Greeting, obviously new here and looking to learn about a possible AWD overlanding vehicle and the Volvos have always been of interest. Thanks for admitting me to this club.

 

I bet that a 1997 850 AWD would be great for that. All the later ones are Haldex, and I am a Haldex skeptic. I suppose if it's working, it might do what you want, but I much prefer mechanical AWD. Become more rare all the time.

The viscous-coupling-only AWD sounds dumb, but we had a vehicle so equipped with Steyr-Daimler-Puch AWD and it was great. When it snowed, I would play with it in front of plate glass windows to see how much slip there was.

 

Welcome to the forum

 

the early XC70s ie 2000 to 2003 were prone to having issues with the bevel gear (ie transfer case) where replacement parts not easy to come by. I'd go with a 2004 or newer or shop for an Audi.