Loading

There are a number of things to remember when loading the car.

Payload depends on the car's kerb weight. The total of the weight of the passengers and all accessories reduces the car's payload by a corresponding weight.

 Warning

The car’s driving properties change depending on the weight and positioning of the load.

Recommendations for loading in the cargo area

  • Position the load firmly against the rear seat's backrest.
  • Centre the load.
  • 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.

 Warning

A loose object weighing 20 kg can, in a frontal collision at a speed of 50 km/h (30 mph) carry the impact of an item weighing 1000 kg.

 Warning

The protection provided by the inflatable curtain in the headlining may be compromised or eliminated by high loads.

  • Never load cargo above the backrest.

 Warning

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.

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*.

Level control is performed via a control at the rear on the right-hand side in the cargo area's side panel.

P5-1507 Rear leveling switches
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.

 Note

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.

 Warning

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.

Recommendations for roof loads

For loading on the car's roof, the load carriers1 that Volvo have 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.

Carefully follow the installation instructions supplied with the carriers.

  • Check periodically that the load carriers and load are properly secured. Lash the load securely with retaining straps.
  • Distribute the load evenly over the load carriers. Put the heaviest objects at the bottom.
  • 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.

 Warning

The car's centre of gravity and driving characteristics are altered by roof loads.

Read about maximum permitted roof load in the section on Weights.

  1. * Option/accessory.
  2. 1 Volvo's load carriers are available for purchase at authorised Volvo dealers.