2019 VOLVO XC90 TWIN ENGINE steering

STARTING AND DRIVING
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457
This drive mode is optimized for maximum control
when driving at low speeds on very poor roads or
difficult terrain. It raises the chassis
3
, reduces
driveline throttle response, and locks the vehicle
in all-wheel drive. The Hill Descent Control func-
tion facilitates controlled driving on steep down-
grades.
NOTE This drive mode is not designed to be used
for normal street driving.
NOTE
Due to the increased ground clearance, if the
OFF ROAD mode was selected when the
engine was switched off, the suspension will
lower when the engine is restarted.
CAUTION
Do not use the OFF ROAD drive mode when
towing a trailer without an electrical connec-
tion. This could result in damage to the pneu-
matic suspension system's bellows.
AWD

Improves the vehicle's traction and handling
by increasing all-wheel drive. This drive mode locks the vehicle in all-wheel
drive. An optimal distribution between front and
rear axle torque helps provide the best possible
control, stability and traction, e.g. on slippery
roads or when towing a heavy trailer or another
vehicle. The AWD drive mode is always available
regardless of the hybrid battery's charge status.
Both the combustion engine and the electric
motor are engaged to enable all-wheel drive,
which results in higher fuel consumption.
In the other drive modes, the vehicle automati-
cally adapts the need for all-wheel drive accord-
ing to the road surface, and can activate the elec-
tric motor or start the combustion engine as nee-
ded.
POWER

Power mode is designed to provide sportier
driving characteristics and a faster accelera-
tion response.
This drive mode maximizes the combined power
from the combustion engine and the electric
motor by providing power to both the front and
rear wheels. Gear shifting will be faster and more
distinct and the transmission will prioritize gears
with a higher traction force. Steering response is
faster, suspension is stiffer and ground clearance
is lower 3
to help reduce body roll when cornering. Both the combustion engine and the electric
motor are engaged to enable all-wheel drive,
which results in higher fuel consumption.
This drive mode is optimized for maximum per-
formance and throttle response. It changes the
throttle response, gear shifting program and
turbo boost system. Chassis settings and steer-
ing and brake response are also optimized. The
Power drive mode is always available regardless
of the hybrid battery's charge status.
3
For vehicles with pneumatic suspension.

||STARTING AND DRIVING
458
INDIVIDUAL

Customizes drive mode to personal preferen-
ces.
Select one of the drive modes as a basis and
adjust the settings to achieve your preferred driv-
ing characteristics. These settings will be stored
in your driver profile.
Individual drive mode is only available if it has
been activated in the center display. Settings view
4
for Individual drive mode.
1. Tap Settings in the Top view.
2.

Tap My Car Individual Drive Mode
and
select Individual Drive Mode. 3.
Under Presets, select one of the following
drive modes as a basis: Pure, Hybrid or Power.
The following settings can be modified:
Driver Display
Steering Force
Powertrain Characteristics
Brake Characteristics
Suspension Control
ECO Climate.
Using the electric or combustion
engine
An advanced control system determines the dis-
tance that the vehicle can be driven on the com-
bustion engine, electric motor, or both at the
same time.
Its primary function is to use the motor/engine
and the current available in the hybrid battery as
efficiently as possible based on the characteris-
tics of the various drive modes and the power
output requested by the driver by pressing the
accelerator pedal.
In certain cases, temporary limitations in the sys-
tem or mandatory functions to help maintain a
low overall emissions level may result in greater
use of the combustion engine. 4
The image is schematic and the details may vary depending on vehicle mod\
el or software update.

