Potential owner questions

[candell]

I posted on here a few weeks ago and received some great replies, I took a look at the XC60, V60 and V90 with the V90 being the front runner. The saleman was a bit of a plank and couldn't/wouldn't answer my questions. You folks will probably know more so here we go;

1. What intervals do Volvo introduce design refreshes, how long until the v90 will see one?
2. Does the car come with any smart features such as an app that can pre heat the car, set directions on my phone and send to the car, show whether the car is locked etc?
3. Does the satnav show live traffic data, an awesome feature of my current A4 is the Google maps live data
4. Does android auto and carplay work well in the Volvo
5. With Audi I could code my car to perform functions the dealers don't activate by default, such as chime on locking, mirror down when selecting reverse, lane assist etc. Does Volvo have anything similar?

Thanks

[nu11eaf]

1: ?

2: Yes

3: Yes

4: I would not pay extra for it.

5: Yes:
lots of selectable functions, no lock/unlock chime (on my xc90) but indicators flash on or off selectable.

[candell]

Thanks for the reply, question 1 fixed, not sure what happened there.

2. Is this Volvo on Call? The reviews are quite poor, although the audi app reviews are poor with people saying it never works but it works great for me

3. Do you know what mapping and traffic providers it uses?

4. can't believe it's a paid extra these days

5. thanks

[Clan]

Originally Posted by candell

Thanks for the reply, question 1 fixed, not sure what happened there.

2. Is this Volvo on Call? The reviews are quite poor, although the audi app reviews are poor with people saying it never works but it works great for me

3. Do you know what mapping and traffic providers it uses?

4. can't believe it's a paid extra these days

5. thanks

volvo on call is a major safety and security feature which they introduced 20 years ago ,now the germans are just getting in on the bandwagon :-) the phone app is just a useful gimmick .

https://www.volvocars.com/uk/about/h.../volvo-on-call

The navigation maps are by HERE and updates are every couple of months and FREE from 2012 ish .

[nu11eaf]

I have no problem with VOC and it works perfectly fine for me, remote start, door locking, trip journal and more, have all been fine with no problems, I have renewed my VOC for a further two years after my initial 3 years were up, maps on VOC are Google maps not sure about sensus navigation, you can select a destination in the VOC app and send it to your car, which has worked every time I have used it.

I find the remote start handy in winter to clear the screens and preheat steering wheel and seats and the car a little and in summer to cool it down when very hot before getting in it, sadly the summer time remote start does not get used very often where I live.

[candell]

Thanks Clan, the Audi maps use HERE also so I know my street will be on there. How are they updated, over the air or sd card or dealer?

Do the traffic updates come from HERE also, or use a third party such as Google maps?

Does the car come with a sim, can I tether it to my 4G phone?

[nu11eaf]

You can update maps over the air and via a USB stick from your computer/laptop, you provide your own data sim card or you can tether your phone by cable or bluetooth, using the phone as a wifi hotspot is easier but saps the battery so I keep mine plugged in to the charge point. Most on here use a 3 data sim card.

Some earlier base cars did not have a sim card holder as standard, ensure your cars has this and VOC. I would think they are standard on all cars now but best to check.

[WhatNext?]

I think if you upgrade the audio now, you get Android Auto and Carplay thrown in.

I will NEVER buy anything without it TBH. The main reason I didn't go for an X3.

There is no beating Google Maps (or Waze) for traffic.

The implementation could be better (full screen use), but if I had to do it again I WILL pay for it again

[Clan]

Originally Posted by candell

Thanks Clan, the Audi maps use HERE also so I know my street will be on there. How are they updated, over the air or sd card or dealer?

Do the traffic updates come from HERE also, or use a third party such as Google maps?

Does the car come with a sim, can I tether it to my 4G phone?

Maps are downloaded from the volvo support web site at 49 gb on to a 64 gb USB stick, then into the car , the car bit takes just under an hour , It could be a bit pricey to use your mobile Data ! I believe the traffic does come from Elsewhere Via the SIM or your tethered phone .

[mr rusty]

RTTI - real time traffic information relies on you putting a data sim in the onboard modem or connecting to the internet through a bluetooth tethered phone. I just stick a cheap data sim in - good for internet radio, spotify as well. I don't have android auto and don't miss it.

I find RTTI really good - as you zoom the map in and out it displays green amber and red road borders giving a good overview ahead. It will also suggest route changes (but I usually ignore these if they are detours off a motorway, because my experience is more often than not you are better staying on the mway)

VOC works great for me - no issues.

What V90 does come with as standard (not I believe on V60/XC60) is Pilot Assist with adaptive cruise. I didn't think I would benefit, but I use PA prob 50% of a motorway journey and adaptive cruise 80%.