What to look for when choosing a used Volvo XC90

The Volvo XC90 crossover from Sweden was first seen back in 2002. A lot of time has passed since that day, but this car is still in great demand in the secondary market. Why did drivers and motorists like this stylish SUV, which is ideal for driving around the city and on suburban roads? Let's try to figure it out.

Why the Volvo XC90 is good

Volvo XC90 for all the time of production and operation has established itself as an excellent family crossover, convenient and comfortable, without serious complaints. Its main advantage is its price.

It is much cheaper than its main competitors like the popular Land Rover Discovery, the formidable Volkswagen Touareg or the BMW X5. Servicing a Volvo won't be a family budget collapse, and in terms of ease of repair and spare parts availability, the only brand that Volvo is inferior is Toyota.

In terms of choosing a used car, it is best to prefer a car with a turbodiesel engine or a 3.2-liter engine in the gasoline version. But it is better to refuse to buy a Volvo XC90 of the first generation - there are significant shortcomings that can ruin the life of even the most careful driver.

It is also not recommended to buy American-made cars. The ideal option is a car assembled in your home country.

Choosing a good XC90 is not easy. The first generation cars literally failed the crash test, for this very reason it is better not to look in their direction. The second generation of cars is the ideal family option. At the end of the year, the car received the "Best North American SUV" award, as well as an award from Euro NCAP as the safest car in its class.

Criterias of choice

Which Volvo XC90 should you choose today? The ideal option is a second generation car. At the heart of this car is a very reliable and comfortable suspension, and in the basic configuration there are 6 airbags, as well as a large set of assistants - driver robots. The body with galvanized protection tolerates Russian winters well. Sometimes there may be models with dull headlights and a peeled bumper.

Suspension

Before buying a used Volvo, it is helpful to know as much as possible about the car. It should be remembered that there is no need to expect any serious and cool off-road capabilities from this car. Therefore, the car is not suitable for complete off-road conditions, although it moves perfectly along suburban roads.

As far as comfort is concerned, the car is out of competition here. The suspension, designed by the engineers of the auto concern, will not let the passengers feel all the "charm" of Russian asphalt.

At the same time, there is no need to constantly carry out repairs - both the rear and front suspensions of the car are more than reliable. And they will not require huge sums of money in service.

The XC90 is a car that will require repair only after the first 100 thousand kilometers. And if the driver is careful and accurate, then this figure can grow up to 200 thousand.

Motors

Most of the cars that are sold on the secondary market in Russia have a 210 hp gasoline turbo engine. from. and various undercarriages. The engine is considered powerful and reliable, but it also has its problems. In winter, the work of the oil seal may be disrupted, and in the summer the thermostat may fail, which leads to overheating of the motor.

The same thing happens with other motors on the first generation cars. Therefore, it is better to refuse to buy them.

The ideal option is a car produced after 2007. Reliable motors are installed here, which turned out to be much more economical. There are both petrol and diesel options. In the second case, experts advise choosing an unpretentious option for 163 liters. The main thing in maintenance is not to forget to clean the ventilation system.

The most powerful engine for this car, a V8 for 315 horses, did not receive distribution in Russia, since this car had a high transport tax.

Transmission

The transmission is presented in three different variants and depends on the type of engine. It should be clarified that the gearbox is automatic, and this is one of the weaknesses of the car. The most problematic, but at the same time easy to repair is the four-speed automatic transmission.

Next, in terms of reliability, there is a five-speed gearbox, which is found in gasoline and diesel versions. It is expensive to repair, but with good care and driving at a leisurely pace, it can last up to 200 thousand kilometers.

The most problem-free option is considered to be a six-speed manual, but it is rare.

Before buying a used car, you need to check the performance of the all-wheel drive. This is done simply - a working machine rises on a lift and a gear is engaged. If at this moment the propeller shaft does not rotate, then the bushing is worn out. If the propeller shaft is spinning, but the rear axle is stationary, the problem is in the rear differential control module. Surprisingly, this part of the car may not be in place - according to statistics, it is stolen most often.

Exterior and interior

The body of the car has no complaints. The galvanized coating is reliable and time-tested. There are no traces of rust or corrosion on it.

As for the electrics and the interior, there are two troubles. But both of them are found in the first generation of cars and are completely excluded in the second. For example, in cars of the first generation, on-board computers often hung up, which made the trip impossible and even dangerous. The radio tape recorder also failed, and the BCS sensor, which is located under the front seat, failed due to high humidity.

As for the interior, here you can find a huge variety of materials and elements. However, cars that were supplied to Russia from the United States have poorer and less reliable interiors than those cars that came from Europe.

How Do I Pick a Good and Reliable XC90? It is important to remember that cars before restyling, produced in 2002-2006, are distinguished by a favorable price, only the degree of wear of the original parts of the car can go off scale.

The ideal option is cars made after 2006, which survived the main restyling, which affected all the main parts of the car, including the interior, exterior, engine and suspension. Your best bet is to look for a diesel powered car. It is devoid of many of the shortcomings of its gasoline counterpart, but the search can take a lot of time.

Problems with this machine are usually solved quite simply and not so expensive. But the problem with electronics in the first copies from the factory may be the main reason why the car may not like it.

Also, significant problems with the gasoline engine will require major overhaul. All this cannot inspire love for the purchased car. This means that your choice must be made with special care.

What to choose

When we choose a used Volvo XC90, it is better to opt for a manual transmission. But if you still like the automatic, then it is better to look for a six-speed box, codenamed Aisin-Warner TF-80, which is mainly installed on a diesel engine.

There are pluses here. The first is that it is easier and more convenient to drive on the machine. The second is that this option is much more reliable than a five-speed gearbox. This has been proven by practice and numerous reviews.

As for the four-speed gearbox on the first cars, it should become a complete taboo - it was a real experiment by the manufacturer, which did not justify itself and completely failed.