XC90 T8 Hybrid off-road?

[AstonZagato]

I drive a Land Rover L405 Range Rover. I'm happy with it but I fancy a change.

I'm intrigued by the tech in the XC90 T8 hybrid. I like the look of the thing too.

However, I do need to go off-road in the thing as I shoot. Boggy fields, rivers of mud, moorland tracks. The Range barely breaks a sweat. I've driven it places (with offroad tyres) that I saw a Defender struggle with (i suspect my rather clever electronics versus a not very clever driver).

I stick the dog and guns in the back and away we go. IF the XC90 can't do it, I would need to think again (and another Rangie would be the answer).

The XC90 probably makes more sense for the other 90% of the time I drive - short journeys to the station or into town.

So has anyone done this type of thing in the latest model XC90? I would spec the air suspension to get the extra ground clearance.

[spoonsuk]

AstonZagato said:

I drive a Land Rover L405 Range Rover. I'm happy with it but I fancy a change.

I'm intrigued by the tech in the XC90 T8 hybrid. I like the look of the thing too.

However, I do need to go off-road in the thing as I shoot. Boggy fields, rivers of mud, moorland tracks. The Range barely breaks a sweat. I've driven it places (with offroad tyres) that I saw a Defender struggle with (i suspect my rather clever electronics versus a not very clever driver).

I stick the dog and guns in the back and away we go. IF the XC90 can't do it, I would need to think again (and another Rangie would be the answer).

The XC90 probably makes more sense for the other 90% of the time I drive - short journeys to the station or into town.

So has anyone done this type of thing in the latest model XC90? I would spec the air suspension to get the extra ground clearance.

Do you need 4WD, as the hybrid power the rear wheels from battery power (2 x electric motors).

Once the battery is out you are FWD only.

[AstonZagato]

Probably would need 4WD. Not all the time but at key moments for sure.

[Murph7355]

spoonsuk said:

Do you need 4WD, as the hybrid power the rear wheels from battery power (2 x electric motors).

Once the battery is out you are FWD only.

Are you sure about that?

[spoonsuk]

Murph7355 said:

Are you sure about that?

That's what the dealer told me last year when I test drove one, and everything I read up on it.

Nice car goes like a scalded cat, but in the end too expensive.

[EdR]

spoonsuk said:

Do you need 4WD, as the hybrid power the rear wheels from battery power (2 x electric motors).

Once the battery is out you are FWD only.

It will actually power the rear wheels, even if you are out of battery - there is a petrol-driven generator under the bonnet that will power the rear motor (I believe it is actually just a single motor powering the rear axle, rather than 2 motors) once the battery has run out. Means that 4WD (and Power) modes are still available regardless of how much battery you have, at the cost of worse fuel economy if the generator has to run.

Regarding the question compared to the Range Rover, I changed to a XC90 T8 a couple of months ago from a L322 4.4TDV8: the XC90 is really a very good car, and drives on the road in a much more 'car like' manner than my L322 did, however I rather doubt that it would remotely match up to a L405 on the rough stuff. The air suspension is pretty good, but does not feel anywhere near as compliant as the range rover, and the axle articulation and ground clearance looks to be a lot different. I'd also imagine that the limited power of the rear motor (about 80hp / 180lb ft torque) would enable the power to be distributed amongst the wheels / axles as effectively as a Range Rover, plus there is obviously no low range gearbox.

I've only taken mine onto very mild offroad terrain, which it coped with perfectly, however I would question it's ability on tricky ground. There are a few videos of XC90's offroad on YouTube, which would give you an idea of what they could do.

[AstonZagato]

Concensus seem to be that Land Rover are about to upgrade the L405 Hybrid (they have stopped making the old one). Rumour is that it'll be a PHEV with the ingenium engine. Perhaps I'll wait for that.

[spoonsuk]

EdR said:

It will actually power the rear wheels, even if you are out of battery - there is a petrol-driven generator under the bonnet that will power the rear motor (I believe it is actually just a single motor powering the rear axle, rather than 2 motors) once the battery has run out. Means that 4WD (and Power) modes are still available regardless of how much battery you have, at the cost of worse fuel economy if the generator has to run.

Regarding the question compared to the Range Rover, I changed to a XC90 T8 a couple of months ago from a L322 4.4TDV8: the XC90 is really a very good car, and drives on the road in a much more 'car like' manner than my L322 did, however I rather doubt that it would remotely match up to a L405 on the rough stuff. The air suspension is pretty good, but does not feel anywhere near as compliant as the range rover, and the axle articulation and ground clearance looks to be a lot different. I'd also imagine that the limited power of the rear motor (about 80hp / 180lb ft torque) would enable the power to be distributed amongst the wheels / axles as effectively as a Range Rover, plus there is obviously no low range gearbox.

I've only taken mine onto very mild offroad terrain, which it coped with perfectly, however I would question it's ability on tricky ground. There are a few videos of XC90's offroad on YouTube, which would give you an idea of what they could do.

Thanks that's good to know, dealer I spoke to last year didn't know this.

Whats the 'real' fuel consumption like, ignoring the crazy quoted figures

[Itpsl]

Used to have a ff Range Rover 4.4 to v8 2011 model. Loved it amazing off road just utterly unreliable. Had an XC90 t8 for five days on demo. Astonishing car in so many ways. Okay off road but useless on a properly soft wet muddy field. Had to get a tractor tow after I got stuck. Slightest incline and it’s done for. Possibly the weight of the lithium batteries. That said the car is so amazing I might still go ahead and get one.