I drive an XC90 T6 with 31,xxx miles on her, not a V90/V90cc but I believe they are very similar.

I like the whine of the engine and the very rare leap off the line of the T6. That being said, I've driven numerous T5 loaners, the T5 is quieter, and I like the way it builds speed more gradually. Driving normally, the only way I can tell the difference is literally opening the window and listening for the whine.

I absolutely love the look of the V90 and the V90cc seems like the perfect ride height but I feel that the XC90 is more practical. I don't think it feels too big on the road when I'm behind the wheel, I think they're within a few inches of each other.....they're all larger vehicles but much smaller than the suburban or almost any pickup these days.

I've never been left stranded and I intend to keep my XC for 9 years. I don't have nor do I feel that I need for an extended warranty. I'm very happy with her, if you want to look at your new Volvo, get the V90/V90cc but if the room is something that you'd value, take a look at the XC90. :beer:

 

I had this dilemma when I was shopping for a V90CC.

I wanted the T6 and never considered the T5. I believe I mentioned this in your previous thread, about owning the 3.2 XC70 and how slow it was.

I assumed the T5 was going to be slow but I was wrong. What hfwilkesjr says is correct, the T5 is quieter but the T6 will give you that extra boost off the line. Additionally I think the T5 is smoother than the T6.

There is a huge price difference between the two and if you're stuck on the Luxury Package then you really don't have a choice except to get the T6. However, if you're ok with the T5's option sets then I would highly recommend you drive a T5 first and then a T6. I think you'll be surprised just how quick the T5 really is. I have no problems flying past people on on ramps or taking off quick when needed. Sure.. I could be quicker off the line but I also saved a huge amount of money. I have no regrets on getting a T5 over a T6.

As for reliability.. well.. having owned lots of Volvos I can say, with a straight face heh, that Volvo's Turbo's need the proper love and care as they get older. They can be a bit fussy especially if dyno oil is used for example. Fortunately Volvo is fully synth on these cars. Having a supercharger on top of the turbo does mean more complexity for the engine so could possibly lead to less time between repairs but it's purely speculative at this point. These SPA T6 engines have not been around long enough to have the type of historical info you're looking for. The T5 has been around a little longer and hasn't shown to be having any major issues.

If I recall, someone may know more than me on this, Volvo offers extended warranties on your vehicle that is purchasable while your warranty is still in effect. That means, a week before your warranty ends you could make the decision then as to purchasing an extension or not. That may be the wisest option as after 4 years of ownership you might have a better idea of what to expect from the car.

My T5 is a lease because it worked out to be cheaper to lease than buy at the time I did it. It's a 7500 mile a year lease and with all my cars It's debatable whether I would cross that or not but it's kind of a moot point for me because I intended to purchase it regardless. At the end of my lease I will make the call on keeping it which I would do unless it was really giving me trouble. I'll have another year of warranty and will make the call on extending it or not. I generally don't do extended warranties unless I expect trouble but still want the car. I don't have it on any of my other Volvos. If something breaks I either fix it myself or pay to have the dealer repair.

So far my Volvos have been cheaper to pay to repair than the warranties offered.

Volvo's Service Plans: https://assets.volvocars.com/us/~/media/us/downloads/brochures/service-and-maintenance/volvo-vehicle-service-contract.pdf?la=en-us

 

Not sure if you are leasing or buying but if you are trying to decide between the T5 and T6, there are still new 2017 T6 models available near me for $10k off, which probably makes it cheaper than a T5 at that point. I test drove a couple of XC90 T5's two weeks ago and I would have been perfectly happy with that motor, though I was not driving over mountain passes with it.

 

Good info on the warranty. As far as log term reliability, I guess life is full of unknowns. I definitely get the 5 year itch with cars, actually I have had the Xc60 for 4 and it has beat my 2 previous cars. When I bought it I anticipated taking it to 100k then trade, but honestly, I just am at a point in life where I want the toys I want and work hard for it. And my car is my office so the creature comforts matter. And I don’t really buy other gadgets and toys than cars...Cars change so fast these days it’s nice move up every so many years. Ultimately if I get a new one soon I’ll wait on warranty. But I could see myself staying with one for the long haul if I really loved it. I have loved my XC60, but I havent “LOVED” it if you get my drift.

As far as seats, I’m not as locked into the massage seats as I was. I’m going to test xc90 and V90 and we’ll just see, but I like what you say about T5. I’m not an “enthusiast”.

