How smooth is an xc90

Bill Edmondson · Aug 7th, 2011, 09:46

Not so much a problem, but a point thats been on my mind since buying mine.

How smooth should it feel. Not tyre wise but seat of your pants and soles of your feet wise, audable type way. Confused?

After selling my plush wafting v70 and buying the xc I am aware of the transmission I guess is what Im trying to say.

Theres a certain tiny roughness I can sense, the car runs perfectly in all respects but as above Im just slightly aware of the gears rotating kind of thing.

Does anybody else understand or have any thoughts?

XC90Fan · Aug 7th, 2011, 13:02

I think you mean how smooth is the auto transmission

To be honest I am not impressed with the transmission. The gear change is smooth but the progression is not nice at all. On the low gears it feels lumpy and slow. That is why a lot of people get their car tuned or chipped. This really should have been fixed by Volvo themself.

Apart from that the car is really smooth in every way. I am comparing it to an RX300 Petrol as that was my previous car.

The Painter · Aug 7th, 2011, 21:24

I`m probably not the best reviewer for the question due to the fact that my XC is only a year old and has covered only 2,000 miles, however I am constantly impressed with the level of both mechanical refinement and ride comfort, I wanted a 4 wheel drive that handled well but with some character as well, after trying pretty much all of the competition I was sold on both the handling/ride comfort ratio and also the sound and feel of the 5 cylinder engine, as for the gearbox smoothness and changing I think it`s up there with the best of them, but the XC is a far superior box to a Disco 4.

Bill Edmondson · Aug 7th, 2011, 22:14

Yeah agree with you on that, suspension, seats, gears and gear change, good engine, good ride.

My point was that there (in my case) is a certain extra audio/feeling over and above my previous v70's. Its not a disconserting one, but your sort of definately aware you have say an active differntial sitting next to your left knee under the car and its saying I'm here can You hear and feel me!

Bonkers description but its hard to describe. Imagine this there are smooth greased gears under the centre of the car, and one day that grease is mostly removed, you would be able to feel the difference wouldnt you.

Is this sensation I describe simply the fact Ive gone from 2 to 4 wheel drive and all that it brings or does anyone think I have a problem (apart from the mental one)?

owenfackrell · Aug 8th, 2011, 09:38

As yours is a 54 plate is your awd working?

Bill Edmondson · Aug 8th, 2011, 11:26

I cannot answer that 100% but can say it digs in hard with no wheel spin on an uphill floor it situation in the rain and pulls very well considering I have a boot full of heavy kit at all times which has always since owning it made me think how good the 4wd actually is.

So in answer am almost 100% sure it is yes.

I guess again what I mean is should you be able to tell its a 4wd due to the fact its got all that extra hardware under the car in the way it sounds and feels. Bear in mind as mentioned this isn't loud more of a sensation. I'm cracking up aren't I?

Paul XC90 · Aug 8th, 2011, 13:12

After only a couple of months of XC90 ownership (MY05), I get a definite sense of mechanicals working under you on all occasions other than during steady cruising when it just wafts along. There are days when I like the noise but have to say it can become slightly irritating - so I turn the music up!

I just put this down to being diesel 4x4 ownership having owned a couple of Misubishi Shoguns (3.0 & 3.5 petrol autos) in the past which to the best of my memory felt and sounded (diesel apart) very similar on the road.

Bill Edmondson · Aug 8th, 2011, 13:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul XC90

After only a couple of months of XC90 ownership (MY05), I get a definite sense of mechanicals working under you on all occasions other than during steady cruising when it just wafts along. There are days when I like the noise but have to say it can become slightly irritating - so I turn the music up!

I just put this down to being diesel 4x4 ownership having owned a couple of Misubishi Shoguns (3.0 & 3.5 petrol autos) in the past which to the best of my memory felt and sounded (diesel apart) very similar on the road.

Exactly my point thanks that exactly how mine is

bigtree · Aug 11th, 2011, 11:17

Interesting on the noise front, i still have a droning noise (after changing a faulty front wheel bearing), garage said that all the others are quiet on the ramp with a stethoscope.

so maybe its just the natural noise of a 4x4 that i am hearing and trying to track down. Others have described the noise as tyre noise. Bizare thing is it seems to quieten at 80mph!!

