Some interesting points regarding the platform, though Mark (reviewer) obviously got a lemon with his XC90 (the one being driven is not the one he references as having the issues).
nyrhockey
I go back and forth on his reviews, so much of it is opinion, but overall he makes some good points typically. Ones that others sometimes miss.
I recently got a Lincoln Aviator, and he reviewed it and the Explorer sister car. He really had a lot of complaints about the Explorer, and basically said the Aviator's differences pretty much address them all (good to know after the fact!)
I recently got a Lincoln Aviator, and he reviewed it and the Explorer sister car. He really had a lot of complaints about the Explorer, and basically said the Aviator's differences pretty much address them all (good to know after the fact!)
Wow, this guy really sounds like he got a lemon and just loves to complain about everything. Some of the things he brings up:
18/mpg? - in the hybrid? I have the T6 and I get 22+ and 25+hwy
Braking? - compared to a 911? The car weighs 2 tons and for that, it brakes fine
Air ride sucked? - I hear that a lot, glad I don't have it
Polestar drives like ****? - first time hearing this from anyone
Tranny jerky? - it's no manual but for a SUV it fine
Tech is fine - bit outdated but I still love it
Leaky roof? - common problem
Oscillation? - unavoidable for an SUV. BMW and Audi aren't as bad but it's still not that big a deal
While I respect this guys opinion (I have no idea who he is), I disagree with most of what he said and I LOVE my 2016 and will get another one.
18/mpg? - in the hybrid? I have the T6 and I get 22+ and 25+hwy
Braking? - compared to a 911? The car weighs 2 tons and for that, it brakes fine
Air ride sucked? - I hear that a lot, glad I don't have it
Polestar drives like ****? - first time hearing this from anyone
Tranny jerky? - it's no manual but for a SUV it fine
Tech is fine - bit outdated but I still love it
Leaky roof? - common problem
Oscillation? - unavoidable for an SUV. BMW and Audi aren't as bad but it's still not that big a deal
While I respect this guys opinion (I have no idea who he is), I disagree with most of what he said and I LOVE my 2016 and will get another one.
This is the car he had
Without re-watching, I think it was a CPO, non-PHEV. His car had issues and none of them are unfamiliar to anyone who has spent time on this forum.
That being said, their channel has some odd takes. Just crapping on the Toyota bz4x but being totally fine with the Kia Nio BEV even though being very similar in complaints, etc. I take their reviews with a grain of salt. The production value is good, the meatiness of useful info is so-so, on par with Doug Demuro.
To add, they're sponsored up the wazoo so they're not some indie, public broadcast, no-ad company.
Heard the same complaints about reliability, the drivetrain and suspension elsewhere on the Internet on older SPA products. Volvo only really started figuring out their cars in the last 2 years or so. Even a mechanic I used to be friends with said avoid the turbo-super engine like the plague. Hopefully Volvo learns from this because they can't keep going down this path of not selling cars (anecdotally in Toronto). Volvo showrooms are dead everyday while the Germans are always buzzing here.
I would look at this information and take it with a grain of salt. I would note it but not swear by it. Different cars can have different problems. What I have found is many cars being sold today all have very similar problems or had similar problems. Oil consumption was a big one a while back and so many OEM's including Toyota who had the same problem. It is so hard to predict reliability on any new car presently. In my experience I found used older cars to be the lowest risk in terms of dependability because all the problems early on were sorted out long before and there is a wealth of repair information. However the problem with that also is you are not being exposed to the new technology. So it is a balance.
Demuro is pretty average with his reviews, but good for him as he's probably a millionaire many times over for average work. I do like his car auction site and just sold my second car through there and the process was pretty great.
SavageGeese takes it to a whole different level of detail. I don't watch all of their reviews, but those that i have they often put the car on the lift and show you stuff as they're talking and give you details from taking to the manufacturer so you often learn something while watching them.
SavageGeese takes it to a whole different level of detail. I don't watch all of their reviews, but those that i have they often put the car on the lift and show you stuff as they're talking and give you details from taking to the manufacturer so you often learn something while watching them.
The guy was all over about his terrible red R design in his previous video. He loved it so much.
