedal and building up to putting you foot down rather than stamping on it immediately? Works well if you give yourself a bit more of a gap to the vehicle in front to start off with and feels a lot smoother I’ve found.

[Snoodini]

I have a V90 T8 and don't really experience any noticeable torque steer.

[Director76]

Originally Posted by stevew321

Anyone with a XC60 or XC90 experience torque steer in their cars? I know this is hard to eliminate in a high powered transverse engine, especially with all power from the ICE going to front wheels. Just tried to overtake someone coming off a roundabout and when then car kicked down, I had to make a quick correction as the car pulled to one side unexpectedly. I have noticed this before On uneven roads especially when accelerating hard from low speeds. Is this normal? I’d say it’s borderline dangerous if your not expecting it. What are other people’s experiences? I’m a bit gutted as I feel like I don’t 100% feel confident when overtaking and miss the complete confidence I had in my 435d xDrive previously.

Yes - recognise what your describing but never to the extent of being hazardous. Lively definitely and worse on rough surfaces and when the tyres were getting close to worn.

T8 only ever provides 100% overtaking confidence, in my experience!

[stevew321]

Thanks for the replies.

I think I probably have been spoiled by a rear biased AWD system in the past because in the
4 series you could never detect any of this behaviour, however, this car is much more comfortable and has many other advantages. I certainly don’t really notice much when increasing speed over 40-50 when overtaking on an A road. This particular occasion was trying to get around someone from quiet a low speed coming off a roundabout.

At least I know it’s normal, which I suspected.

[isleaiw]

I suspect, but I am no expert, that the BMW shuffles power from rear to front and vice versa to balance grip and traction, whereas the Volvo has a FWD petrol engine and RWD electric motor and so isnt as clever in its routing of power...

But I could be quite wrong!

I am also coming from an awd BMW to potentially a T8 Volvo, and it is all about the comfort with decent performance in a car I can take (and leave) anywhere...

[laundryman]

Running a XC60 T5 i have never experienced this despite doing what you did tonight coming off a roundabout. I have managed to get the car to drift on a roundabout with the electronics complaining! Polestar is great! Used to get torque steer on mondeos with low tread on tyres.

[Director76]

Originally Posted by stevew321

Thanks for the replies.

I think I probably have been spoiled by a rear biased AWD system in the past because in the
4 series you could never detect any of this behaviour, however, this car is much more comfortable and has many other advantages. I certainly don’t really notice much when increasing speed over 40-50 when overtaking on an A road. This particular occasion was trying to get around someone from quiet a low speed coming off a roundabout.

At least I know it’s normal, which I suspected.

I ran 2 Touaregs before the T8, with 62:38 rear drive bias, so quite a different feel to the very front biased T8, the Tregs powered beautifully out of bends in a very predictable way (but with 245 hp not 407, so less work got the chassis to do!)

[metyr88]

I have XC90 T8 and I totally understand what you are talking about but I had Polestar optimization installed a year ago and the torque steer was gone. The torque steer really bothered me a lot and I was very glad that it disappeared.

Even only for this the Polestar is worth every £!

[stevew321]

Originally Posted by metyr88

I have XC90 T8 and I totally understand what you are talking about but I had Polestar optimization installed a year ago and the torque steer was gone. The torque steer really bothered me a lot and I was very glad that it disappeared.

Even only for this the Polestar is worth every £!

That’s very interesting. I would have expected that to make it worse but strange how it didn’t. I quite fancy the idea of polestar and they’re currently running a 14 day trial so may give it a go.