Highest mileage XC40?

[Stovo]

Even if the Geeley box is found to be reliable in the XC40, it's the complication and hence expense if something does go wrong of the whole mild-hybrid system that worries me about long-term ownership.

I've stated many times that I wouldn't keep mine outside of warranty. This is a real pity as I really like the car and only do a low annual mileage and would be happy to keep on driving it for many years.

I would have been less worried about keeping my previous car due to its comparative simplicity (and some things I liked more about it) though I did have a bit of a scare outside of warranty ( kept it for 4 years) when the driver display went blank on me a few times. Fortunately it sorted itself out after a while. That can happen on any car though I guess. I would probably have kept it even longer but got such a good deal on the new one I decided to change in the end.

I've mentioned before about the odd issues I get with my car as regards the drivetrain albeit infrequent. When coasting sometimes and speed has reduced to say under 30mph you can hear mechanical noises as though something is trying to engage? On one occasion it was quite loud and disconcerting but fine again after that. Can't be the gears can it? Though manual boxes don't like gear changes if the engines not running.

The other issue is that if you almost come to a halt and then accelerate it seems to get confused and doesn't know which gear it should be in and on a couple of bad occasions it seemed to almost be in neutral and then with a bang lurched forward. I've now adapted my driving style to keep moving at a higher speed or completely stop with in both cases accelerating gently until drive is taken up smoothly. Obviously dependant on traffic.

As said VWG have had their issues with DSG boxes but driving my wife's Fabia yesterday shows what a pleasant driving experience they can provide. Stop/start turned off and no coasting function it was a delight, no nasty noises and very smooth. Not being a mild-hybrid was one of the reasons for buying it as the intention is to keep it.

Unfortunately VAG are increasingly moving towards mild-hybrids and coasting etc. which will influence my thoughts on moving back to them when it's time to change the Volvo. I may have to overrule my desire to have something that drives as I'd like and just go for something I feel is reliable if there is ever such a thing again!

Totally agree regards reliability and cost of repair of Hybrid, and I too would be nervous of keeping outside warranty. Don’t discount EV, best thing I did switching. Lot of variables to consider though, such as being able to charge at home, mileage you do ( public charging dearer than petrol based upon range), initial cost of vehicle/ residuals, cost of insurance ( little more than ICE in my case). For me all stacked up, so went for it. Would not go back to ICE.

[JFDIT]

The amount you will save not buying another new car will likely offset any big future bills. BEVs, I wonder how big the bill will be when the battery needs replacing....

[neilgorin]

I've stated many times that I wouldn't keep mine outside of warranty. This is a real pity as I really like the car and only do a low annual mileage and would be happy to keep on driving it for many years.

I've mentioned before about the odd issues I get with my car as regards the drivetrain albeit infrequent. When coasting sometimes and speed has reduced to say under 30mph you can hear mechanical noises as though something is trying to engage? On one occasion it was quite loud and disconcerting but fine again after that. Can't be the gears can it? Though manual boxes don't like gear changes if the engines not running.

The other issue is that if you almost come to a halt and then accelerate it seems to get confused and doesn't know which gear it should be in and on a couple of bad occasions it seemed to almost be in neutral and then with a bang lurched forward. I've now adapted my driving style to keep moving at a higher speed or completely stop with in both cases accelerating gently until drive is taken up smoothly. Obviously dependant on traffic.

I come on this forum from time to time because the XC40 is technically the same as my summer 2023 V60 (same engine, same 7 speed DCT box etc) whereas the discussion of the mild hybrid system on other Volvo forums relates to the 8 speed version in every other model where people look aghast at my comments that, yes, the engine does indeed switch off at speed. The XC40s I've driven (courtesy cars) are IDENTICAL to drive to my V60, right down to the noises and bangs you mention above.

Now I hammer my cars, 30000 miles or so each year and normally bail out around 100000 miles to start again. Much like you though I'm dubious whether I'll keep this v60 to that mileage UNLESS I can get an extended warranty later this year that specifically covers that gearbox when it's about 2 years old but out of the 60k Volvo warranty. My last v60 (a 2019 car) was a straight manual diesel and a VASTLY better car in almost every respect.

Like you, I have noted regularly the mechanical noise when coasting then braking. This is caused, I am told, by a pressure release valve on the braking system. A software update in the spring of 24 reduced its occurrence but I do still hear it occasionally. A grinding gear is a polite way to put it, as both inside and outside my car and various XC40s I've driven, it sounds more like the car has eaten an entire tin of baked beans recently. It does seem to be getting less frequent now the mileage on the car is at 40k miles, I suspect the valve starts to wear and doesn't provide such an abrupt release of pressure.

