Volvo XC90 (2002 - ) - Four Wheel Drive system

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Mon 1 Feb 2010 19:19
Four Wheel Drive system - Happy Blue!
Does the XC90 work mainly in FWD mode and then move into 4WD when the car senses that the front wheels are moving at a different speed to the rear ones? Or is it permanent 4WD like Subaru and LandRover?
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Mon 1 Feb 2010 19:38
Four Wheel Drive system - JH
HJ's review (2006) says " it?s a proper part-time four-wheel-drive with Haldex coupling.". Which I must admit leaves me none the wiser :-(

JH
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Mon 1 Feb 2010 19:40
Four Wheel Drive system - Altea Ego
what does the fine manual say?
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Mon 1 Feb 2010 19:49
Four Wheel Drive system - rtj70
Espada, I suspect it must be FWD and then shift the power because you ask the question. Did you notice it was not AWD all the time somehow?
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Mon 1 Feb 2010 20:01
Four Wheel Drive system - Old Navy
If you do a search for Haldex coupling all will be revealed, sophisticated bit of kit with inputs from ABS, TC, engine ECU, and more.
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Mon 1 Feb 2010 20:02
Four Wheel Drive system - Happy Blue!
Yes - a couple of times today when it was quite slippy it felt like our old CR-V, when the front wheels started spinning the rear ones took up the slack and the car took off again. I was concerned about these reports that the system fails due to mechanical failure, but I think mine is OK.

I checked the Volvo website, but it was as clear as mud simply referring to adjusting torque to different wheels but not specifically about front to rear transfer or simply that the car drives in FWD mode unless AWD is called for.

Must admit to being slightly impressed by the economy at the moment. Trip computer currently says 26.6mpg when the Outback would be running 21mpg at best. Car is growing on me!
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Mon 1 Feb 2010 20:32
Four Wheel Drive system - rtj70
You know you need to stick with it for a bit - or you'll swap it and have a loss.

Looks like it might win you over, even if not permanent AWD. But that might help with mpg.
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Mon 1 Feb 2010 20:42
Four Wheel Drive system - RobertyBob
Quote from Autocar:-

"Fully 95 per cent of engine power goes to the front wheels, but when slip is detected up to 65 per cent can be sent to the rears."
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