Volvo V90 Buying Advice
Discussion
Any V90 owners here? Due to post-COVID working arrangements I find myself in a situation where I will be commuting to my office twice a week(Milton Keynes -> Bracknell), which equates to ~1200 motorway miles per month. As such I'm thinking of buying a used V90 to swallow up all those miles, so I can finance something a bit more interesting for weekend duties etc.
My budget is £20-25k, and setting my criteria to ~4 years old and less than 50k miles gives me the option of mostly D4s and T4s, with the odd D5 dropping into my search.
What are people's thoughts on the various engine choices? Is the D4 too 'rough', is the T4 economical enough? I've read to avoid the R-Design as comfort (an important factor for a motorway wagon) is compromised, so maybe aim for an Inscription?
Any help would be very much appreciated!
My budget is £20-25k, and setting my criteria to ~4 years old and less than 50k miles gives me the option of mostly D4s and T4s, with the odd D5 dropping into my search.
What are people's thoughts on the various engine choices? Is the D4 too 'rough', is the T4 economical enough? I've read to avoid the R-Design as comfort (an important factor for a motorway wagon) is compromised, so maybe aim for an Inscription?
Any help would be very much appreciated!
I've had a V90 R Design D4 hire car a few times and found it very comfortable. It was also very capable when I wanted to push on, far better than reviews would suggest and excellent on motorways. As much as I usually like petrol I think the D4 is a better engine for your use - the T3s I've had in V40s have never managed more than high 30s mpg and the V90 is well-suited to the D4. It sounds like you should be doing enough mileage to avoid the usual diesel issues
RM10 said:
Thanks guys, useful information.
I wonder whether the R-design comfort thing is just a lazy line car journalists copy one another on.
You’ll have to judge the ride for yourself but you can read reviews from 20 years ago and often they’re still saying the same tired lines about new versionsI wonder whether the R-design comfort thing is just a lazy line car journalists copy one another on.
The T4 is gutless next next to the D4, but in first and second gear the D4 feels rough. The D5 just adds the compressor to the D4 so it’s just as rough, but less reliable as the pressure pipes keep failing, not big money, but inconvenient.
The R design is a lot more comfortable than an Audi S Line. I’d avoid the bigger wheels through.
At those miles if not done already, the rear discs and front pads will be well worn.
Volvo on call is worth having for remote start, as are all the heated bits,screen, seats, wheel etc., this isn’t standard on any trim level, they all get parts, but not a full house.
Be aware that front parking sensors are bizarrely an option……
Make sure everything works, especially the apps. Sat nav updates are free DIY.
The R design is a lot more comfortable than an Audi S Line. I’d avoid the bigger wheels through.
At those miles if not done already, the rear discs and front pads will be well worn.
Volvo on call is worth having for remote start, as are all the heated bits,screen, seats, wheel etc., this isn’t standard on any trim level, they all get parts, but not a full house.
Be aware that front parking sensors are bizarrely an option……
Make sure everything works, especially the apps. Sat nav updates are free DIY.
Like loads of others, I had a 2018 V90 D4 R Design on lease for a couple of years. A really great car and I'd gladly have another.
Supremely comfortable is the overriding memory - I would have those seats in my house! I added the winter pack to mine and I would say it's a must have on my list - heated steering wheel, heated windscreen and heated washers. The D4 was punchy enough for every day use but not fast by any stretch of the imagination. As someone else said, quite gruff at low speeds but over about 20 it settled down to smooth and quiet. Interior design and quality is great.
The not so great things were mainly small niggles. The gearbox being the main one - dimwitted and slow. The first few times trying to pull into busy roundabouts were 'interesting'. You do get used to it and how to manage it though and for general driving it's fine and smooth, just gets easily caught out if you suddenly want to press on. Also the sheer size of the thing was something to get used to (and I was coming from an A4 Avant!). Mine didn't have a reverse camera and the parking sensors seemed to be about as slow to respond as the gearbox, so I nudged a couple of fences while reverse parking the first month or so.
Supremely comfortable is the overriding memory - I would have those seats in my house! I added the winter pack to mine and I would say it's a must have on my list - heated steering wheel, heated windscreen and heated washers. The D4 was punchy enough for every day use but not fast by any stretch of the imagination. As someone else said, quite gruff at low speeds but over about 20 it settled down to smooth and quiet. Interior design and quality is great.
The not so great things were mainly small niggles. The gearbox being the main one - dimwitted and slow. The first few times trying to pull into busy roundabouts were 'interesting'. You do get used to it and how to manage it though and for general driving it's fine and smooth, just gets easily caught out if you suddenly want to press on. Also the sheer size of the thing was something to get used to (and I was coming from an A4 Avant!). Mine didn't have a reverse camera and the parking sensors seemed to be about as slow to respond as the gearbox, so I nudged a couple of fences while reverse parking the first month or so.
