The Humble 7-Seater SUV That Packs A Yamaha-Built V-8 Under The Hood

Summary

• Volvo partnered with Yamaha to develop a V-8 engine for the XC90 SUV, marking the first time a Volvo passenger car had a V-8 engine.
• The Yamaha-built V-8 engine in the XC90 provided significantly more power and a more aggressive exhaust note compared to Volvo’s turbocharged engines.
• The Gen-1 XC90 V-8 featured advanced safety technology, including Roll Stability Control, and a spacious interior with folding second and third-row seats for additional cargo space.

The Volvo XC90, Volvo’s first entrant in the SUV segment, was an instant hit when it first launched in the 2000s. It drew buyers in with its reasonable pricing, seven-seat option, superb off-road capabilities, and advanced safety features. The XC90 wasn’t a performance SUV and didn’t pretend to be one. The engines offered in the United States – a 208 horsepower turbocharged inline-five and a 268 horsepower twin-turbocharged inline-six – provided enough power for the Swedish ute.

However, with the likes of Mercedes and BMW offering V-8 variants of the Mercedes ML and the BMW X5 (XC90 competitors), Volvo felt compelled to develop a V-8 for the XC90. It would be the first Volvo passenger car in the company’s nearly eight-decade history to roll off the production line with a V-8 engine. Here’s everything about the humble seven-seater Volvo SUV that packs a Yamaha-built V-8 under the hood.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including Autoweek, Car And Driver, and classic.com.

Volvo Once Partnered With Yamaha To Build A V-8 Engine For The XC90

Volvo designed the XC-90 without considering that it would later infuse it with V-8 power. The automaker crafted the engine bay to fit a turbocharged inline-five or a twin-turbo inline-five transversely. Unwilling to alter the geometry of the SUV to fit a V-8, Volvo had to find a V-8 that could fit between the XC90’s front wheel wells.

The XC90 V-8 Shares No Parts With The Ford Taurus SHO V-8 Also Built By Yamaha

Ford, Volvo’s parent company in the early 2000s, didn’t have a transverse V-8 engine ideal for the XC90. However, rifling through Ford’s catalog, Volvo discovered that Ford and Yamaha had built a transversely-mounted V-8 for the Taurus SHO. Therefore, Volvo partnered with Yamaha to build a V-8 for the XC90.

Volvo denied that the 4.4-liter V-8 built for its SUV shared any parts with the 3.4-liter power unit developed for the SHO. Thanks to its 60-degree bank angle and innovative packaging, the engine fit snugly in the SUV’s engine bay, negating the need for architectural changes.

Some examples of Yamaha’s innovation included mounting the alternator directly to the engine block and using secondary chains from the intake camshafts to drive the exhaust cams. Volvo engineers defended the decision to mount the engine sideways, saying it improved crash safety by lengthening the crumple zone.

Performance Specifications

(Specs: Volvo)

The Yamaha V-8 Sent Power To All Wheels Via A Six-Speed Manumatic Transmission

The naturally aspirated Yamaha V-8 was significantly more boisterous than Volvo’s turbocharged five-cylinder and six-cylinder engines. It produced 311 horsepower, 103 more than the turbocharged inline-five and 43 more than the twin-turbocharged inline-six. At 3900 RPM, the engine dumped 325 pound-feet of torque onto all wheels through a new six-speed manumatic gearbox designed to handle the extra grunt.

Motivated by a more potent engine, the XC90 V-8 got to 60 MPH a lot faster than its less potent siblings. Remarkably, the V-8 was only 30 pounds heavier than the twin-turbo six-cylinder, which saved Volvo from having to alter the XC90’s suspension. Volvo installed a clever, electronically controlled all-wheel drive system that worked in tandem with the SUV’s traction control systems to provide enough power to each wheel for optimum traction.

Expecting that the XC90 V-8 would be popular in the United States, the spiritual home of the V-8 engine, Volvo gave the ute a sonorous exhaust note. At idle and low revs, the V-8 barely made a sound. However, as the rev counter needle surged upwards, it activated the V-8’s rich roar.

The XC90 V-8 Debuted With New Safety Technology And A Spacious Interior

Volvo has an ironclad reputation for safety. The company has pioneered safety features ubiquitous in automobiles today, including the three-point safety belt, and continuously raised the bar for other automakers, introducing aggressive measures like limiting its offerings to 112 MPH.

The XC90 V-8 Featured Roll Stability Control, An Advanced Form Of Traction Control

The 2005 XC90 featured the expected safety features – reinforced cabin, collapsible steering column, and crash-absorbing interior – and a new one dubbed Roll Stability Control. This advanced traction control system kicked into gear when sensors detected a potential rollover.

The onboard computer would then attempt to prevent the rollover by altering power output and braking the outer wheels to set the SUV back on all wheels. If you somehow managed to get the 4,600-pound XC90 on two wheels, Roll Stability Control prevented you from rolling over.

The XC90 V-8’s Second And Third Row Folded To Free Up More Cargo Space

Besides V-8 badging, 18-inch wheels, and funky tailpipes, there wasn’t much to distinguish the XC90 V-8 from other variants. Inside, the XC90 featured a luxurious interior filled with leather and brushed aluminum and had a power moonroof. Options included a DVD player, satellite radio, and GPS navigation. The SUV came standard with comfortable seating for seven; the second and third rows folded flat to free up acres of cargo space.

Early XC90 V-8s Suffered From Catastrophic Engine Failure

Yamaha, perennially called upon by automotive manufacturers like Toyota to develop car engines, developed an incredible V-8 for the XC90. Internally dubbed the B8444S engine, it also powered the second-generation Volvo S80; a twin-turbocharged version of the engine motivated the Noble M600. Unfortunately, early versions of the engines suffered from catastrophic failure.

A Design Oversight Caused Balance Shaft Bearing Failure

To balance the unconventional 60-degree split V-8 engine, Yamaha installed a balance shaft in the engine’s valley driven by the timing chain. Due to a design oversight, the Japanese automaker left part of the sealed balance shaft bearing exposed to the elements. With time, water seeped into the bearing, destroying it.

Consequently, the balance shaft rattled, eating away at the opposite mount point where Yamaha installed the timing chain. It eventually caused a timing failure, leading to a sudden and loud collision of the pistons and valves. Unfortunately, due to the engine’s tight packing, repairing the failure was laborious and expensive.

You had to take the entire engine out to remove the cylinder head, which was time-consuming. Volvo issued a recall to resolve the issue; vehicles from model year 2006 onwards shouldn’t have the fault. However, to be safe, confirm with your local dealer whether your car was affected.

Other issues you may encounter with a used XC90 V-8 include transmission faults and electrical gremlins. The interior may also be worn out, and the tech will definitely be outdated. Request a full-service history to see if the previous owners took good care of the SUV.

A Used Volvo XC90 V-8 Will Cost You Around $20,000

The Volvo XC90 V-8 was made for American buyers; the Swedish automaker stated that 75 percent of XC90 V-8s made would go to North America. Nevertheless, the XC90 V-8s are pretty rare on the online used car market. According to classic.com, a used example with around 46,000 miles on the clock will cost you around $20,000.

Engine faults should be your greatest concern when purchasing a used XC90 V-8, which Volvo offered from the 2005 to 2011 model years. Due to the V-8’s tight packaging, solving an engine problem often takes a lot of time and effort. Therefore, before you spend money on one, have a professional check for potential wallet-emptying issues. If you stumble upon a good one, don’t hesitate to purchase what is a unique Swedish SUV with a Japanese heart.