As far as size, I plan to take my cases to the dealer and test all that out but I think v90 is probably plenty. It seems to have a long load floor, and my stuff tends to be more spread than stacked. My big case is just long but not taller than a seat back. It workslengthwise in my xc60 with seats up, but I have to put it in just right or the auto door won’t shut. I have other smaller bags I stick around it. Ultimately I am trying to carry less these days anyway, but my job certainly has seasons and I could see a time when things get crazy again and I need to carry more.

 

I will check into that. I generally buy. My mileage isn’t off the charts, but business can change quickly and my normal 1000 or so a month can jump, I already drive at the top end of normal lease mileage terms. my 4-5 year itch would certainly lend itself to leasing.

 

Aside from the actual differences in the engines themselves, and the obvious luxury package/seats, there are couple of other things that you simply cannot get with the T5 that were important to me when I test drove ...

1. laminated side windows - they really made a big difference in cabin noise compared to the XC90/XC60
2. air suspension - again, a big difference in comfort in my test drives of V90CC vs XC90/XC60 (though it's also due to the CC setup as well)

These might be of no consequence to you, but thought I would point them out.

As for cross-shopping against the XC90, that was my original choice - mainly for the vast amount of cargo space it offers - but a couple of test drives quickly showed that it drove and handled like the SUV that it is ... not my cup of tea.

 

1. laminated side windows - they really made a big difference in cabin noise compared to the XC90/XC60

I didn't know about this? Can you give more detail? Do you mean like privacy glass?

 

Your situation is very similar to mine, I've owned my T6 V90 CC for 4 months and done quite a bit of long distance driving loaded down with equipment for work.

Do you guys find that T6 is an amazing engine worth the extra coin and added complexity? I like smaller wheels for softer ride, so that turns me off T6. I also like cladding look but can live with full body color.

On the first part, I think the T6 engine is above adequate in every on-ramp experience I've had. I've never said "Oh if I had more power that would have gone better." Regarding the smaller wheels for softer ride, the main reason I bought this car was the excellent ride quality as well as seat support. I don't know that you will have a discernible difference with 18" wheels vs the 19". I've never said, "I wish this car rode smoother."

would I miss the T6 going over the mountain passes or should T5 still be plenty for it?

I'm sure the T5 would be sufficient, but the T6 would definitely be preferable in high-altitude and situations where your car is loaded with equipment.

Any greater risk of reliability issues with one over the other? What are the major reliability concerns people have seen? I know this is a toughy as people either seem to have no problems or a ton.

No issues yet, though I anticipate I will not keep this car beyond 60K miles because I have a feeling the electronics will develop issues.

Some of your reservations are exactly the same as mine. I usually buy a gently used, 2-year old car, and let someone else take the depreciation hit. In this circumstance, the value of the car was readily apparent and there was no such used market at the time of purchase. Even though the car has technically lost 30% of its purchase value already, it will all work out fine in the 4-5 year run and I have no regrets of the financial decision I made to purchase the car.

 

Questions:
Do you guys find that T6 is an amazing engine worth the extra coin and added complexity? I like smaller wheels for softer ride, so that turns me off T6. I also like cladding look but can live with full body color.

My perspective is somewhat skewed because I'm coming from a BMW 335i, which has an engine renowned for smoothness and linear power delivery. So, I find the T6's power delivery to be "lumpy" for lack of a better term. During test drives I found the T5 to be a smoother engine, but the T6 absolutely has more power. Is it worth the price premium? For me yes, although I'd prefer a turbo 6 instead of the turbo+super 4.

would I miss the T6 going over the mountain passes or should T5 still be plenty for it?

I doubt you'd miss the T6, but it comes back to what you expect. If you've got an XC60 T6, then maybe a V90 CC T5 feels too slow. But if you have a 3.2 or T5, then the V90 CC T5 will feel plenty quick.

Any greater risk of reliability issues with one over the other? What are the major reliability concerns people have seen? I know this is a toughy as people either seem to have no problems or a ton.

I haven't had my car for long so can't comment much, but so far mine has been fine. I had a glitch with the emissions system (bad fuel filler neck lead to an evap system leak, triggering a CEL), but I give that a pass since emissions control systems are stupidly complex these days, for all manufacturers.

I do have some long term concerns with the complexity of the twin charged setup, but that seems like hand-waving without hard data. My 335i has been reliable (outside of the high pressure fuel pump issues BMW had early on), so my experience with modern complex forced-induction cars is good. But I'm one guy on the internet.

