The car’s driving properties change depending on the weight and positioning of the load.
Loading in the cargo area
Good things to remember when loading:
- Position the load firmly against the rear seat’s backrest.
- Heavy objects should be placed as low as possible. Avoid placing heavy loads on lowered backrests.
- Cover sharp edges with something soft to avoid damaging the upholstery.
- Secure all loads to the load retaining eyelets with straps or web lashings.
A loose object weighing 20 kg (44 pounds) can, in a frontal collision at a speed of 50 km/h (30 mph) carry the impact of an item weighing 1000 kg (2200 pounds).
Leave 10 cm (4 inches) space between the load and the side windows if the car is loaded to above the top edge of the door windows. Otherwise, the intended protection of the inflatable curtain, which is concealed in the headlining, may be compromised.
Always secure the load. During heavy braking the load may otherwise shift, causing injury to the car’s occupants.
Cover sharp edges and sharp corners with something soft.
Switch off the engine and apply the parking brake when loading/unloading long items. Otherwise you may accidentally knock the gear lever or gear selector with the load into a drive position – and the car could then move off.
Increasing the space in the cargo area
To expand the cargo area and simplify loading, the rear seat’s backrest can be lowered. Note that objects must not prevent the function of the WHIPS system for the front seats if any of the rear seat’s backrests is folded down.
A through-load hatch in the rear seat can be folded down for carrying long and narrow loads.
Level control of the car’s rear section
The car’s rear section can be lowered/raised in order to create a better working height for the car’s cargo area or to assist when a trailer shall be coupled/uncoupled to/from the towbar.(Option/accessory.)
Level control is performed via a control at the rear on the right-hand side in the cargo area’s side panel.
Controls for raising/lowering the car’s rear section.
- The control consists of two buttons – one button that lowers and one button that raises the rear section of the car. For raising or lowering, each button must be held depressed until the rear section has reached the desired level.
- It is not possible to raise the car’s rear section higher than its normal level.
- During driving, the rear section height will return to the normal level.
It is not possible to adjust the height of the rear section when one or more of the doors or the bonnet is open. This does not apply to the tailgate.
Pay attention to ensure that there is no person, animal or object under the car when lowering. This would involve danger to life and damage to the car or object.
Bag hooks
Bag hooks keep carrier bags in place and prevent them from overturning and spreading their contents across the cargo area.
Along the sides
There is a bag hook in the side panel on each side of the cargo area.
There are two bag hooks in the side panel on each side of the cargo area.
Important
The bag hooks may be loaded with a maximum of 5 kg (11 lbs).
Operating cargo cover
There are two extended positions for the cargo cover – a full-cover position and a loading position, where it is partially extended to make it easier to reach further into the cargo area.
Full-cover position
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Grip the handle and pull the cargo cover out to the end position.
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Hook the attachment pins into the recesses at the cargo area’s rear pillars.
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The cargo cover is locked in the full-cover position.
Cargo cover in full-cover position.
The rear panel fitted to the inside of the tailgate complements the cargo cover.
Important
Do not load objects on top of the cargo cover.
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Loading mode
From the full-cover position:
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Press the cargo cover’s handle section upwards slightly.
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The cover goes up until it stops in the loading position.
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Returning to full-cover position from loading position:
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Grip the handle and pull the cargo cover down to the end position. To facilitate, angle up the handle slightly so that the attachment pins pass the stops.
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Release the handle so that the attachment pins engage.
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The cover is locked in the full-cover position.
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The cargo cover may obscure the view to the rear when in the loading position. Make sure the cargo cover is fully extended or fully retracted when driving.
Retracting
- From the full-cover position:
Lift up the handle and pull it backward to disengage the cargo cover’s attachment pins and then release.
From loading position:
Grip the handle and pull out the cargo cover in the grooves – pull to the full-cover position. Lift up the handle and pull it backward to disengage the attachment pins and then release. - Retract the cover with its attachment pins outside of the side panels until it stops in the retracted position.
Fitting and removing cargo cover
In the extended position, the cargo cover and the rear panel prevent visual access to the cargo area.
Fitting cargo cover
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Insert one of the cargo cover’s end pieces in the recess in the side panel in the cargo area.
- Then insert the other end piece in the recess in the side panel on the opposite side.
Ensure that the front panel is pointing down behind the backrests before the cassette is put in place.
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Press down the end pieces on both sides – one by one.
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When a “click” is heard and the red marking on each end piece has disappeared, the cargo cover is attached – check that it is affixed securely.
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Installation of the tailgate panel
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Turn the panel in the right direction with the screw side downward and guide the pin into the bracket on one side of the tailgate.
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Clamp the panel slightly to facilitate guiding the pin into the equivalent bracket on the other side.
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Press the two upper clips into the respective sockets in the tailgate so that they click into place.
Removing cargo cover
In retracted position:
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Depress the button on one of the retracted cargo cover’s end pieces and lift out that end.
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Angle the cover up/out carefully.
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The other end piece loosens automatically and the cover can be lifted out of the cargo area.
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Removal of the tailgate panel
If the cargo cover is not in use then the rear panel can be removed.
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Pull the panel’s upper clips straight out from the tailgate.
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Carefully pull the panel away from the bracket on one side of the tailgate, and then from the other side. If necessary, clamp the panel slightly so that it is more flexible and to facilitate removal.
Load retaining eyelets
Use the load retaining eyelets to attach straps in order to anchor items in the cargo area.
Hard, sharp and heavy objects that are loose or protrude may cause injury during heavy braking.
Always secure large and heavy objects with a seatbelt or cargo retaining straps.
Fitting and removing safety grilles
The safety grille prevents loads or pets in the cargo area from being thrown forward in the passenger compartment under heavy braking.