Didn’t he notice that the transmission is slow? Didn’t he notice that the infotainment system is not his style?
Didn't he check the tire prices before? I just bought 4 Pirelli Scorpion AS 3 for $800 including tax so I don’t know what he’s talking about.
Gas mileage problems? I have a 21mpg average for the winter with snow tires and winter fuel.
Warped brakes? Yes, I’m on the 3rd or 4th set under parts warranty. So who cares? First set of front pads are on 3mm at 40k miles.
He is an idiot comparing this Volvo to the BMW X7. I was able to get a 2021 T6 Momentum for $550/month lease with zero down. The BMW was close to $1000/month. The buyout price for my Volvo just $36k. Can I buy a 3 row SUV for that money with the same room and amenities? Probably not and definitely not an X7 nor Q7. Oh, because he picked a highly priced version with all the bells and whistle? Sorry but it doesn’t mean that this is a GLS or X7 competitor. When I can build a $58-$60,000 GLS or X7, let me know so we can compare to the Volvo.
Taking 3-4 kids to school, training, road trips perfectly fine and much safer than any kind of minivan. The Volvo parts warranty is awesome and you can do a lot of maintenance by yourself. For the money it’s definitely a great vehicle.
Didn’t he notice that the transmission is slow? Didn’t he notice that the infotainment system is not his style?
Didn't he check the tire prices before? I just bought 4 Pirelli Scorpion AS 3 for $800 including tax so I don’t know what he’s talking about.
Gas mileage problems? I have a 21mpg average for the winter with snow tires and winter fuel.
Warped brakes? Yes, I’m on the 3rd or 4th set under parts warranty. So who cares? First set of front pads are on 3mm at 40k miles.
He is an idiot comparing this Volvo to the BMW X7. I was able to get a 2021 T6 Momentum for $550/month lease with zero down. The BMW was close to $1000/month. The buyout price for my Volvo just $36k. Can I buy a 3 row SUV for that money with the same room and amenities? Probably not and definitely not an X7 nor Q7. Oh, because he picked a highly priced version with all the bells and whistle? Sorry but it doesn’t mean that this is a GLS or X7 competitor. When I can build a $58-$60,000 GLS or X7, let me know so we can compare to the Volvo.
Taking 3-4 kids to school, training, road trips perfectly fine and much safer than any kind of minivan. The Volvo parts warranty is awesome and you can do a lot of maintenance by yourself. For the money it’s definitely a great vehicle.
It's all free content. What's there to dislike? Way better then cable tv imo even if I don't agree with all of what they say.
Interesting video. I own a 2020 V90 Inscription, and not an XC90. However, as we know, the SPA cars share much of the same architecture and features. With this said, the guy's comments about the XC90 needing improvements in "ride refinement and handling", along with lower mpg (for a 4 cylinder engine) are consistent with my experience with my V90. IMO, Volvo does an outstanding job with exterior and interior design, but could devote more energy to improving the ride quality and reducing interior noise. Overall, I love the V90 for its design, seat comfort and utility, but it's ride comfort and mpg are just average (and somewhat less than I would expect from a 4 cylinder engine using premium fuel). Particularly when riding over even minor rough road surfaces, as mentioned in the video, the noise and vibration transfer more than I prefer into the interior cabin. The very first time I encountered a very minor NJ pothole, the sound and vibration that penetrated the interior sounded and felt like an explosion coming from the dashboard. My guess is this has something to do with the lack of shock absorber travel and low profile tires (255/40/19).
Kinda funny how many jump on to say they have no problems but the forum is full of people asking help for the same car...
Back in November 2022 I watched Savage Geese video on his XC90 “deal”. I watched it actually several times - you can stop on the ceramic coat crap because that dude must have gotten it for free based on how much time the video dedicates to it. He was all in on the XC90 - he had some buggy stuff but he was quite enthusiastic about the car. I watched yesterday the new video and my first thought was - he is monetized on You Tube. He releases an updated video and it’s all about the 💰💵💸. Now he can do one on the X7 and cash in on that and in another year dump it for an Acura.