Coming up to a junction, if I need to pull away swiftly it will ALWAYS either be off, which confuses it, or in the wrong gear. The former I control by lightly tapping the throttle moments before I start to brake for junctions where I'll need a quick get away (some roundabouts on major roads for example) but there is little I've found can be done to stop it arriving at a junction in 3rd, you pulling away and it realising immediately that it should be in 2nd - along with the momentary pause this causes. I had a Citroen 25 years ago that did the same, but it was so pronounced that it would roll to an almost complete stop before engaging the correct gear - I got rid of that after a few months as I had way too many near misses in it. The Volvo is bad for it but not as bad. Conversely my wife has a BMW 430 with the same mild hybrid coast and stop system, but that doesn't do it at all so it's entirely down to engineering and not the tech.

[ChrisLF]

Hi Neil, good to hear it's not only me that experiences the confusion when slowing and accelerating again.

But the noise I mentioned isn't the whooping that John (JFDIT) first described it as (which I do get far less frequently now), but is a mechanical one as though something is activating - hence my comment on gears, as if say you are coasting at 60 mph and then slowing right down it must have to pre-select lower gears in readiness for restarting and accelerating again if needed and as I said proper manuals don't like that if the engine isn't running for some reason.

It's only been bad once and a few times less so but I reduce the chance of it happening when slowing down by touching the throttle or heel and toeing. And if the engine stops at traffic lights etc. I left foot brake to restart the engine to ensure a smoother get away.

The couple of occasions when I had the bad pulling away experiences with the bang and lurch was when I didn't have time to mitigate. First time I was approaching parked cars on both sides of the road and had to suddenly brake for an oncoming car - came virtually to a halt and when pressing the throttle again nothing happened, then there was a bang and the car lurched forward as though it had gone into neutral and then banged it into gear!

Second time was when I suddenly came upon a road hump (faded markings and poorly lit) and braked quite hard, again when pulling away there was a lack of drive initially and then a bang and lurch but nowhere near as bad as the first time.

Fortunately I'm retired now with a much reduced annual mileage and so the opportunities for the car to misbehave are greatly reduced. When I was working and did a 20 mile each way commute this car could have been a nightmare in the cut and thrust of commuter traffic. An auto should be an advantage in traffic like that as indeed one of my Passats was with its 2.0 litre diesel and DSG it was smooth and fast.

I can live with these infrequent issues as in other respects I really like the car but as I've said no way am I keeping it without a warranty!

[ProV1x]

Seems to have got a bit derailed this, no one else got a 'high mileage' example that they want to share !

[eugen61]

I have a 5 year old XC40 T4 MY2020 and my long term reliability experience would likely be irrelevant to the OP, who plans to keep a facelifted mild-hybrid MY2024 that has some major differences from my car. I think focusing the discussion on his model is more helpful.

[M3GS]

As the OP I am happy with the way the thread is going. Very interesting and informative actually.

Obviously the mild hybrids are yet to be proven in the long term, and of course there is far more technology to go wrong, but it would still be nice to see what reliability over very high mileages on the older models is like.

[JFDIT]

I doubt that other brands will fare any better given they have all had to rush in temporary stupid changes to make our policy makers happy.
Cars go wrong, always have, and the most unreliable cars tend to be the ones there are most of on the road... I wouldn't have a problem running the XC40 out of warranty, if it goes wrong I'll have it fixed. But I definitely wouldn't buy a 6 year old BEV with a view on keeping it.

[ChrisLF]

Seems to have got a bit derailed this, no one else got a 'high mileage' example that they want to share !

Doubt you will get that on here as higher mileage drivers of the recent mild-hybrids will tend to be business users who often don't visit car forums and apart from the possible annoyance of breaking down they aren't worried about longevity as they will just get a new one!

[ChrisLF]

I doubt that other brands will fare any better given they have all had to rush in temporary stupid changes to make our policy makers happy.
Cars go wrong, always have, and the most unreliable cars tend to be the ones there are most of on the road... I wouldn't have a problem running the XC40 out of warranty, if it goes wrong I'll have it fixed. But I definitely wouldn't buy a 6 year old BEV with a view on keeping it.

I agree, but whilst I would have risked it with my previous car (well I did for a year) with the added complexity of this car and the prices that Volvo charge for even simple repairs it is a risk I'm not willing to take. What was it, around £800 for replacing the tailgate struts, so how many thousands would drivetrain and the like cost?

As I've said a number of times, the current cars from all manufacturers are likely to be a real problem in a few years time with subsequent buyers either not wanting to buy them or wanting them very cheaply and not being able to afford to have them repaired, especially as when new some dealers and even Volvo have problems dianosing faults!