'Tesla Cybertruck Couldn’t Do This:' Man Takes Volvo on a Road Trip. Then He Sees the Condition of the Road

"Actual footage of me going up my driveway."

Man Takes Volvo on a Road Trip. Then He Sees the Condition of the Road

Photo by: rangerrok & Maxim

Chad Swiatecki

By: Chad Swiatecki

Sep 22, 2025 at 7:00am ET

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They were built for school runs, not mud runs. But the driver of the Volvo wagon featured in a viral TikTok video clearly didn’t get the memo. Instead of taking it easy, the battered old Swede charges into wooded, hilly terrain better suited for a Jeep, leaving viewers stunned at how far a family hauler can go.

The clip from Rangerrök (@rangerrok) smartly uses the Dukes of Hazzard theme song to underscore the out-of-place nature of a Volvo wagon rolling and bouncing along country backroads, teasing that the vehicle is well-suited for trips to see friends who live “a bit out of town.”

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The question that arises from the clip is an odd one: are Volvos capable of off-roading? The short answer is yes, but with lots of caveats.

Volvo’s Off-Road Bona Fides

Volvo’s modern Cross Country variants indicate how far the brand has come in adapting wagons and similar body style vehicles for lighter “soft-road” terrain. For instance, the 2025 Volvo V60 Cross Country offers nearly 7.8 inches of ground clearance, an approach angle of 17 degrees, and a departure angle of around 22.4 degrees. For obstacle avoidance, some Cross Country models also come with skid plates and hill-descent control that help when the terrain starts pushing limits.

By contrast, the much-hyped Tesla Cybertruck, with its adjustable air suspension, promises up to 16-17 inches of ground clearance, nearly double that of many Cross Country Volvos, and far greater approach/departure angles. That gives the Cybertruck a much higher margin for crawling over rocks or dipping into deep ruts without scraping. If one were to compare them strictly on spec, the Cybertruck is built with more off-road capability than a standard or lightly modified Volvo wagon.

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But specifications only go so far. Durable materials, design philosophy, owner behavior, and modifications play big roles.

Older Volvo wagons like the 240, 740, and 940 lines are legendary among enthusiasts for being “built like bricks” and are seen as rugged, simple, and repairable. Their long service lives, often in harsh conditions, bolster Volvo’s reputation.

The Volvo 240, for example, remains a cult favorite, with many surviving with high mileages due to robust mechanicals and a no-nonsense build. Brand reliability ratings also tend to be above average, with an average annual repair cost of around $769. While that is more expensive than mass market brands, it’s lower than many luxury rivals. In other words, Volvos can take a lot of punishment.

The Limits of a Wagon in the Wild

Still, when one sees a Volvo tackling muddy backwoods terrain as in the TikTok clip, a few practical limits will almost always come into play. Ground clearance is one of the biggest concerns. Most non-Cross Country Volvo wagons sit quite low, often in the 5.5- to 6-inch range for older models, which makes it challenging to clear obstacles without risking damage.

By contrast, newer Cross Country variants raise the ride height and sometimes add protective elements, but even those are not equivalent to serious off-road equipment. For example, a standard V60 wagon has noticeably less clearance than the V60 Cross Country version, limiting its ability to handle uneven ground.

Drivetrain is another factor. Off-roading in mud or on steep grades requires strong traction and torque, which is why four-wheel drive systems and locking differentials are common in purpose-built trucks. Many Volvo wagons, particularly older models, were built with rear-wheel or front-wheel drive, which puts them at a disadvantage when grip becomes scarce.

Even with all-wheel drive, short approach and departure angles, which reflect how steep a vehicle can climb or descend without scraping, and limited suspension travel, wagons are prone to bottoming out or getting hung up where an SUV would keep going.

Durability also matters, and here the risks can add up quickly. Rocks, water, and deep ruts threaten critical components like brake lines, differentials, transfer cases, and belly pans.

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Owners who push their cars too far off pavement often report costly consequences, from hundreds to thousands of dollars in undercarriage repairs. In fact, some TikTok commenters responding to the Volvo video shared stories of exactly that: grocery runs or delivery routes that ended with bent parts, damaged exhaust systems, and repair bills that made them regret the detour.

Motor1 reached out to the creator via direct message. We'll update this if they respond.