I am considering an XC90. Question: Has anyone driven this vehicle in deep soft sand. I have had 4x4 and drive on the beach. This vehicle has the clearance, but does it have the gearing...?

 

The XC90 is an AWD and not a 4x4off-road vehicle.DO NOT drive it in sand or deep water - you will damage the the AWD gearing!!!For off roading you reallyneed to consider a *****'s Jeep,a Landrover or an H1.

 

I have been considering an XC-90 as well, and had asked similar questions in another thread (although I am more concerned about ground clearance, and ability in deep snow.) My guess is without low range gearing you would not fair well in deep sand, not to mention damage issues brought up by the previous post. I do think you have more alternatives though than the 3 mentioned, unless you are into hardcore off-roading; just about anything with a 2- speed transfer case will do fine in sand.

 

Thanks for the reply. It would appear from this and other research that the XC90 would not be a strong vehicle in soft sand. The AWD set up is the same as the S60 and V70.

I have had a DiscoII, Mountaineer and Pilot, they all did fine on the sand. The Pilot had an AWD system that could be locked. No reason to go to an H1 at this point...

I'll be looking for othe options and not the XC90.

Thanks again