VOLVO XC90 TWIN ENGINE 2018 Owners Manual

STARTING AND DRIVING
449
Related information
•Changing drive mode (p. 449)
• Economical driving (p. 456)
• Hybrid gauge (p. 87)
• General information about Twin Engine
(p. 406) Changing drive mode
The drive mode is changed using the control in
the tunnel console.
Select the drive mode that is best suited to the
current driving conditions. Keep in mind that not
all drive modes are available in all situations.
To change drive mode: 1.
Press the DRIVE MODE control.
>

A pop-up menu will appear in the center
display.
2. Roll the wheel upward or downward to the desired drive mode.
3. Press the drive mode control or tap its button in the center display to confirm the selection.
> The selected drive mode is shown in theinstrument panel. If a drive mode is grayed out in the pop-up menu,
it cannot be selected.
Related information
•
Drive modes (p. 445)
• Activating and deactivating Low Speed Con-
trol using the function button (p. 454)
• Activating and deactivating Hill Descent Con-
trol using the function button (p. 455)

STARTING AND DRIVING
* Option/accessory.
450 Leveling control* and suspension
The vehicle's leveling control system adjusts the
suspension and shock absorbers automatically
to help provide good comfort and control while
driving. Leveling can also be controlled manually
to facilitate loading or getting in and out of the
vehicle.
Pneumatic suspension and shock
absorbers
The system is adapted to the selected drive
mode and vehicle speed. The pneumatic suspen-
sion reduces the vehicle's ground clearance at
higher speeds to reduce air resistance and
increase stability. The shock absorbers are nor-
mally set to provide the best possible comfort and are adjusted continuously according to the
road surface and the vehicle's acceleration, brak-
ing and cornering.
The instrument panel indicates
when the suspension level is
being adjusted. The level cannot be adjusted when any of the
side doors or the tailgate is open.
ParkingWhen parking, make sure that there is adequate
space above and below the vehicle since ground
clearance may vary depending on e.g. ambient
temperature, how the vehicle is loaded, if loading
mode is used, which drive mode is selected after
the engine is started, etc.
The level may also be adjusted a period after the
vehicle is parked. This is to compensate for any
height changes that may occur due to tempera-
ture changes in the air springs when the vehicle
cools.
TransportingWhen transporting the vehicle on a ferry, train or
truck, only secure (lash) the vehicle around the
tires, not using any other parts of the chassis.
Changes in the pneumatic suspension may occur
during transport, which could adversely affect the
lashing and result in damage.

STARTING AND DRIVING
}}
451
Symbols and messages in driver display Symbol
Message MeaningSuspension
Deactivated by user
Level control has been switched off manually by the user.Suspension
Temporarily reduced performence
Level control performance has been temporarily reduced due to extensive \
system use. If this
message appears frequently (e.g. several times in one week) contact a \
workshop
A
. Suspension
Service required
A fault has occurred. Visit a workshop
A
as soon as possible. Suspension failure
Stop safely
A critical fault has occurred. Stop safely, and have the car transported\
(raised with all wheels on
the flatbed) to a workshop
A
.

||STARTING AND DRIVING
* Option/accessory.
452 Symbol
Message MeaningSuspension
Slow down Vehicle too high
A fault has occurred. If the message appears while driving, contact a wo\
rkshop
A
. Suspension
Auto adjusting vehicle level
Level control to target height is in progress.A
An authorized Volvo workshop is recommended.
Related information
• Leveling control settings* (p. 453)
• Drive modes (p. 445)

STARTING AND DRIVING
}}
* Option/accessory. 453
Leveling control settings*
The vehicle can be lowered or raised to make it
easier to load or for passengers to get in and
out.
Turn off leveling control before lifting the vehicle
with a jack to help avoid problems with the
pneumatic suspension.
Adjusting loading mode Use the buttons in the cargo compartment to
raise or lower the rear section of the vehicle to
facilitate loading or unloading the vehicle or con-
necting or disconnecting a trailer.
Center display settings
Easy Entry and Exit Suspension Control
The vehicle can be lowered to make it easier to
get in and out.
Activating easy entry in the center display: 1.
Tap Settings in the Top view.
2.

Tap My Car Mirrors and Convenience
.
3. Select Easy Entry and Exit Suspension
Control.
>

When the vehicle is parked and the
engine is turned off, the level is lowered.
(Level adjustment will stop if a side door
is opened and will resume after a slight
delay when the door has been closed.)
When the engine is started and the vehi-
cle begins to move, the level will be raised
to the height set by the selected drive
mode.
Disable Leveling Control
In certain situations, this function must be turned
off, e.g. before the vehicle is raised using a jack*.
The level difference caused by raising the vehicle
with a jack could cause problems with the pneu-
matic suspension.
Turning off the function in the center display:
1. Tap Settings in the Top view.
2.