STARTING AND DRIVING
466Hill 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 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. 467)
Changing drive mode (p. 459)
Low Speed Control (p. 464)
All Wheel Drive (AWD) (p. 452)

||STARTING AND DRIVING
* Option/accessory.
468
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.
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 help 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)
Energy distribution in hybrid mode using map
data* (p. 460)
Factors affecting electric motor range
(p. 469)
Using the electric motor only (p. 469)
Hybrid gauge (p. 87)
Checking tire pressure (p. 567)

||STARTING AND DRIVING
* Option/accessory.
482 12. Remove the jumper cables in the reverse
order ‒ first the black cables and then the
red cables.
Make sure that none of the clamps of the
black jumper cables come into contact with
either vehicle's positive (+) jump start termi-
nals or either of the red jumper cable's con-
nected clamps.
WARNING PROPOSITION 65 WARNING! Battery posts,
terminals, and related accessories contain
lead and lead compounds, chemicals known
to the state of California to cause cancer and
reproductive harm. Wash hands after han-
dling.
WARNING
Batteries generate hydrogen gas, which
is flammable and explosive.
Do not connect the jumper cable to any
part of the fuel system or to any moving
parts. Avoid touching hot manifolds.
Battery fluid contains sulfuric acid. Do not
allow battery fluid to contact eyes, skin,
fabrics or painted surfaces.
If contact occurs, flush the affected area
immediately with water. Obtain medical
help immediately if eyes are affected.
Never expose the battery to open flame
or electric spark. Do not smoke near the
battery. Failure to follow the instructions
for jump starting can lead to injury.
NOTE The vehicle cannot be started if the hybrid
battery is discharged.
Related information

Starting the vehicle (p. 434)
Ignition modes (p. 437)
Adjusting the steering wheel (p. 201)
Selecting ignition mode (p. 438) Detachable towbar*
Volvo recommends the use of Volvo towbars
that are specially designed for the vehicle.
NOTE The optional detachable trailer hitch may not
be available in all markets or on all models.
Consult your Volvo retailer.
Ball holder
Cotter pin
Towbar assembly
Locking bolt
Safety wire attachment bracket

STARTING AND DRIVING
}}
* Option/accessory. 485
The automatic transmission selects the optimal
gear for the current load and engine speed.
Steep inclines
Do not lock the automatic transmission into a
higher gear than what the engine can handle ‒ it
is not always preferable to drive in high gears at
low rpm.
Parking on a hill
1. Depress the brake pedal.
2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Put the gear selector in P.
4. Release the brake pedal.
Put chocks behind the wheels when the vehicle
is parked on a hill with a trailer attached.
Starting on a hill
1. Depress the brake pedal.
2. Put the gear selector in D.
3. Release the parking brake.
4. Release the brake pedal and start driving.
Related information
Trailer Stability Assist* (p. 485)
Checking trailer lights (p. 486)
Towing capacity and tongue weight (p. 670)
Overheating of engine and transmission
(p. 479) Trailer Stability Assist*
Trailer Stability Assist (TSA 8
) is a function
designed to help stabilize a vehicle that is tow-
ing a trailer when the vehicle and trailer have
begun to sway. The function is part of the Elec-
tronic Stability Control system ESC 9
.
Reasons for swayingA vehicle towing a trailer may begin to sway for
various reasons. Normally this only occurs at high
speeds. However, if the trailer is overloaded or
unevenly distributed, e.g. too far back, there is a
risk of swaying even at low speeds.
Swaying may be caused by factors such as:
The vehicle and trailer are hit by a sudden,
strong crosswind.
The vehicle and trailer are traveling on an
uneven road or over a bump.
Sudden movements of the steering wheel.
Once swaying has begun, it can be difficult or
impossible to stop it. This makes the vehicle and
trailer difficult to control and there is a risk of
swerving into oncoming traffic or driving off the
road.
Trailer Stability Assist functionTrailer Stability Assist continuously monitors the
vehicle's movements, particularly lateral move- ments. If swaying is detected, the brakes are
applied individually on the front wheels, which has
a stabilizing effect on the vehicle and trailer. This
is often enough to enable the driver to regain
control of the vehicle.
If the Trailer Stability Assist function's first
attempt is not adequate to stop the swaying
motion, the brakes are applied on all wheels and
engine power is temporarily reduced. As the
swaying motion begins to decrease and the vehi-
cle and trailer have once again become stable,
TSA stops regulating the brakes/engine power
and the driver regains control of the vehicle.
NOTE
Trailer Stability Assist is deactivated if the
driver selects the sport mode by deactivating
ESC in the center display's menu system. Trailer Stability Assist may not intervene if the
driver tries to compensate for the swaying motion
by moving the steering wheel rapidly, because
the system will then not be able to determine if it
is the trailer or the driver causing the swaying.
8
Trailer Stability Assist
9 Electronic Stability Control

||STARTING AND DRIVING
* Option/accessory.
486 When Trailer Stability Assist is
activated, the ESC symbol is
displayed in the instrument
panel.
Related information

