Opinion of new XC90 ride and Noise

[xc60ed]

I'm very close to buying a new XC90 Inscription with the standard 20" wheels and steel spring suspension. When I test drove one I was happy with the ride and tyre noise but looking back I only drove it on fairly smooth roads. I've been reading some reviews and they are critical of the road noise and ride quality on the standard steel springs. I would be very grateful for your opinions on this. Thank you.

[rich1068]

I don't think there are many on here who have hands on experience with the new XC90 but I would be wary of reviews. I've said it a few times recently but young men on expenses, being spoiled by a manufacturer and driving the upper end of a model spec are not people I listen to any more.

Also I'd check and double check that the one you've test driven is on standard suspension as dealers can be vague or just plain wrong about a car's spec. I could tell the options list had been ticked more than once on the one I drove but the very nice salesman said not. Really he just didn't know. And I'd also want to drive one for longer and over worse roads. If it's your own money you need to get past that "I'm in a new car!!" phase of a test drive.

[FE2015]

I own a first edition XC90 and have driven over 600 miles on it. Have also test driven the standard suspension cars.

Ride, even on the standard suspension is better than the OLD XC90. However, I personally felt that for UK roads, air suspension is much better.

Ride quality is subjective and depends on what you are comparing with. With air suspension, ride is very good indeed. Tyre noise is not a significant issue and only slightly annoying when you are on rough patches in motorway. Around town tyre noise isn't an issue..Having said that I'm on 21 inch wheels.

Both the 20 and 21 inch OEM tyres are not the quietest if you look at tyre reviews but they can always be changed to quieter michelins when they wear out. But don't let the reviewers put you off, it really isn't a major issue, at least for me and I previously owned a Lexus RX hybrid. I also test drove the XC90 and new Range Rover sport back to back.

In my view, from the options list, the following are the ones which are definitely worth having

- air suspension
- surround camera
- laminated windows (suppress the noise very well and safer as well
- if you can, head-up display

Hope this helps. I registered only after seeing your post - to help out, but if anyone else has any questions, I'm happy to help as I'm one of the first people to own the car.

[xc60ed]

Thank you both for your replies. I think tomorrow I need to double check whether the demo did have air suspension even though I was told not!

[FE2015]

For some reason, I didn't find any air suspension demo cars before I bought. Almost all dealers in Yorkshire had standard suspension demos. First air suspension car I tried was the first edition.

If you are not sure you can try taking the car out on rougher roads and motorways. But I found there is a BIG difference in ride quality between standard and air suspensions, particularly on rougher roads.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by xc60ed

I'm very close to buying a new XC90 Inscription with the standard 20" wheels and steel spring suspension. When I test drove one I was happy with the ride and tyre noise but looking back I only drove it on fairly smooth roads. I've been reading some reviews and they are critical of the road noise and ride quality on the standard steel springs. I would be very grateful for your opinions on this. Thank you.

Only the front springs are steel on the Non-air suspension cars , The rear uses a transverse composite leaf spring which first saw the light of day on the rear of the 760 back in 1988 , nice to see it back !

[RoyMacDonald]

Originally Posted by xc60ed

I'm very close to buying a new XC90 Inscription with the standard 20" wheels and steel spring suspension. When I test drove one I was happy with the ride and tyre noise but looking back I only drove it on fairly smooth roads. I've been reading some reviews and they are critical of the road noise and ride quality on the standard steel springs. I would be very grateful for your opinions on this. Thank you.

Trouble is the car is so quiet that any noise sounds louder than another car would because the sound isn't covered up by the engine, however having said that I did notice a bit more tyre noise on a heavily chipped road surface, not on bumps or elsewhere. There was less tyre noise on my XC60 but I've fitted quieter tyres than Volvo spec and they are on 17" rims. Bigger rims will always be nosier so if it's an issue for you spec the smallest rims you can. I don't think it will be an issue for people who drive with the radio on.

I drove the air suspension model and it's easy enough to see if it's got air suspension, just look in the boot. The tray under the floor will slope back and if you lift it up you'll see the air cylinders.

[xco]

Originally Posted by FE2015

I own a first edition XC90 and have driven over 600 miles on it. Have also test driven the standard suspension cars.

Ride, even on the standard suspension is better than the OLD XC90. However, I personally felt that for UK roads, air suspension is much better.

Ride quality is subjective and depends on what you are comparing with. With air suspension, ride is very good indeed. Tyre noise is not a significant issue and only slightly annoying when you are on rough patches in motorway. Around town tyre noise isn't an issue..Having said that I'm on 21 inch wheels.

Both the 20 and 21 inch OEM tyres are not the quietest if you look at tyre reviews but they can always be changed to quieter michelins when they wear out. But don't let the reviewers put you off, it really isn't a major issue, at least for me and I previously owned a Lexus RX hybrid. I also test drove the XC90 and new Range Rover sport back to back.

In my view, from the options list, the following are the ones which are definitely worth having

- air suspension
- surround camera
- laminated windows (suppress the noise very well and safer as well
- if you can, head-up display

Hope this helps. I registered only after seeing your post - to help out, but if anyone else has any questions, I'm happy to help as I'm one of the first people to own the car.

Hi and welcome to the forum by the way,

You sure are lucky to own a new xc90 and with air suspension as well.

I'm curious to know what sort of MPG you are realistically returning and whether city driving and motorway cruising give a greatly varied return in consumption.

Thanks in advance.

[FE2015]

Originally Posted by xc60ed

Thank you both for your replies. I think tomorrow I need to double check whether the demo did have air suspension even though I was told not!

Originally Posted by xco

Hi and welcome to the forum by the way,

You sure are lucky to own a new xc90 and with air suspension as well.

I'm curious to know what sort of MPG you are realistically returning and whether city driving and motorway cruising give a greatly varied return in consumption.

Thanks in advance.

Thank you for welcoming me. I've so far done about 600 miles, out of which about 100 on the motorway and rest is town/countryside.

Overall average MPG so far is 29.8. As it runs in, it's likely to improve. On the one motorway trip I've done so far, I got about 40 mpg, with 2 kids and 3 adults in the car.

I've turned stop start off, have driven on some hilly roads and I'm not a slow driver. In comfort mode mostly but played around with modes on and off.

For my driving, I never get advertised mileage on any car. But I think in this one the gap between what they say it will give and real life will be somewhat bigger.

[rich1068]

Just re-read my post. Apologies. Must have been particularly grumpy yesterday. Welcome