Tap My Car Parking Brake and
Suspension .
3. Select Disable Leveling Control.
Related information
•Leveling control* and suspension (p. 450)
• Loading recommendations (p. 586) Low Speed Control
The low-speed function, Low Speed Control
(LSC), facilitates and improves control and trac-
tion on rough roads and slippery surfaces, e.g.
when towing a trailer on grass or up boat ramps.
The function is included in the Off Road drive
mode.
Low Speed Control is designed for driving on
rough roads and when towing trailers at low
speeds, up to approximately 40 km/h (25 mph).
When driving at low speeds, LSC prioritizes low
gears and all-wheel drive to help avoid wheel spin
and improve traction on all wheels. The accelera-
tor pedal will be less responsive to improve trac-
tion and speed control at low speeds.
The function is activated together with Hill
Descent Control (HDC), which makes it possible
to control speed going down steep hills using the
accelerator pedal and reduces the need to use
the brake pedal. The system makes it possible to
maintain a low and uniform speed when driving
down steep hills.

||STARTING AND DRIVING
454
NOTE
When LSC with HDC is activated in the OFF
ROAD drive mode, the feel of the accelerator
pedal and engine response will change.
NOTE
This drive mode is not designed to be used
for normal street driving.
NOTE
The function is deactivated when driving at
high speeds and must be reactivated at lower
speeds if so desired.
Related information
•
Activating and deactivating Low Speed Con-
trol using the function button (p. 454)
• Changing drive mode (p. 449)
• Hill Descent Control (p. 454)
• All Wheel Drive (AWD) (p. 443) Activating and deactivating Low
Speed Control using the function
button
Vehicles that are not equipped with drive mode
controls in the tunnel console have a function
button for Low Speed Control with Hill Descent
Control in the center display's Function view.
Selecting Low Speed Control in the
center display's Function view
– Tap the Hill Descent Control button to
activate or deactivate the function. > An indicator light in the button will illumi-
nate when the function is activated.
When the engine is switched off, the function will
be automatically deactivated.
NOTE The function is deactivated when driving at
high speeds and must be reactivated at lower
speeds if so desired.
Related information
•
Low Speed Control (p. 453)
• Changing drive mode (p. 449) Hill Descent Control
The function for assisting when driving downhill,
Hill Descent Control (HDC), is a low-speed
function with increased engine braking. The
function makes it possible to increase or
decrease the vehicle's speed on steep downhill
gradients by only using the accelerator pedal,
without applying the brakes.
The function is included in the Off Road drive
mode.
HDC is designed for driving on rough roads at
low speeds and downhill gradients with slippery
or otherwise difficult road surfaces. The driver
does not need to use the brake pedal but can
instead focus on steering.
WARNING
HDC is only intended to be a supplementary
braking aid and it does not function in all sit-
uations.
The driver is always ultimately responsible for
operating the vehicle in a safe manner.
FunctionHill Descent Control allows the vehicle to move
forward or backward at very low speeds assisted
by the brake system. The driver can increase the
speed by pressing the accelerator pedal. When
the accelerator pedal is released, the vehicle will
return to very low speed regardless of how steep

STARTING AND DRIVING
}}
455
the hill is and without the brakes needing to be
applied. The brake lights will illuminate when the
function is activated.
The driver can brake to stop or slow the vehicle
at any time by depressing the brake pedal.
HDC is activated along with Low Speed Control
(LSC), which facilitates and improves traction and
control on rough and slippery surfaces. The sys-
tem is intended to be used at low speeds, up to
approximately 40 km/h (25 mph).
To keep in mind when using HDC
•
If the function is switched off while driving on
a steep downhill gradient, braking effect will
be gradually reduced.
• HDC can be used in gear positions D and R,
and in manual gears 1 or 2.
• It is not possible to manually shift to third
gear or higher when HDC is active.
NOTE When LSC with HDC is activated in the OFF
ROAD drive mode, the feel of the accelerator
pedal and engine response will change.
NOTE
This drive mode is not designed to be used
for normal street driving.
NOTE The function is deactivated when driving at
high speeds and must be reactivated at lower
speeds if so desired.
Related information
•
Activating and deactivating Hill Descent Con-
trol using the function button (p. 455)
• Changing drive mode (p. 449)
• Low Speed Control (p. 453)
• All Wheel Drive (AWD) (p. 443) Activating and deactivating Hill
Descent Control using the function
button
Vehicles that are not equipped with drive mode
controls in the tunnel console have a function
button for Hill Descent Control with Hill
Descent Control in the center display's Func-
tion view.
Selecting Hill Descent Control in the
center display's Function view
HDC only works at low speeds.
– Tap the
Hill Descent Control button to
activate or deactivate the function. > An indicator light in the button will illumi-
nate when the function is activated.
When the engine is switched off, the function will
be automatically deactivated.
NOTE The function is deactivated when driving at
high speeds and must be reactivated at lower
speeds if so desired.