My wife has a T5 r-design with “polestar” factory performance chip (gives more mid range torque, might hold gears longer, no bhp increase). On 20s with winter pack and full length sunroof (bought appro used so didn’t spec any of this). I’d agree average mpg is 30 max 40 on m’way, less if driven cold round town. T4 same real world mpg in dealers experience. Infotainment a bit glitchy and has needed software updates. Seats great and ride good by my standards (although I have a bmw 3 on run flat 19s which feels like it has square wheels at times). It’s less “sporty” to drive than a bmw but that’s not what it’s aimed at. Parking camera system is good although beepers over cautious in tight spaces so you have to ignore at times. Be aware that road tax is ~£500 for first five years. As I understand it early basic models scraped under £40k limit so did not attract the luxury car surcharge. Regularly drive it 300 miles and it is good for that, pilot assist good on motorway. I would buy it again based on exp so far (2 years, bought 1 year old). Consumables like discs pads are very dear (was case for previous v70 we ran to 100k) so usual caveats apply about checking condition of everything very carefully if it’s done a few miles. Personally I have had good exp of Volvo approved used for 2 cars. That’s about it I think.
ilikejam said:
Like loads of others, I had a 2018 V90 D4 R Design on lease for a couple of years. A really great car and I'd gladly have another.
Supremely comfortable is the overriding memory - I would have those seats in my house! I added the winter pack to mine and I would say it's a must have on my list - heated steering wheel, heated windscreen and heated washers. The D4 was punchy enough for every day use but not fast by any stretch of the imagination. As someone else said, quite gruff at low speeds but over about 20 it settled down to smooth and quiet. Interior design and quality is great.
The not so great things were mainly small niggles. The gearbox being the main one - dimwitted and slow. The first few times trying to pull into busy roundabouts were 'interesting'. You do get used to it and how to manage it though and for general driving it's fine and smooth, just gets easily caught out if you suddenly want to press on. Also the sheer size of the thing was something to get used to (and I was coming from an A4 Avant!). Mine didn't have a reverse camera and the parking sensors seemed to be about as slow to respond as the gearbox, so I nudged a couple of fences while reverse parking the first month or so.
Decent advice, the parking sensors, yes there is delay in first activation that can be a problem if you’re already close.Supremely comfortable is the overriding memory - I would have those seats in my house! I added the winter pack to mine and I would say it's a must have on my list - heated steering wheel, heated windscreen and heated washers. The D4 was punchy enough for every day use but not fast by any stretch of the imagination. As someone else said, quite gruff at low speeds but over about 20 it settled down to smooth and quiet. Interior design and quality is great.
The not so great things were mainly small niggles. The gearbox being the main one - dimwitted and slow. The first few times trying to pull into busy roundabouts were 'interesting'. You do get used to it and how to manage it though and for general driving it's fine and smooth, just gets easily caught out if you suddenly want to press on. Also the sheer size of the thing was something to get used to (and I was coming from an A4 Avant!). Mine didn't have a reverse camera and the parking sensors seemed to be about as slow to respond as the gearbox, so I nudged a couple of fences while reverse parking the first month or so.
Best to put the car into dynamic or polestar at busy roundabouts or it’s slow initially.
OP don't limit your search to 50k miles max.
I've had 4-5 Volvos and they take the mileage very well.
My V60 had done 145k when I sold it and the inside (cloth) looked like it had done 40k.
I bought our first Volvo, a V70, with 125k miles on the clock at 4 years old. Owned it 3 years and 30k miles and the guy who bought it off me took it up to 180k before he sold it on.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201271...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201030...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112310...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112220...
plus a few more
I've had 4-5 Volvos and they take the mileage very well.
My V60 had done 145k when I sold it and the inside (cloth) looked like it had done 40k.
I bought our first Volvo, a V70, with 125k miles on the clock at 4 years old. Owned it 3 years and 30k miles and the guy who bought it off me took it up to 180k before he sold it on.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201271...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201030...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112310...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112220...
plus a few more
Edited by GreatGranny on Wednesday 2nd February 13:40
Have had a V90 T4 Momentum Plus for the last 2.5 years. It's a dirt cheap lease which I keep extending.
Around town it feels a bit big and mixture of gearbox, turbo, front wheel drive and slight floatiness makes it pretty slow but still quite relaxing. 25mpg in suburban london
On the motorway though, it's brilliant - pilot assist takes the stress out of Motorway driving, seats are great, really quiet, ride is brilliant. I don't mind the infotainment and the interior is smart, well built and rattle free. 40mpg easy
The 'plus' trims introduced in September 2019 are a good bet, there are lots of ex-lease ones out there and the 'Plus' trim adds rear view camera, keyless entry, memory driver's seat and more even in the base Momentum trim.
Our 2nd car is a BMW i3 which I adore and does most if not all of the town miles but not as suited to long distances as the Volvo (more the car itself than it being an EV) - so I might be a bit harsh about the Volvo around town given my comparison!
Around town it feels a bit big and mixture of gearbox, turbo, front wheel drive and slight floatiness makes it pretty slow but still quite relaxing. 25mpg in suburban london
On the motorway though, it's brilliant - pilot assist takes the stress out of Motorway driving, seats are great, really quiet, ride is brilliant. I don't mind the infotainment and the interior is smart, well built and rattle free. 40mpg easy
The 'plus' trims introduced in September 2019 are a good bet, there are lots of ex-lease ones out there and the 'Plus' trim adds rear view camera, keyless entry, memory driver's seat and more even in the base Momentum trim.
Our 2nd car is a BMW i3 which I adore and does most if not all of the town miles but not as suited to long distances as the Volvo (more the car itself than it being an EV) - so I might be a bit harsh about the Volvo around town given my comparison!
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