Are they improving or working on the infotainment situation? My brief read on consumer reports(not the only source a read and I realize it has limitations) is giving new Volvos some pretty poor marks on many fronts including electronics, and pretty much every video I've seen online the reviewers seem to be generally annoyed by Sensus compared BMW and AuDi setups. What's the latest...Worth the wait til 2019? I would say, I can generally handle some electrical hiccups if they are fixable but engine or mechanical issues would be a huge turn off.

The current touchscreen Sensus takes getting used to, and I find its boot time unacceptably slow. I haven't been plagued with issues like others have; the XC90 forum is full of threads about issues with Sensus. So I think it is generally fine, and the design/integration is much better than most other manufacturers right now. I consider BMW iDrive to be the current gold standard and I'd certainly prefer a system with more physical controls to interact with, however I think Sensus is better than average.

My general opinion is that something newer/"better" is always on the horizon, so you can always be waiting. Unless there is confirmed information, I'd just consider what's presently available and if it works for you or not.

Any other considerations you might recommend? Anybody cross shop Xc90 seriously? I am worried it would drive so huge but from a safety standpoint bigger is better. I've briefly considered it. Also product would be a breeze to pack in one.

If you can wait, you may want to consider the new V60. The XC90 (and other SUVs in its class) strikes me as absolutely huge, but that's me. I didn't test drive it. I drove one of the new XC60s right when they first got here, and liked it a lot, but decided I preferred the V90 CC; I find it more comfortable and better sized for my family.

Good luck!

 

Laminated side glass was an option on the '04 R and after that was no longer offered in the US on the P2 R cars.

 

I think the T5 will give you plenty of power. If you're happy with your XC60's ride quality and cabin noise, you'll be just fine w/o the air suspension and laminated windows.

Are they improving or working on the infotainment situation? My brief read on consumer reports(not the only source a read and I realize it has limitations) is giving new Volvos some pretty poor marks on many fronts including electronics, and pretty much every video I've seen online the reviewers seem to be generally annoyed by Sensus compared BMW and AuDi setups. What's the latest...Worth the wait til 2019? I would say, I can generally handle some electrical hiccups if they are fixable but engine or mechanical issues would be a huge turn off.

BMW and Audi's inputs are more complicated but not touchscreen-dependent. Once you get used the Sensus infotainment system, I'd say it's very, very good. I wouldn't expect any huge improvements or changes for MY19. When the Android-based system goes live it will be a little different, but still touchscreen-based. My biggest complaint is the POI voice search function rarely returning the right results, but Google Local Search can find everything okay.

Also, I wouldn't worry at all about what Consumer Reports has to say. They're probably one of the worst sources for car reviews you can go to. Their best cars list includes the Toyota Corolla, a complete POS and one of the worst in the class. Probably the most blaring example I can think of that demonstrates their poor decision-making skills. Almost anything would be a better choice than a Corolla right now.

Anybody cross shop Xc90 seriously? I am worried it would drive so huge but from a safety standpoint bigger is better.

It offers a lot more space for the same money, but ride quality is king for us (my wife suffers from chronic pain, and long drives can be difficult) so we didn't even consider it once I realized the tremendous difference there.

 

It offers a lot more space for the same money, but ride quality is king for us (my wife suffers from chronic pain, and long drives can be difficult) so we didn't even consider it once I realized the tremendous difference there.

+1

 

I have had my V90CC T6 for just about a month now, so consider my comments as coming from someone still in the "honeymoon" phase of car ownership

My last car was a 2010 XC70. While I really loved this car, I quickly came to regret not buying the T6 then. I lived with that decision for 8 years (almost to the day), so when I decided it was time for a replacement, I did not even consider the T5. I knew it would be a T6 or nothing.

Reliability is TBD. My last Volvo was completely trouble free with ZERO repairs outside of normal maintenance in 134,000 miles. However, I am putting a lot more miles on my car theses days (20,000+ per year), so I decided (for the first time ever) to opt in on an extended warranty.

I too saw a lot of negative reports about the electronics, mostly from the perspective of them being difficult/confusing to use. To be honest, I have found them to be really quite intuitive and easy to use. I only wish there was a way to activate/switch between the cameras from the steering wheel (when pulling into a parking space). I am concerned about the reliability of all the electronics over time, which is another reason why I opted for the extended warranty.

