STARTING AND DRIVING
* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.420
Maintaining/increasing the hybridbattery's charge while driving
In certain situations, it can be useful to controlthe hybrid battery's charge level while the vehicleis being driven. The hybrid battery functionsHold and Charge while driving are available inall drive modes.
The "Hold" and "Charge" function
buttons
These functions are activated from the centerdisplay's Function view.
Hold
Battery level sustained forlater use.
This function saves the hybridbattery's charge for use at alater time such as when drivingin an urban area or residentialneighborhood. Hold is available regardless of thehybrid battery's charge level.
The vehicle will function as in normal hybrid driv-ing and will use energy from e.g., regenerativebraking to support the gasoline engine.
Charge
Engine charges hybridbattery.
This function is only available when the hybridbattery's charge level is low and can recharge thebattery up to 33%, after which the Hold functionwill be activated automatically.
Symbol in the instrument panel
The symbol will appear in the instrumentpanel when either of these functions is activated.See also the article "Hybrid-related symbols andmessages" for additional information.
Related information
•Hybrid-related symbols and messages(p. 408)
•Drive modes (p. 420)
•Using the electric motor in city driving(p. 419)
•Driving economically (p. 385)
Drive modes
Selecting a drive mode affects the vehicle's driv-ing characteristics to help make driving moreenjoyable or easier in certain types of situations.
The following systems are adapted to help pro-vide the best vehicle performance in the respec-tive drive modes:
•Steering
•Engine/transmission/All Wheel Drive*
•Brakes
•Suspension control
•Instrument panel
•Climate system settings
Select the drive mode best suited to the currentdriving conditions.
Please be aware that not all modes can beselected in all driving situations. The selectedmode will be displayed in the instrument panel.
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When the hybrid battery's charge level is low, thegasoline engine will start more often to help con-serve electrical energy. Charge the battery withthe charging cable as soon as possible.
PURE
This mode activates the electric motor only withas low energy consumption as possible and thelowest possible carbon dioxide emissions.
Ground clearance will be lowered to help reducewind resistance and certain climate system func-tions will be reduced.
Pure mode is available when the hybrid battery issufficiently charged. If the level gets too low, thegasoline engine will start.
The gasoline engine will also start:
•If the vehicle's speed goes above approx.78 mph (125 km/h)
•If the driver wants more response than theelectric motor alone can provide
•If factors such as cold weather, etc., affectthe system or components
To restart the climate system functions that havebeen reduced in the mode, press the AUTO ordefroster buttons.
In order to return to full functionality for all of thesystems that may be affected by Pure mode,select another drive mode or adapt the climatesystem functions using the INDIVIDUAL mode.
OFF ROAD
This mode helps maximize the vehicle's capacityto traverse difficult terrain or poor roads.
In OFF ROAD, ground clearance is maximized,the steering is light, All Wheel Drive and HillDescent Control are activated and a compassand altimeter will be displayed in the instrumentpanel.
This drive mode can only be activated at lowspeeds (the permissible speed range will beshown on the speedometer). At higher speeds,OFF ROAD mode will be cancelled and AWD willbe activated.
This mode is not intended for normal streetdriving.
CAUTION
OFF ROAD drive mode may not be used ifthe vehicle is towing a trailer without an elec-trical connection. This could result in damageto the pneumatic suspension system's bel-lows.
Due to the increased ground clearance, if theOFF ROAD mode was selected when the enginewas switched off, it will also restart in this mode.
AWD
This mode offers improved traction using four-wheel drive and is intended primarily for low-speed driving on slippery surfaces. However, it
also helps increase directional stability at higherspeeds.
In this mode, both the electric motor and the gas-oline engine are used continuously, which resultsin higher fuel consumption.
POWER
Power mode is intended for sportier, more activedriving.
This mode maximizes the combined effects ofthe electric motor and the gasoline engine andprovides power to all four wheels. Response topressure on the accelerator pedal is more imme-diate and the transmission shifts up at higherspeeds. Steering response is also more immedi-ate, the suspension is stiffer and lower groundclearance reduces body roll when cornering.
In this mode, both the electric motor and the gas-oline engine are used continuously, which resultsin higher fuel consumption.
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423
INDIVIDUAL
This setting allows you to adapt a driving mode toyour personal preferences.
Select one of the other driving modes as a basisand change the settings to provide the drivingcharacteristics that you prefer. This driving modeis only available if it has been activated in thecenter display.
INDIVIDUAL is only available if it has been acti-vated in the center display.
Settings view5 for INDIVIDUAL driving mode
1.Tap Settings in the center display's Topview.
2.Tap My CarIndividual Drive Mode andtap Individual Drive Mode.
3.Select: Eco, Comfort or Dynamic.
The following settings can be modified:
•Driver Display (instrument panel)
•Steering force
•Powertrain Characteristics
•Brake Characteristics
•Pneumatic suspension and shockabsorbers
•ECO Climate.
Related information
•Adjustable steering force (p. 262)
•Loading (p. 218)
•General information about the XC90 T8 TwinEngine Plug-in Hybrid (p. 16)
•All Wheel Drive (AWD) (p. 429)
•Hill Descent Control (HDC) (p. 380)
•Brakes (p. 376)
5Generic illustration.
STARTING AND DRIVING
* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.424
Automatic transmission
The automatic transmission has 8 forward gearsand an electric motor that powers the rearwheels. Steering wheel paddles* make it possi-ble to shift manually. The gear indicator in theinstrument panel shows the gear currently beingused or gear shift mode.