Aug 7th, 2011, 09:46	#1
Bill Edmondson AV Guru Last Online: Nov 19th, 2011 14:05 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Brighton	How smooth is an xc90 Not so much a problem, but a point thats been on my mind since buying mine. How smooth should it feel. Not tyre wise but seat of your pants and soles of your feet wise, audable type way. Confused? After selling my plush wafting v70 and buying the xc I am aware of the transmission I guess is what Im trying to say. Theres a certain tiny roughness I can sense, the car runs perfectly in all respects but as above Im just slightly aware of the gears rotating kind of thing. Does anybody else understand or have any thoughts? __________________ Careful, you could have somebody's eye out with that

Aug 7th, 2011, 22:14	#4
Bill Edmondson AV Guru Last Online: Nov 19th, 2011 14:05 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Brighton	Yeah agree with you on that, suspension, seats, gears and gear change, good engine, good ride. My point was that there (in my case) is a certain extra audio/feeling over and above my previous v70's. Its not a disconserting one, but your sort of definately aware you have say an active differntial sitting next to your left knee under the car and its saying I'm here can You hear and feel me! Bonkers description but its hard to describe. Imagine this there are smooth greased gears under the centre of the car, and one day that grease is mostly removed, you would be able to feel the difference wouldnt you. Is this sensation I describe simply the fact Ive gone from 2 to 4 wheel drive and all that it brings or does anyone think I have a problem (apart from the mental one)? __________________ Careful, you could have somebody's eye out with that

Aug 8th, 2011, 11:26	#6
Bill Edmondson AV Guru Last Online: Nov 19th, 2011 14:05 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Brighton	I cannot answer that 100% but can say it digs in hard with no wheel spin on an uphill floor it situation in the rain and pulls very well considering I have a boot full of heavy kit at all times which has always since owning it made me think how good the 4wd actually is. So in answer am almost 100% sure it is yes. I guess again what I mean is should you be able to tell its a 4wd due to the fact its got all that extra hardware under the car in the way it sounds and feels. Bear in mind as mentioned this isn't loud more of a sensation. I'm cracking up aren't I? __________________ Careful, you could have somebody's eye out with that

Aug 7th, 2011, 13:02	#2
XC90Fan Junior Member Last Online: Sep 3rd, 2011 21:59 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Bletchley	I think you mean how smooth is the auto transmission To be honest I am not impressed with the transmission. The gear change is smooth but the progression is not nice at all. On the low gears it feels lumpy and slow. That is why a lot of people get their car tuned or chipped. This really should have been fixed by Volvo themself. Apart from that the car is really smooth in every way. I am comparing it to an RX300 Petrol as that was my previous car.

Aug 7th, 2011, 21:24	#3
The Painter Senior Member Last Online: Dec 20th, 2015 16:07 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Wisbech	I`m probably not the best reviewer for the question due to the fact that my XC is only a year old and has covered only 2,000 miles, however I am constantly impressed with the level of both mechanical refinement and ride comfort, I wanted a 4 wheel drive that handled well but with some character as well, after trying pretty much all of the competition I was sold on both the handling/ride comfort ratio and also the sound and feel of the 5 cylinder engine, as for the gearbox smoothness and changing I think it`s up there with the best of them, but the XC is a far superior box to a Disco 4.

Aug 8th, 2011, 09:38	#5
owenfackrell Premier Member Last Online: Feb 4th, 2024 19:04 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: southampton	As yours is a 54 plate is your awd working?

Aug 8th, 2011, 13:12	#7
Paul XC90 New Member Last Online: Jun 12th, 2023 13:33 Join Date: May 2011 Location: Wirral	After only a couple of months of XC90 ownership (MY05), I get a definite sense of mechanicals working under you on all occasions other than during steady cruising when it just wafts along. There are days when I like the noise but have to say it can become slightly irritating - so I turn the music up! I just put this down to being diesel 4x4 ownership having owned a couple of Misubishi Shoguns (3.0 & 3.5 petrol autos) in the past which to the best of my memory felt and sounded (diesel apart) very similar on the road.

Aug 11th, 2011, 11:17	#9
bigtree Not so Junior Member Last Online: Jun 21st, 2015 19:43 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Birmingham	Interesting on the noise front, i still have a droning noise (after changing a faulty front wheel bearing), garage said that all the others are quiet on the ramp with a stethoscope. so maybe its just the natural noise of a 4x4 that i am hearing and trying to track down. Others have described the noise as tyre noise. Bizare thing is it seems to quieten at 80mph!!

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