Driving with a trailer (p. 483)
Electronic Stability Control (p. 279) Checking trailer lights
When connecting a trailer, make sure that all of
the lights on the trailer are functioning before
starting to drive.
Trailer turn signals and brake lightsIf one or more of the turn signals or brake lights
on the trailer is not working, a symbol and mes-
sage will be displayed in the instrument panel.
The other lights on the trailer must be checked
manually by the driver before the vehicle is driven. Symbol
Message
Trailer turn indicator Right
turn indicator malfunction
Trailer turn indicator Left
turn indicator malfunction
Trailer brake light Malfunc-
tion If any of the trailer's turn signal lights is not work-
ing, the turn signal symbol in the instrument
panel will also flash more quickly than normal.
Trailer rear fog lightWhen a trailer is connected, the vehicle's rear fog
light may not illuminate and rear fog light func-
tionality is instead transferred to the trailer. If this
is the case, check to see if the trailer is equipped
with a rear fog light before activating the vehicle'sfog lights when driving with a trailer to help
ensure safe operation.
Checking trailer lights*
Automatic check
When the trailer has been connected to the vehi-
cle's electrical system, its lights can be checked
by automatically activating them. This function
helps the driver check that the trailer's lights are
functioning correctly before starting to drive.
In order to perform this check, the engine must
be turned off.
1. When a trailer is connected to the towbar, the message Automatic Trailer Lamp
Check will appear in the instrument panel.
2.

Acknowledge the message by pressing the
O button on the right-side steering wheel
keypad.
> The light check will begin.
3. Get out of the vehicle to perform the check. > All of the lights on the trailer will beginflashing, and then illuminate separately
one at a time.
4. Visually check that all of the trailer's lights are functioning correctly.
5. After a short time, all of the trailer's lights will start flashing again.
> The light check is completed.

AUDIO, MEDIA AND INTERNET
* Option/accessory.
496 Audio, media and Internet
The audio and media system consists of a media
player and a radio. A cellular phone can also be
connected through Bluetooth to use hands-free
functions or play music in the vehicle. When the
vehicle is connected to the Internet, it is also
possible to use apps to play media. Audio and media overview
The functions can be controlled using voice com-
mands, the steering wheel keypad or the center
display. The number of speakers and amplifiers
varies depending on the audio system installed in
the vehicle.
System updates
The audio and media system is continuously
improved. When the vehicle has an Internet con-
nection, system updates can be downloaded for
optimal functionality; see support.volvocars.com.
Related information

Media player (p. 518)
Radio (p. 501)
Phone (p. 532)
Internet-connected vehicle* (p. 541)
Apps (p. 498)
Voice control (p. 145)
Ignition modes (p. 437)
Driver distraction (p. 39)
Handling system updates via Download Cen-
ter (p. 613)
License agreement for audio and media
(p. 549) Sound settings
The sound system is precalibrated for optimal
sound reproduction, but these settings can be
personalized.
The system's volume is normally adjusted using
the volume control below the center display or
the right-side steering wheel keypad. This
applies, for example, when playing music or the
radio or during phone calls and active traffic mes-
sages.
Optimal sound reproductionThe audio system is precalibrated for optimal
sound reproduction using digital signal process-
ing. This calibration takes into account speakers,
amplifiers, passenger compartment acoustics, lis-
tener position, etc. for each combination of vehi-
cle model and audio system. There is also a
dynamic calibration that takes into account the
volume control setting and the vehicle's speed.
Personal settingsDifferent settings are available in Top view under
Settings Sound
depending on the vehicle's
sound system.