CAUTION
The transmission
STARTING AND DRIVING
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* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.425
Gear shift indicator
The gear shift indicator in the instrument panelshows the current gear (in manual shiftingmode) and will prompt the driver to shift up ordown to help get the best possible fuel econ-omy.
The gear shift indicator shows the current gear inthe instrument panel and uses an upward arrowto recommend shifting to a higher gear. The indi-cator is also shown in mode B or if the steeringwheel paddles* are being used in while the trans-mission is in mode D.
Gear shift indicator (generic illustration)
Related information
•Gear selector positions (p. 425)
•Steering wheel paddles* (p. 427)
Gear selector positions
The shift-by-wire gear transmission shifts gearselectronically instead of mechanically for fasterand more distinct gear shifting.
Selecting gears
Select gears by moving the spring-loaded, non-locking gear selector forward or rearward.
Gear selector positions
The following gear selector positions are shownin the instrument panel:
P, R, N, D or B (brake).
For manual shifting, the gear indicator in theinstrument panel shows the gear currently beingused (1–8).
STARTING AND DRIVING
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* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.427
Brake – B
B can be selected at any time during a drive. Inthis mode, the engine braking function is acti-vated when the accelerator pedal is released,which helps charge the hybrid battery. Thismeans that the hybrid battery is charged even ifthe brake pedal is not depressed.
B mode in the instrument panel
With B selected, manual shifting to lower gearsis possible. The gear indicator in the instrumentpanel shows the gear currently being used (1–8).
Each time the gear selector is pulled rearward,the transmission will shift down one gear.
In order to manually shift to higher gears, thevehicle must be equipped with steering wheelpaddles*.
•Press the gear selector forward to return toD mode.
For smooth shifting and engine performance, thetransmission will shift down automatically if thevehicle's speed becomes too low for the selectedgear.
Safety function
To help avoid excessive rpm that might causeengine damage, the transmission control modulehas a down-shift protection feature that in somesituations may prevent a down-shift or kickdown.
During kickdown, the transmission may shiftdown one or more gears, depending on theengine's rpm and will shift up again when max.rpm is reached for a specific gear.
Related information
•Steering wheel paddles* (p. 427)
•Shiftlock (p. 424)
•Gear shift indicator (p. 425)
Steering wheel paddles*
In addition to the manual gearshift function usingthe gear selector, the paddles make it possibleto manually shift gears from the steering wheel.
Activating the paddles
In order to shift gears with the paddles, they haveto first be activated. To do so:
–Pull either paddle toward the steering wheeland release it.
>A number in the instrument panel will indi-cate the current gear being used.
Instrument panel when the paddles are activated
Shifting
To shift one gear:
–Pull either paddle toward the steering wheeland release it.
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"–": Shift down one gear.
"+": Shift up one gear.
A gear shift will take place each time a paddle ispulled if the engine speed (rpm) is within the per-missible range for the selected gear.
The gear number shown in the instrument panelwill change after each gear shift.
Deactivating the paddles
Manually
–Pull both paddles toward the steering wheeland hold them until the number of the cur-rent gear is no longer displayed in the instru-ment panel.
Automatically
In shift mode D, if the paddles are not used for aperiod of time, they will deactivate automatically.
The number of the current gear will no longer bedisplayed.
In shift mode B, the paddles will not deactivateautomatically.
Related information
•Gear selector positions (p. 425)
•Gear shift indicator (p. 425)
Low Speed Control (LSC)
Low Speed Control (LSC) helps make off-roaddriving easier on slippery surfaces when towinga trailer on grass, etc. This feature is part of theOff Road drive mode.
When driving at low speeds, LSC prioritizes lowgears and all wheel drive to help avoid wheel spinand to improve the vehicle's tractive force. Theaccelerator pedal and engine react differently tomake low-speed driving easier.
It is activated along with Hill Descent Control(HDC), which increases engine braking to helpkeep vehicle speed low and smooth, even drivingdown steep hills.
STARTING AND DRIVING
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* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.429
Activating LSC
Select the Off Road drive mode to activate thefunction.
Select any other drive mode to turn it off.
NOTE
When LSC with HDC is activated by the OffRoad drive mode, the feel of the acceleratorpedal and engine response will change.
The function is deactivated when driving athigher speeds and must be reactivated atlower speeds if so desired.
Related information
•Brake functions (p. 378)
•Hill Descent Control (HDC) (p. 380)
•Drive modes (p. 420)
All Wheel Drive (AWD)8
Your Volvo can be equipped with All WheelDrive, which means that power is distributedautomatically between the front and rear wheels.
Under normal driving conditions, most of theengine's power is directed to the front wheels.However, if there is any tendency for the frontwheels to spin, an electronically controlled cou-pling distributes power to the wheels that havethe best traction.
AWD reacts differently, depending on the drivemode* selected.
Related information
•Drive modes (p. 420)
•Low Speed Control (LSC) (p. 428)
Suspension and leveling control*
The leveling control system adjusts the suspen-sion and shock absorbers automatically to helpprovide good comfort and control while driving.Leveling can also be controlled manually tomake loading or getting in and out of the vehicleeasier.
Pneumatic suspension and shock
absorbers
This system is linked to the selected drive modeand is adapted to the vehicle's speed. The pneu-matic suspension reduces the vehicle's groundclearance at higher speeds to reduce wind resis-tance and increase stability. The shock absorbersare normally set to provide the best possiblecomfort and are adjusted continuously accordingto the road surface, acceleration, braking andcornering.
The instrument panel will indicate when the sus-pension level is being adjusted.
The level cannot be adjusted if one of the sidedoors or the hood is open.