V90 - Which engine most reliable?

[Dracoro]

Hi

Am looking at V90 (ideally CrossCountry but not essential) and want to find out which engines are best (as an engine and reliability).

Given annual mileage (6000 or so) and diesel being more expensive (and more for the higher milers anyway), am looking at petrol models.

Would like a bit of “go” (but appreciate it’s more a cruiser) so excluding the 190bhp models. Which leaves the 250bhp (T5) ones, the 330bhp (T6) and 390bhp (T8) ones… Are there any to avoid or are they all as reliable as each others. Are any “smoother” than others?

I also see some are “mild hybrid” - that all models from a a given year? How does one tell?

Are the non-hybrid (not being as “complex”) the safer (reliability) choice?

Budget looking at 2019/2020 models.

[breamster]

Dracoro said:

Hi

Am looking at V90 (ideally CrossCountry but not essential) and want to find out which engines are best (as an engine and reliability).

Given annual mileage (6000 or so) and diesel being more expensive (and more for the higher milers anyway), am looking at petrol models.

Would like a bit of “go” (but appreciate it’s more a cruiser) so excluding the 190bhp models. Which leaves the 250bhp (T5) ones, the 330bhp (T6) and 390bhp (T8) ones… Are there any to avoid or are they all as reliable as each others. Are any “smoother” than others?

I also see some are “mild hybrid” - that all models from a a given year? How does one tell?

Are the non-hybrid (not being as “complex”) the safer (reliability) choice?

Budget looking at 2019/2020 models.

I could have written this. Looking forward to the replies.

[Dracoro]

Also, is there “much” difference in ride quality between a normal V90 and the Cross Country? The more comfy the ride, the better,

[1690cc]

This isn't going to answer your specific question but I had a 2019 Cross Country T5 and I couldn't recommend one.

The 4 cylinder engine felt hopelessly lost trying to move the car around with any decorum. The car was set up for quiet relaxed progress but the engine didn't have enough lower rpm oomph to comply so it felt hard work to propel around the roads with the engine working hard and seemingly always out of puff.

I've had previous Volvo estates and with the D5 engine they were calm and relaxed ways to travel, this was not.

Since the V90 CC I've had two G31 5 series BMW and they are so superior imo.

Plus the V90 had several electrical gremlins that the dealers could never fix and I had to live with as quirks.th

The Volvos look good as static objects in the showroom but on the move don't live up to the promise.

[1690cc]

Dracoro said:

Also, is there “much” difference in ride quality between a normal V90 and the Cross Country? The more comfy the ride, the better,

The CC on the huge balloon tyres rides well but you won't care because you'll be hating the engine so much.

[Dracoro]

1690cc said:

Dracoro said:

Also, is there “much” difference in ride quality between a normal V90 and the Cross Country? The more comfy the ride, the better,

The CC on the huge balloon tyres rides well but you won't care because you'll be hating the engine so much.

Your experience with V90, was that petrol or diesel?

Am not completely discarding diesel so anyone any views on those as well?

[Dracoro]

Also, re the plug-in hybrids. There appear to be 2 (T5 and T6), is that right?

And there’s “another” T5 that has super and turbo charger but not plugin, is that right?

[1690cc]

Dracoro said:

Your experience with V90, was that petrol or diesel?

Am not completely discarding diesel so anyone any views on those as well?

Petrol T5.

A low speed boost from a hybrid system might help mask the limp 4 cylinder petrol engine to a degree but I suspect in a car of this girth calm serene progress needs more cylinders.

[Dracoro]

Thanks.

Not too fussed about ultimate power, but if some are more “effortless”, or a least smooth etc., that would be ideal.

Have seen a T8 with 50k or so miles for £25k, that seems to fit the bill and surely 386bhp isn’t sluggish?!!

[1690cc]

Dracoro said:

Also, re the plug-in hybrids. There appear to be 2 (T5 and T6), is that right?

And there’s “another” T5 that has super and turbo charger but not plugin, is that right?

I understand these variants are all emission driven solutions but as a used out of warranty purchase I wouldn't want to risk their complexity unless they were made by Toyota.

[Dracoro]

Funny enough, the other option I have in mind is a Toyota (well, Lexus RX450h).

Only issue is insurance is quite high on these in comparison to the V90….

[1690cc]

Dracoro said:

Thanks.

Not too fussed about ultimate power, but if some are more “effortless”, or a least smooth etc., that would be ideal.

Have seen a T8 with 50k or so miles for £25k, that seems to fit the bill and surely 386bhp isn’t sluggish?!!

'ultimately ' the petrol T5 could get up and go adequately but it couldn't imo do the relaxed progress thing, even around town it was buzzing away to shift the weight. It lacked enough low rpm oomph to do the job.
Personally I wouldn't want to risk a T8 out of warranty as I suspect you'd be paying Volvo dealer hourly rates to diagnose any problems.
A 6 cylinder diesel engine like a 530d BMW is a more straightforward proposition for which there are a multitude of independent specialists plus it just moves a big car better.

[Dracoro]

That’s one of the reasons I am considering the Lexus RX450h, smoothness is their game I think and reliability is their thing as well!

[Dracoro]

Be good to know what T8 is like though….

[breamster]

Bumpity bump. Does anyone have experience of the hybrids?

[1690cc]

breamster said:

Bumpity bump. Does anyone have experience of the hybrids?

Only brief experience as a courtesy car and didn't seem to drive much different, obviously a little heavier but I didn't notice this.
Personally if looking at a hybrid car I wouldn't pick one from a manufacturer which suffers an above average number of electrical gremlins. Toyota have thoroughly mastered hybrid cars and I would stick with one of theirs in the knowledge that they never go wrong.

[Stella Tortoise]

I have a B5 mild hybrid petrol in an XC90.

The engine is a little more coarse than I’d like but despite only 250bhp it drives pretty well.

It feels almost nippy around town, cruises well at motorway speeds but a bit lifeless in between.

A 3.0 6 cyl would have transformed the car.

[skyebear]

Buy a BMW 530d or 540i Touring.

I've had a 2019 V90 CC T5 for four years and whilst there's nothing offensive about it, it's a bit agricultural in terms of ride and push.

The T5 engine has some shove and I've never found it lacking but it's not smooth.

The ride can be a bit harsh compared to the old 520d Touring I had. My V90 CC (and lots of them) has the composite leaf spring which joins and damps the rear wheels. It's just never going to be as smooth as a good air setup.

If you care, 50k miles over all manner of driving has returned an average of 27mpg.

[bennno]

I went for the d4 diesel 2L in our v90. No hybrid or complicated tech.

Was very refined, effortless at 90mph oh on the motorway, did 130mph with ease in Germany

Plenty of tech, avoid an r design as the bigger wheels worsen the ride.

Regret selling it, very, very comfortable car. Autonomous tech very good and standard (except base version in covid years)

[Dracoro]

skyebear said:

Buy a BMW 530d or 540i Touring.

I've had a 2019 V90 CC T5 for four years and whilst there's nothing offensive about it, it's a bit agricultural in terms of ride and push.

The T5 engine has some shove and I've never found it lacking but it's not smooth.

The ride can be a bit harsh compared to the old 520d Touring I had. My V90 CC (and lots of them) has the composite leaf spring which joins and damps the rear wheels. It's just never going to be as smooth as a good air setup.

Thanks.

As I understand it, many (not all?) have rear air suspension which I gather smooths the ride a lot. But need to make sure it has this of course.

Once at cruising speed, is the engine quiet?

Have a mate with a D4 that's taking me out later this week, should help my decision.....