Volvo XC90 Quiz
Starting and driving

All-Wheel Drive (AWD)

In this manual: Starting and driving
Owner's Information — 7Your Volvo — 3Creating and registering a Volvo ID — 16Safety — 29Displays and Controls — 52Illumination — 36Seats and Steering Wheel — 19Climate Control — 45Keys, Locks and Alarm — 31Driver Support — 113Starting and driving — 70Audio, media and internet — 27Media Player — 46Wheels and Tires — 28Loading, storage and passenger compartment — 16Maintenance and Service — 59Specifications — 12
~1min read

All-wheel drive (AWD1), also called fourwheel drive, means that power is distributed to all four wheels, which improves traction.

To achieve the best traction, power is automatically directed to the wheels that have the best grip. The system continuously calculates the need for torque to the rear wheels, and can immediately redistribute up to half of the engine's torque to the rear wheels.

All-wheel drive also has a stabilizing effect at higher speeds. In normal driving conditions, most of the engine's power is directed to the front wheels. When the vehicle is stationary, all-wheel drive is always activated in preparation for maximum traction during acceleration.

All-wheel drive responds differently depending on which drive mode is selected.

1 All-wheel drive

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A quick Volvo XC90 quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.