2020 VOLVO XC90 TWIN ENGINE traction control

STARTING AND DRIVING
431
Related information
Automatic transmission (p. 427)
Gear selector positions for automatic transmissions (p. 428)
The kickdown function Kickdown can be used when maximum acceleration is needed, e.g. when passing.
When the accelerator pedal is depressed all the way to the floor (past the normal full accel-erator position), the transmission will auto-matically engage kickdown, i.e. immediatelyshift down to a lower gear. If the accelerator pedal is released from the kickdown position, the transmission will auto-matically shift up again.
Safety function
The transmission control module is equipped with a downshift protection feature to helpprevent the engine from overheating. In some conditions, the transmission will pre- vent downshifting/kickdown if this would leadto such high engine speed (rpm) that theengine could be damaged. If the driver stillattempts downshifting or kickdown at a highrpm, nothing will happen and the original gearwill remain selected. With kickdown, the vehicle can downshift one or more steps at a time depending on theengine speed. The vehicle upshifts when theengine reaches its maximum rpm to preventengine damage.
Related information
Automatic transmission (p. 427)
All Wheel Drive (AWD)
All-wheel drive (AWD 5
), also called four-
wheel drive, means that power is distributed to all four wheels, which improves traction.
The electric motor that powers the rear wheels enables electronic all-wheel drive functionality.All-wheel drive reacts differently depending onwhich drive mode is selected.
Related information
Drive modes (p. 433)
Low Speed Control (p. 443)
Transmission (p. 426)
5
All Wheel Drive

||
STARTING AND DRIVING
* Option/accessory.
436 This drive mode is adapted for optimal control when driving at low speeds on very poor roads or difficult terrain. It raises the chassis
7
,
reduces driveline throttle response, and locks the vehicle in all-wheel drive. The Hill DescentControl function facilitates controlled drivingon steep downgrades.
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 suspen- sion will lower when the engine is restar-ted.
CAUTION
Do not use the Off Road drive mode when
towing a trailer without an electrical con- nection. This could result in damage to thepneumatic suspension system's bellows.
Constant AWD
Improves the vehicle's traction and han- dling by increasing all-wheel drive. This drive mode locks the vehicle in all-wheeldrive. An adapted distribution between frontand rear axle torque provides effective control,stability and traction, e.g. on slippery roads orwhen towing a heavy trailer or another vehicle. The
Constant 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 driveaccording to the road surface, and can acti-vate the electric motor or start the combustionengine as needed.
Power
The vehicle gets sportier driving characte- ristics and a faster acceleration response.
This drive mode adapts the combined powerfrom the combustion engine and the electricmotor by providing power to both the frontand rear wheels. Gear shifting will be fasterand more distinct and the transmission willprioritize gears with a higher traction force.Steering response is faster, suspension is stiffer and ground clearance is lower 7
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 adapted for optimal per- formance and response during acceleration. Itchanges the throttle response, gear shiftingprogram and turbo boost system. Chassis set-tings and steering and brake response are also optimized. The
Power drive mode is always
available regardless of the hybrid battery's charge status.
Power mode is also available in a Polestar
Engineered* version.
7
For vehicles with pneumatic suspension.

STARTING AND DRIVING
}}
* Option/accessory.443
Leveling control settings *
Turn off leveling control before lifting the vehicle with a jack to help avoid problemswith the pneumatic suspension. The vehicle can be lowered or raised to make it easier to load or for passengers to get inand out.
Adjusting loading mode
Use the buttons in the cargo compartment to raise or lower the rear section of the vehicle tofacilitate loading or unloading the vehicle orconnecting 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 CarMirrors and Convenience.
3. Select
Easy Entry and Exit Suspension
Control.
> When the vehicle is parked and the engine is turned off, the level is low- ered. (Level adjustment will stop if aside door is opened and will resumeafter a slight delay when the door hasbeen closed.) When the engine isstarted and the vehicle begins to move,the level will be raised to the height setby 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 pneumatic suspension. Turning off the function in the center display:1. Tap
Settings in the Top view.
2. Tap
My CarParking Brake and
Suspension.
3. Select
Disable Leveling Control.
Related information
Leveling control
* and suspension (p. 440)
Loading recommendations (p. 585)
Low Speed Control
The low-speed function (LSC 10
) facilitates
and improves control and traction on rough roads and slippery surfaces, e.g. when towinga 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 lowspeeds, up to approximately 40 km/h (25mph). When driving at low speeds, LSC prioritizes low gears and all-wheel drive to help avoidwheel spin and improve traction on all wheels.The accelerator pedal will be less responsiveto improve traction and speed control at lowspeeds. The function is activated together with Hill Descent Control (HDC 11
), which makes it pos-
sible to control speed going down steep hills using the accelerator pedal and reduces theneed to use the brake pedal. The systemmakes it possible to maintain a low and uni-form speed when driving down steep hills.