The safety grille is crash-tested in accordance with the ECE R17 legal requirement and fulfils Volvo’s strength requirements.
For safety reasons, the safety grille must always be attached and anchored correctly.
Under no circumstances may anybody remain in the cargo area while the car is moving. This is to avoid injury in the event of heavy braking or an accident.
Installation
The safety grille must only be used in the rear position (behind the rear seat) described here.
Before first installing the safety grille, the existing plastic roof mountings must be replaced with steel roof mountings. Volvo recommends that replacing roof mountings is performed at an authorised Volvo workshop or retailer.
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Fold the rear seat’s backrest forward.
- Make sure that the safety grille is turned in the right direction. Lift in the safety grille through one of the rear side doors.
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The next step is facilitated if two people hold the safety grille in the right position. - .
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Check that the safety grille is properly fitted.
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Restore the backrest to the upright position.
For more information about the tools required and methods for fitting/removal, see the installation instructions that were included with the initial purchase.
The safety grille cannot be folded up or down when a cargo cover is fitted.
Fitting and removing the safety net
The safety net prevents loads from being thrown forward in the passenger compartment in the event of sudden braking.
The safety net is fitted into four mounting points.
For reasons of safety, the safety net must always be fastened and anchored as described below.
The net is made of a strong nylon fabric and can be secured two different locations in the car:
- Front fitting – behind the front seats.
- Rear fitting – behind the rear seat.
Loads in the luggage compartment must be anchored well, and also using a correctly fitted safety net.
Fitting the safety net
Check that the safety net’s upper mountings are correctly fitted and that the puller-straps are securely hooked on.
Damaged safety nets must not be used.
With forward mounting, the safety net is most easily mounted via the rear doors.
- Unfold the safety net and make sure that the split upper rod in the net is locked in its extended position.
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Hook one retaining hook of the net into the front or rear roof mounting with the anchoring strap locks turned towards you.
- Hook the net’s second attachment hook to the roof bracket on the opposite side.
The telescopically sprung attachment hooks make it easier to fit.
Take care to press forward the net’s retaining hooks for each respective roof mounting’s front end position. - .
Rear fitting.
For rear fitting:
With the net fitted in the rear roof mountings, hook the safety net’s puller-straps into the front load retaining eyelets in the cargo area.Front fitting.
For front fitting:
With the net fitted in the front roof mountings, hook the puller-straps into the outer eyes on the rear of all seat slide rails. The procedure is facilitated if the backrests are straightened and the seats are moved forward slightly.
Pay attention to make sure that you do not exert hard pressure on the net when the seat and backrest are moved back again. Only adjust until the seat or backrest makes contact with the net.Important]
If a seat or backrest is pushed backwards hard into the safety net, the net and roof mounts may be damaged. -
Tension the safety net with the anchoring straps.
Removing the safety net
The safety net can be easily removed and folded up.
- Reduce safety net tension by pressing the button in the anchoring strap lock and feeding out a little of the anchoring strap on each side.
- Press in the catches and detach both of the anchoring strap’s hooks.
- Undo the upper attachments and release the net from the roof mountings.
- Press the red button on the rod to enable folding and then roll up the net. Store the net in its case.
Roof load and loading on load carriers
For loading on the car’s roof, the load carriers that Volvo have developed are recommended.
This is to reduce the risk of damage to the car. Volvo’s load carriers are available for purchase at authorised Volvo retailers.
Carefully follow the installation instructions supplied with the carriers.
- Distribute the load evenly over the load carriers. Put the heaviest objects at the bottom.
- Check periodically that the load carriers and load are properly secured. Lash the load securely with retaining straps.
- If the load is longer than the car at the front, e.g. a canoe or kayak, fit the towing eye to its front socket and attach the bungee to this.
- The size of the area exposed to the wind, and therefore fuel consumption, increase with the size of the load.
- Drive gently. Avoid quick acceleration, heavy braking and hard cornering.
The car’s centre of gravity and driving characteristics are altered by roof loads.
Towbar-mounted bicycle rack
When using a bicycle rack, the bicycle racks that Volvo has developed are recommended.
This is in order to avoid damage to the car and in order to achieve the maximum possible safety during a journey. Volvo’s bicycle racks are available for purchase at authorised Volvo dealers.
Carefully follow the instructions enclosed with the bicycle rack.
- Bicycle rack including load must weigh a maximum of 75 kg (165 pounds).
- Rear Auto Brake should be deactivated before driving with a bicycle rack.
Incorrect use of the bicycle rack may cause damage to the towbar and car.
The bicycle rack can loosen from the towbar if it
- is incorrectly fitted on the towball
- is overloaded, see the bicycle rack’s instructions for maximum load weight
- is used for carrying something other than bicycles.
The car’s driving characteristics are affected when a bicycle rack is fitted on the towbar. For example due to:
- increased weight
- reduced acceleration capacity
- reduced ground clearance
- changed braking capacity.
Recommendations for loading bicycles on the bicycle rack
The larger the distance between the load’s centre of gravity and the towball, the greater the load on the towbar.
Load according to the following recommendations:
- Fit the heaviest bicycle furthest in, closest to the car.
- Keep the load symmetrical and as close to the centre of the car as possible e.g. by loading the bicycles facing alternately if several bicycles are loaded.
- Remove loose objects from the bicycle for transportation, e.g. bicycle basket, battery, child seat. Partly to reduce the load on the towbar and bicycle rack, and partly to reduce the wind resistance, which affects fuel consumption.
- Do not use protective covers on the bicycles. This may affect manoeuvrability, impair visibility and increase fuel consumption. It may also lead to an increased load on the towbar.