So far, the only thing I am really disappointed with is the relatively small size of the gas tank, at 15.9 gallons. On average, I seem to be getting about a 10% improvement in fuel economy over my XC70, but the fuel tank is 20% smaller, hence, more stops at the gas station


One more thing to consider, the T6 does require 91 octane gas, I am not sure about the T5.

 

One thing I might consider if I were in your shoes in mile high Colorado and needing to make frequent trips around that fine state is the performance of a moderately large car like a V90 at higher elevations. Last time I went through the Rockies our Avalon (which has a very similar power/weight ratio to a T5 V90) was gasping a bit at those high passes. Perhaps more noticeable to me, since we live at 310’ above sea level...lol. I’m not a speed freak (anymore!), but I think I would lean towards a T6.

Of course I’m biased as we’ve ordered a V90 (not CC) for delivery in Göteborg in May, with the T6 AWD.

Cheers!
Bill

 

One thing I might consider if I were in your shoes in mile high Colorado and needing to make frequent trips around that fine state is the performance of a moderately large car like a V90 at higher elevations. Last time I went through the Rockies our Avalon (which has a very similar power/weight ratio to a T5 V90) was gasping a bit at those high passes. Perhaps more noticeable to me, since we live at 310' above sea level...lol. I'm not a speed freak (anymore!), but I think I would lean towards a T6.

Of course I'm biased as we've ordered a V90 (not CC) for delivery in Göteborg in May, with the T6 AWD.

Cheers!
Bill

Although the power to weight may be the same, an important difference is that the T5 is a turbocharged engine which has a clear advantage over normally aspirated engines at high altitudes. They still loose power at high altitudes but not nearly as much as a normally aspirated engine does. I absolutely love having a T6 but I consider it the cherry on top of a delicious dessert but the T5 is still a delicious dessert. Enjoy your V90, I cant wait to see pics of it!:beer:

 

I would love a T5 as I don't mind slower engine... But when you add all options, the T5 is not attractive, many options not available and many are standard on T6...

So unless.you are going for base model T6 is a better overall deal IMO

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

 

I think that even the Drive-E T5 in the SPA models is better than the 3.2L I6 in the previous generation XC90. I always hated that engine.

As far as ride comparison goes, the XC90's higher center of gravity and additional 400 lbs (at T6 Momentum trim and including the additional set of rear seats and additional rear glass weight) make a huge difference in ride quality. The V90 Cross Country's widened stance, narrower body, and special tires are icing on the cake.

 

I think that even the Drive-E T5 in the SPA models is better than the 3.2L I6 in the previous generation XC90. I always hated that engine.

No argument from me on that point. My late and unlamented 2010 V70 FWD had the 3.2L I6 and it was a slug, although the older, more primitive six-speed tranny didn't help it any. The poor performance, not to mention the chronic oil guzzling of one quart every 3K miles from day one, caused me to dump the car after 18 months. I was just thinking of the V70 yesterday while driving my new V90 FWD T5 on its first road trip. There is simply no comparison between the two big wagons. Despite being 500 lbs. heavier than the V70, the T5 and its stellar 8-speed tranny pull the V90 as readily and nimbly as they did my previous two V60s. The V90 is a joy to drive, whereas the V70 was a chore.

 

good discussion, I'll add my 2 cents. These are expensive cars, don't skimp on the engine. Go for the T6, you won't regret it.....and as long as you're on a roll, negotiate in the Polestar. This car is way more fun to drive than our '13 XC70 with the T6, go for the gusto, you could die tomorrow.

 

.....you could die tomorrow.

Hopefully not in the new Volvo!

 

So I was looking and I am in love with PIne Grey. Anybody have any idea if that will be expanded to v90 CC for 2019 in the US? I found pics online of one, presumably in Sweden, and love it. It is on the OSD list for 2018 but , not with luxury package and also I gather osd cars are sold for 2018 so I guess it will depend on 2019 options, no?

 

As I understand it, in past years it was possible to get some "European" colors on some OSD cars. When I asked about a year ago the answer for V90's was a resounding no. Perhaps things have changed since then, perhaps one of the gurus here can give a more definitive answer. There were a couple of colors on past V70's that I would have preferred, but I'm relatively happy with the Maple Brown/Amber coming in May.

Have you seen Pine Grey in person? I searched and found a XC90 in that shade and found it to be not as green as I would like.

Good luck!

 

I was originally considering OSD myself, and was told that there is some flexibility in option combinations for OSD that are not otherwise available when ordering for domestic delivery. Since I did not end up going the OSD route, I cannot say if this really true, it is just what my dealer told me.