I drove my ‘23 to church today and back and thought there is no better car for the money than the Volvo XC90. Is it quirky? Yes. Will I burn rotors and breaks. Yes (My Dodge Ram Truck 55K needs new ones). But I have the mild hybrid and I get 25-26 MPG. Acceleration is awesome, handling and comfort are a 10/10. Suspension is stiff - my 4Runner and Dodge are 10 worse. I feel incredibly safe in this car. So this review is getting me zero dollars and I’ll be surprised if I get 2 likes. But that’s the truth. Sorry I have zero followers on you tube but I dare say nice reviews get many views.
VolvoRick
PS - how much does he think 21 inch tires cost? He is in the car business and he did not know they were expensive?
I drove my ‘23 to church today and back and thought there is no better car for the money than the Volvo XC90. Is it quirky? Yes. Will I burn rotors and breaks. Yes (My Dodge Ram Truck 55K needs new ones). But I have the mild hybrid and I get 25-26 MPG. Acceleration is awesome, handling and comfort are a 10/10. Suspension is stiff - my 4Runner and Dodge are 10 worse. I feel incredibly safe in this car. So this review is getting me zero dollars and I’ll be surprised if I get 2 likes. But that’s the truth. Sorry I have zero followers on you tube but I dare say nice reviews get many views.
VolvoRick
PS - how much does he think 21 inch tires cost? He is in the car business and he did not know they were expensive?
Honestly the best 2 cars I've leased/driven have been previous '21 XC90 T6 and now '23 XC90 B6. No issues what so ever. Last 3 years here in Miami you are seeing more XC60/XC90 than before. I like that with Volvo you get more for your money. BTW I've driven many different cars/brands.
I generally like his reviews, but he's not always on. Look at his review of the Acura RDX, then take it from this previous owner of 2020 that Acura had to buy back in 2020 at 10 months old- it was a complete nightmare. It was back at the dealer at 75, yes 75 miles because of an incorrectly installed front suspension. Then the tailgate misalignment creased the roof, it randomly stalled, the accident avoidance system would activate and stop it on the highway, and the infotainment would start flashing, the AC was inoperable, it wouldn't/couldn't get above 17.1 MPG, and on and on and on. The dealer was stymied, and the regional representative from Honda/Acura only cared to protect the company's interests. Savageeese RAVED about that car as if it was the second coming of Acura. OK. Critics are going to criticize and it's ONLY their OPINION.
The challenge with these "BEST CAR EVER!" or "WORST CAR EVER!" personal stories / reviews is the small sample size of the true population.
And those who do praise or complain are themselves a subset of the affected population - those who bother to make the time, or passionate enough, or literate enough to install a phone or computer app, create a username, write something coherent, etc. (For example, if 10 people have the warped rotor problem, only 2 will complain about it online, one on Swedespeed and the other to the US govt.)
While a collection of individual user data are not necessarily insignificant (and are an indicator in itself), imagine the big data that insurance companies, automakers, survey companies (like Consumer Reports) and the government have from which to draw conclusions - which one can also argue may be skewed.
Good luck!
And those who do praise or complain are themselves a subset of the affected population - those who bother to make the time, or passionate enough, or literate enough to install a phone or computer app, create a username, write something coherent, etc. (For example, if 10 people have the warped rotor problem, only 2 will complain about it online, one on Swedespeed and the other to the US govt.)
While a collection of individual user data are not necessarily insignificant (and are an indicator in itself), imagine the big data that insurance companies, automakers, survey companies (like Consumer Reports) and the government have from which to draw conclusions - which one can also argue may be skewed.
Good luck!
I enjoy his videos. Aside from complaining about the "expensive tires", I thought his review was pretty fair coming from someone who seemed to run into all of the common problems discussed on this forum. The SPA platform is starting to show its age when compared to the better funded competitors, but it still works fine for my needs.
Me, I had a trouble free 7 years with my 16 so I recently bought a so far trouble free 23. I'd also never buy a car from the dealer group I believe he bought his from.
Me, I had a trouble free 7 years with my 16 so I recently bought a so far trouble free 23. I'd also never buy a car from the dealer group I believe he bought his from.
Its pretty great that after many years on the road...the current XC90 is still one of the best looking SUV's on the road.
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