||STARTING AND DRIVING
456
Related information
•
Hill Descent Control (p. 454)
• Changing drive mode (p. 449) Economical driving
Drive economically and environmentally con-
scious by thinking ahead, avoiding rapid starts
and stops and adapting driving style and speed
to the current traffic conditions.
Planning for electric drivingIt is important to plan electric motor use carefully
to achieve the best possible mileage:
Charge
• Charge the vehicle regularly by plugging it
into an electrical outlet. Make it a habit to
always begin trips with the hybrid battery fully
charged.
• Locate charging stations along your route.
• If possible, choose parking spots with charg-
ing stations.
NOTE Charge the vehicle from the electricity grid as
often as possible!
Preconditioning
•
Whenever possible, precondition the vehicle
before driving by connecting the charging
cable to an electrical outlet.
• Avoid parking the vehicle somewhere where
the interior will become too hot or too cold
while the vehicle is parked. If possible, park
the vehicle in a climate-controlled garage. •
During a short drive after passenger com-
partment preconditioning, turn off the pas-
senger compartment fan or the air condition-
ing in a hot climate.
• If preconditioning is not possible when it is
cold outside, use seat and steering wheel
heating first. Avoid heating the entire pas-
senger compartment to reduce the amount
of current being taken from the hybrid bat-
tery.

STARTING AND DRIVING
}}
457
Driving
• Choose the Pure drive mode to help mini-
mize electric power consumption.
• Maintain a steady speed and a generous fol-
lowing distance to traffic ahead to minimize
braking. This drive mode has the lowest
power consumption.
• Balance energy requirements using the
accelerator pedal. Use the indicator on the
instrument panel to see available electric
power and avoid starting the combustion
engine unnecessarily. The electric motor is
more effective than the combustion engine,
especially at low speeds.
• When braking is necessary, brake gently
using the brake pedal. This will recharge the
hybrid battery. A regenerative function is
integrated in the brake pedal and can be
augmented by the electric motor's braking
capacity when the gear selector is in mode
B.
• Higher speeds increase energy consumption
- air resistance increases with speed.
• Activate the
Hold function in the Function
view at high speeds when traveling farther
than is possible using the hybrid battery's
capacity.
• Whenever possible, avoid using the Charge
function to charge the hybrid battery. Charg-
ing the battery using the combustion engine increases fuel consumption and carbon diox-
ide emissions.
• In a cold climate, reduce heating of the wind-
shield/rear window, mirrors, seats and the
steering wheel.
• Maintain the correct pressure in the tires and
check pressure regularly.
• The type of tires used could affect energy
consumption - consult a retailer for advice on
suitable tires.
• Remove unnecessary items from the vehicle
- the heavier the load, the higher the fuel
consumption.
• Roof loads increase air resistance and
increase fuel consumption. Remove roof
boxes, ski racks, etc. that are not in use.
• Avoid driving with the windows open.
• Do not keep the vehicle still on an upward
gradient by using the accelerator pedal. Use
the brakes instead.
Related information
•
Drive-E
‒
purer driving pleasure (p. 27)
• Factors affecting electric motor range
(p. 458)
• Using the electric motor only (p. 457)
• Hybrid gauge (p. 87)
• Checking tire pressure (p. 557) Using the electric motor only
When using the electric motor, Volvo Twin
Engine provides a combination of good fuel
economy, low emissions and high performance.
For energy-efficient driving:
• Select the Pure drive mode to help maximize
driving range using only the electric motor.
• Balance energy requirements using the
accelerator pedal. Use the indicator on the
instrument panel's hybrid gauge to see avail-
able electric power and avoid starting the
combustion engine unnecessarily.
• When braking is necessary, brake gently
using the brake pedal. This will recharge the
hybrid battery.
• Activate the
Hold function in the Function
view at high speeds when traveling farther
than is possible using the hybrid battery's
capacity.
• Reduce current consumption in the passen-
ger compartment by reducing e.g. fan speed,
electric heating, or air conditioning use.
Also follow the general economical driving advice
regarding speed, tires and load to maximize
range.
Related information
• General information about Twin Engine
(p. 406)
• Economical driving (p. 456)

STARTING AND DRIVING
458•
Hybrid gauge (p. 87)
• Factors affecting electric motor range
(p. 458)
• Starting and stopping the combustion engine
in Twin Engine vehicles (p. 444)
• "Hold" and "Charge" functions (p. 459) Factors affecting electric motor
range
A number of factors affect the electric motor's
driving range. The ability to achieve a long driv-
ing range varies according to the outside condi-
tions and to how the vehicle is driven. The certified value for the distance that can be
driven using the electric motor should not be
considered an expected driving range. The actual
range is dependent on a number of factors.
Factors affecting driving rangeThe driver can influence some factors affecting
driving range, but not all.
The longest range is achieved under very favora-
ble conditions when all factors positively influ-
ence range.
Factors the driver cannot control
There are several outside conditions that affect
range to varying degrees:
• the current traffic situation
• driving short distances
• topography
• ambient temperature and headwinds
• road conditions and road surface.
The following table shows the approximate rela-
tionship between ambient temperature and driv-
ing range with normal climate settings and with
climate settings turned off. Up to a certain limit, warmer ambient tempera-
tures increase the electric motor's driving range. Ambient tem-
perature
Climate set-
tings turned
offNormal cli-
mate set-
tings
30 °C (86 °F) 95 %

80 %
20 °C (68 °F) 100 % 90%
10 °C (50 °F) 90 % 80 %
0 °C (32 °F) 80 % 60 %
-10 °C (14 °F) 70 % 40 %