Spring road trip tips for smoother journeys

Spring – one of the best times to take a road trip – is literally around the corner.

Catch the Alpine bloom in Kosciuszko National Park. Cruise out from Sydney to catch the Clarence Valley jacarandas in Grafton. Head out from Melbourne to the magnificent flora of Victoria’s Grampions. Take the Avon 500 loop in WA, watch whales migrate along Tasmania’s East coast, plot a foodie tour of Queensland’s Capricorn Way. Australia’s not short of road trip options – and there are plenty more inspirational ideas here and here.

(Meanwhile, there’s still time to travel in style, and pack more into every trip: Volvo Car Australia and July’s complementary 3-piece luggage partnership runs to 30 September*).

Alongside planning the fun stuff, taking an hour to do the boring stuff also helps ensure a smoother trip. A quick car safety check is always worth it.

Wipers

Latest long range weather forecasts suggest El Nino will drive a hot, dry spring and summer. But spring can bring more thunderstorms and sudden heavy downpours – where wipers need to work hardest.

Check the blades for signs of wear and tear. If there are any splits, tears or fraying it’s time to change them. Likewise, if they are streaking during operation. It’s definitely worth checking the windscreen washer fluid at the same time. Both are cheap, easy fixes and make a big difference to visibility.

Tyres

Checking tyre health and pressure is essential – where the rubber hits the road is what keeps cars safely planted on it.

Take a look at the tyre walls. Any bulges, cracking or discolouration mean it’s time for new ones. Also check the tread. If the main grooves are getting close to the tread wear indicators – the little raised areas at the bottom of the grooves – it’s worth having them changed before a long trip. The legal limit is 1.6mm across the entire band of the tyre.

If the tread seems okay but tyres appear to be wearing unevenly, ask a Volvo technician to check the wheels are correctly aligned and balanced. It’s an inexpensive fix that means a smoother, safer ride, and will extend tyre life.

Finally, check the tyre pressure. The correct settings can be found on the driver’s door pillar. (It’s important to check tyres when they are cool, as heat affects pressure.) Over time, tyre pressure naturally falls – but too low tyre pressure is one of the main causes of tyre failure and cracking. Volvo recommends checking tyre pressure and condition at least monthly.

Air con

If El Nino does mean a hotter than normal spring, an efficient climate control system will make a road trip a little more comfortable.

Air con systems lose refrigerant over time – so if it hasn’t been serviced for a couple of years, it could be worth getting a check at a Volvo service centre, certainly ahead of summer.

Oil level

For petrol and hybrid vehicles, an engine oil read is another quick and easy check that can save major headaches later. Too little oil can cause major engine damage (as can too much). With the car stationary, engine off and cool, flip the bonnet, remove the dipstick, wipe it with a clean cloth or rag, and dip it back in. If the reading is close to the lower limit, it’s worth topping up (using the oil specified in the owner’s manual). RACV has a simple, best practice guide here.

Peace of mind

Making basic safety checks should reduce the chance of an unscheduled stop. But if the car is due a service soon, it might be worth bringing it forward – and getting a professional safety check across things like brakes, suspension, coolant and power steering.

For peace of mind, and a smoother road-trip, find your local Volvo retailer here.

*Complimentary July Luggage Classic Expandable Family Set offer applies to all new MY26 XC60 and MY26 XC90 models ordered and delivered between 01/07/26 and 30/09/26. The offer is not transferable or redeemable for cash. Not available to fleet, government or rental buyers, or in conjunction with any other offer. Volvo Car Australia reserves the right to change this offer at any time. July Luggage subject to availability and sent by July Luggage after the vehicle has been delivered.