STARTING AND DRIVING
445
Hill Descent Control
The function for assisting when driving down- hill (HDC 12
) is a low-speed function with
increased engine braking. The function makes it possible to increase or decrease thevehicle's speed on steep downhill gradientsby only using the accelerator pedal, withoutapplying 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 slip-pery or otherwise difficult road surfaces. Thedriver does not need to use the brake pedalbut can instead focus on steering.
WARNING
HDC is only intended to be a supplemen- tary braking aid and it does not function inall situations. 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 speedsassisted by the brake system. The driver canincrease the speed by pressing the acceleratorpedal. When the accelerator pedal is released, the vehicle will return to very low speedregardless of how steep the hill is and withoutthe brakes needing to be applied. The brakelights will illuminate when the function is acti-vated. The driver can brake to stop or slow the vehi- cle at any time by depressing the brake pedal. HDC is activated along with Low Speed Con- trol (LSC
13
), which facilitates and improves
traction and control on rough and slippery sur- faces. The system is intended to be used atlow speeds, up to approximately 40 km/h (25mph).
To keep in mind when using HDC
If the function is switched off while drivingon a steep downhill gradient, brakingeffect 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 thirdgear or higher when HDC is active.
NOTE
When LSC with HDC is activated in theOff Road drive mode, the feel of the accel-
erator 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 atlower speeds if so desired.
Related information
Activating and deactivating Hill Descent Control using the function button (p. 446)
Changing drive mode (p. 438)
Low Speed Control (p. 443)
All Wheel Drive (AWD) (p. 431)
12
Hill Descent Control
13 Low Speed Control

STARTING AND DRIVING
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451
Slippery driving conditionsTo help optimize traction and roadholding, Volvo recommends using snow tires on allwheels whenever there is a risk of snow or iceon the road.
NOTE
Certain countries require use of winter tires by law. Not all countries permit the use ofstudded tires.
Practice driving on slippery surfaces under controlled conditions to learn how the vehiclereacts.
Related information
Snow tires (p. 567)
Snow chains (p. 567)
Braking on salted roads (p. 420)
Braking on wet roads (p. 420)
Filling washer fluid (p. 656)
Start battery (p. 613)
Replacing windshield wiper blades(p. 654)
Changing rear window wipers (p. 653)
Refilling coolant (p. 610)
Driving through standing water
It may be necessary to drive the vehicle through standing water, e.g. deep puddles orflooding on the road. This must be done withgreat caution.
To help prevent damage to the vehicle when driving through water:
Do not drive in water higher than the floorof the vehicle. If possible, check the depthof the water at its deepest point beforedriving through it. Be particularly carefulwhen driving through flowing water.
Always select the
Off Road drive mode
before driving in water to ensure the gaso- line engine is running.
Do not drive faster than walking speed.
Do not stop the vehicle in the water. Drivecarefully forward or back the vehicle out ofthe water.
Remember that waves created by passingvehicles could cause the water level to riseabove the vehicle's floor level.
Avoid driving through salt water to helpavoid the risk of corrosion.
CAUTION
Parts of the vehicle (e.g. engine, transmis- sion, driveline, electrical components, etc.)can be damaged if the vehicle is driventhrough water higher than its floor level.Damage to any components caused byflooding, vapor lock or insufficient oil is notcovered under warranty. If the engine stalls while the vehicle is in water, do not attempt to restart it. Havethe vehicle towed on the bed of a towtruck to a workshop - an authorized Volvoworkshop is recommended.
CAUTION
Because it can be difficult to determine the water depth, Volvo recommends not driv-ing through standing or running water. Thedriver is always responsible for operatingthe vehicle in a safe manner and adheringto all applicable laws and regulations.
When you have passed the water, press lightly on the brake pedal and check that the brakesare functioning properly. Water, mud, slush,etc. can make the brake linings slippery,resulting in delayed braking effect. If the vehicle is equipped with a trailer cou- pling contact, clean the contact after driving inwater or mud.

STARTING AND DRIVING
457
WARNING
Never carry a cell phone that is switched
on while refueling your vehicle. If the
phone rings, this may cause a spark that could ignite gasoline fumes, resulting in fireand injury.
WARNING
Carbon monoxide is a poisonous, colorless, and odorless gas. It is present in all exhaustgases. If you ever smell exhaust fumesinside the vehicle, make sure the passengercompartment is ventilated, and immedi-ately return the vehicle to a trained andqualified Volvo service technician for cor-rection.
Demanding drivingIn demanding driving conditions, such as when towing a trailer or driving in hot weatheror for prolonged periods at high altitudes, itmay be a good idea to switch to a higher- octane fuel (AKI 14
91 or higher) or to switch to
another brand of gasoline in order to fully uti- lize the vehicle's engine capacity and optimizetraction.
Related information
Fuel (p. 454)
Emission controls (p. 457)
Emission controls
Three-way catalytic converter
Keep your engine properly tuned. Certain engine malfunctions, particularly involvingthe electrical, fuel or distributor ignitionsystems, may cause unusually high three-way catalytic converter temperatures. Donot continue to operate your vehicle if youdetect engine misfire, noticeable loss ofpower or other unusual operating condi-tions, such as engine overheating or back-firing. A properly tuned engine will helpavoid malfunctions that could damage thethree-way catalytic converter.
Do not park your vehicle over combustiblematerials, such as grass or leaves, whichcan come into contact with the hotexhaust system and cause such materialsto ignite under certain wind and weatherconditions.
Excessive starter cranking (in excess ofone minute), or an intermittently firing orflooded engine can cause three-way cata-lytic converter or exhaust system over-heating.
Remember that tampering or unauthor-ized modifications to the engine, theEngine Control Module, or the vehicle maybe illegal and can cause three-way cata-lytic converter or exhaust system over- heating. This includes: altering fuel injec-tion settings or components, alteringemission system components or locationor removing components, and/or repeateduse of leaded fuel.
NOTE
Unleaded fuel is required for vehicles with three-way catalytic converters.
Heated oxygen sensorsThe heated oxygen sensors monitor the oxy- gen content of the exhaust gases. Readingsare fed into a control module that continuouslymonitors engine functions and controls fuelinjection. The ratio of fuel to air into the engineis continuously adjusted for efficient combus-tion to help reduce harmful emissions.
Related information

