Well, I used our 2004 T6 to tow our 12' aluminum enclosed snowmobile trailer over the weekend. I have to say that I was very impressed with how nicely the XC90 towed the trailer on DRY pavement. On the expressway, I towed the 2000lb load at 75mph, effortlessly and even hit 80mph a time or two. Over the 220 mile trip, I can count on one hand the number of times the transmission downshifted. I was pleasantly surprised. I averaged 12mpg on the trip. The previous week, we towed the same trailer using a brand new Chevy Silverado 4WD and that thing would downshift constantly. I would say that the XC90 is a way better tow vehicle than that Chevy truck even though I'm sure the truck can tow a lot more weight.
So, I bragged to my family and friends how great the vehicle towed the trailer and then I was brought back down to reality when I tried to get our trailer up our steep driveway and onto the road. Our driveway is plowed and slightly icy. I tried 7 times to get up that driveway, both with and without the DSTC on and simply could not do it. The tires would spin and spin and then I would have to back up and try again. Only my front wheels were spinning on the ice. Is this right? I thought I had an AWD vehicle. Why weren't my rear tires spinning? I've thought that the vehicle handles great in the snow and have barreled though 12" before with it with no problem. But on this icy driveway, I was helpless. In my opinion, the problem is three fold:
1. These Michelin tires suck in the snow/ice.
2. The DSTC is garbage
3. The AWD was holding me back
Is there a problem with my AWD? Should I have seen all four tires spinning on the ice? In my opinion, I should of had no problem getting up this grade with an AWD vehicle.
Now is where it gets worse. I unhooked my trailer and hooked it up to my dad's 1997 4WD Grand Cherokee. It only took him one try to get up the driveway with zero tire spin. I wish this XC90 was 4WD and not AWD. After this pathetic display, I am very disappointed in its performance. I bet a RWD CAR would have been able to get the job done over the XC90. So, what do you guys think? Do I have a legit beef with my vehicle? I am very disappointed.
So, I bragged to my family and friends how great the vehicle towed the trailer and then I was brought back down to reality when I tried to get our trailer up our steep driveway and onto the road. Our driveway is plowed and slightly icy. I tried 7 times to get up that driveway, both with and without the DSTC on and simply could not do it. The tires would spin and spin and then I would have to back up and try again. Only my front wheels were spinning on the ice. Is this right? I thought I had an AWD vehicle. Why weren't my rear tires spinning? I've thought that the vehicle handles great in the snow and have barreled though 12" before with it with no problem. But on this icy driveway, I was helpless. In my opinion, the problem is three fold:
1. These Michelin tires suck in the snow/ice.
2. The DSTC is garbage
3. The AWD was holding me back
Is there a problem with my AWD? Should I have seen all four tires spinning on the ice? In my opinion, I should of had no problem getting up this grade with an AWD vehicle.
Now is where it gets worse. I unhooked my trailer and hooked it up to my dad's 1997 4WD Grand Cherokee. It only took him one try to get up the driveway with zero tire spin. I wish this XC90 was 4WD and not AWD. After this pathetic display, I am very disappointed in its performance. I bet a RWD CAR would have been able to get the job done over the XC90. So, what do you guys think? Do I have a legit beef with my vehicle? I am very disappointed.