Maybe just give your local dealer a call and ask.

 

I am impatiently waiting for the V90 Cross Country wagon to come out in T8 form, but I fear that Volvo cannot or will not do the right thing and make both axles work with both the electric motor and the ICE, like other plug-in hybrid manufacturers do (Audi, Porsche, etc.). This is a huge defect in Volvo's thinking -- having a weak electric motor run only the rear wheels and the ICE run only the front wheels. As has been discussed in other threads in this Forum on the T8 vehicles, it is very problematical, because you don't get a very good AWD vehicle this way, and safety suffers (one of Volvo's prime mantras). There is no way that a V90 Cross Country will be a better AWD vehicle if you take away ICE power to the rear wheels and power them with only a much weaker electric motor; one is better off then with just a gas-only vehicle, and I think the same is true of an XC90 T8.

Is there no hope for Volvo to change its model and have both electric and gas power going to both front and rear axles?

 

I am impatiently waiting for the V90 Cross Country wagon to come out in T8 form, but I fear that Volvo cannot or will not do the right thing and make both axles work with both the electric motor and the ICE, like other plug-in hybrid manufacturers do (Audi, Porsche, etc.). This is a huge defect in Volvo's thinking -- having a weak electric motor run only the rear wheels and the ICE run only the front wheels. As has been discussed in other threads in this Forum on the T8 vehicles, it is very problematical, because you don't get a very good AWD vehicle this way, and safety suffers (one of Volvo's prime mantras). There is no way that a V90 Cross Country will be a better AWD vehicle if you take away ICE power to the rear wheels and power them with only a much weaker electric motor; one is better off then with just a gas-only vehicle, and I think the same is true of an XC90 T8.

Is there no hope for Volvo to change its model and have both electric and gas power going to both front and rear axles?

They can get more powerful rear motor from vendors. It is just matter of trade-off. It also matters how much / hard off-road trip you plan to take.

Fusion · Red · T8 · XC60

 

I like more the regular cargo volume than performance on wet, dirt, and other off-road. Actually off-road is limited to slow speed like 30mph. What kind of performance do you want in AWD mode? I assume not some off-road marathon contest.

So maybe you will like a T6 polestar car. For me T8 is just great and has adequate AWD capability for my winter trips.

Rolling, Fusion Red XC60 T8

 

I wasn’t really aware that the T8 and T6 were much different. Obvi I knew the rear wheels of T8 were electric drive. But I thought AWD is AWD. Ultimately my main need for it would be driving on crappy snow covered and snow packed roads when Denver doesn’t plow or icy deep slush....or when i need to keep it going up vail pass when it’s nuking without having a heart attack. I assume T8 would work fine in those Scenarios? I generally don’t do mud...sometimes will go on a dirt road for a trail head but I try to not go to really crazy places. I was too chicken to drive my dh’s XC90 over a creek in crested butte this summer and then A freaking girl in a CRv came rolling through and nearly flooded her engine but got out fine. So the moral of the story is I’m cautious.

I am still in preliminary planning phase for my next car and Waiting to see what osd looks like for 2019. I was set on v90 cc, but I’m intrigued by T8 and will shop xc90 and 60. I will test drive all eventually. I drive many shorter distances and return home thru the day as I work primarily from home when I’m not on the road. I could be plugged a lot, so I think the T8 could really “green” up my life. I believe the tax credits are about 10k for me(5k Colorado and 5 k federal); so effectively it is a nuetral up charge over t6 for me. The trickier part is getting good deals on T8 off lots From what I can tell...it seems dealers stock few and I’ve looked nationally and not seen many I even like. Discounts seem better on t6/t5, So if T8 would ultimately cost more for me, it would be due to ultimate sale price not being negotiated as much. I suppose I could special order or OSD a T8 but I think discounts are better off lot...I have seen some optioned t6 for almost 10k off, which doesn’t seem possible for T8.

Incidentally I’ve also seen some BMW X5 edrives (phev) for way less that T8 xc90’s with discounts., but the our bmw dealers locally list discounts on their sites better than Volvo dealers, they all just say “call”.

Anyway, hard decisions... I love me some v90.

 

T8 should be all right on snow. No worries as long as no extreme off-road. I assume we don't go wild with Jeep Wranglers.

T8 is super for short trips, where T5/T6 will gulp gas.

Rolling, Fusion Red XC60 T8