Octane rating (p. 455)
Fuel (p. 454)
14
AKI (Anti Knock Index) is an average value of RON (Research Octane Number) and MON (Motor Octane Number) - (RON)+(MON)/2

AUDIO, MEDIA AND INTERNET
* Option/accessory.
478
Audio, media and Internet
The audio and media system consists of a media player and a radio. A cellular phone canalso be connected through Bluetooth to usehands-free functions or play music in thevehicle. When the vehicle is connected to theInternet, it is also possible to use apps to playmedia.
Audio and media overview
The functions can be controlled using voice commands, the steering wheel keypad or thecenter display. The number of speakers andamplifiers varies depending on the audio sys-tem installed in the vehicle.
System updates
The audio and media system is continuously improved. It is recommended to download system updates as soon as they are available.
Related information
Media player (p. 499)
Radio (p. 482)
Phone (p. 515)
Internet-connected vehicle
* (p. 524)
Apps (p. 480)
Voice Control (p. 148)
Ignition modes (p. 415)
Driver distraction (p. 41)
Handling system updates via DownloadCenter (p. 600)
License agreement for audio and media(p. 533)
Handling system updates via DownloadCenter (p. 600)
Sound settings
Sound reproduction quality is preset but can also be adjusted.
The system's volume is normally adjusted using the volume control below the center dis-play or the right-side steering wheel keypad.This applies, for example, when playing musicor the radio or during phone calls and activetraffic messages.
Sound reproductionThe audio system is precalibrated using digitalsignal processing. This calibration takes intoaccount speakers, amplifiers, passenger com-partment acoustics, listener position, etc. foreach combination of vehicle model and audiosystem. There is also a dynamic calibrationthat takes into account the volume control set-ting and the vehicle's speed.
Personal settingsDifferent settings are available in Top view under
SettingsSound depending on the
vehicle's sound system.
Premium Sound * (Bowers & Wilkins)
Tone - setting for e.g. bass, treble, equal-
izer, etc.

Balance - balance between right/left and
front/rear speakers.

System Volumes – adjusts volume in the
various systems of the car, e.g. Voice

WHEELS AND TIRES
546
TiresThe function of the tires is to carry loads, pro- vide traction on road surfaces, reduce vibra-tions and protect the wheels from wear.
The tires significantly influence the vehicle's driving characteristics. The type, dimensions,tire pressure and speed rating have a consid-erable impact on how the vehicle performs. Your vehicle is equipped with tires according to the vehicle's tire information placard on theB-pillar (the structural member at the side ofthe vehicle, at the rear of the driver's dooropening).
WARNING
A damaged tire could cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
CAUTION
Some Volvo models are equipped with an Ultra High Performance tire and wheelcombination designed to provide maxi-mum dry pavement performance with con-sideration for hydroplaning resistance.They may be more susceptible to road haz-ard damage and, depending on drivingconditions, may achieve a tread life of lessthan 30,000 km (20,000 miles). Even ifthis vehicle is equipped with Volvo'sadvanced AWD or stability system, thesetires are not designed for winter driving,and should be replaced with winter tireswhen weather conditions dictate.
The tires have good road holding characteris- tics and offer good handling on dry and wetsurfaces. It should be noted however that thetires have been developed to give these fea-tures on snow/ice-free surfaces. Most models are equipped with "all-season" tires, which provide a somewhat higherdegree of roadholding on slippery road surfa-ces than tires without the "all-season" rating.However, for optimal roadholding on icy orsnow-covered roads, Volvo recommendssnow tires on all four wheels. When replacing tires, be sure that the newtires are the same size designation, type(radial) and preferably from the same manu-facturer, on all four wheels. Otherwise there isa risk of altering the vehicle's roadholding andhandling characteristics.
Recommended tiresOn delivery, the car is equipped with Volvo original tires that have the VOL
1
marking on
the side of the tires. These tires have been designed specifically for your vehicle. It istherefore important when replacing tires thatthe new tires have this same marking to helpmaintain the vehicle's driving characteristics,comfort and fuel consumption.
New tires
1 This may vary for certain tire dimensions.