
LOADING AND STORAGE
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Cargo space
The vehicle has flexible cargo capacity that makes it possible to load and secure largeobjects.
By folding down the backrests in the second and third rows * of seats, the cargo capacity of the
vehicle increases considerably. To make loading easier, the rear section of the vehicle can beraised and lowered using the pneumatic suspen- sion *. Use the load anchoring eyelets or the gro-
cery bag holder to secure objects and the cargo compartment cover to help conceal the load. The jack *, tire sealing system and tools can be
found under the cargo compartment's floor.
Related information
• Loading (p. 216)
• Cargo compartment cover
* (p. 225)
• Cargo net (p. 221)
• Grocery bag holder (p. 221)
• Load anchoring eyelets (p. 224)
• Steel cargo grid
* (p. 223)
• Folding the second row backrests (p. 176)
• Folding the third row backrests (p. 178)
• Leveling control
* and suspension (p. 419)
Loading
The load carrying capacity of your vehicle is determined by factors such as the number ofpassengers, the amount of cargo, the weight ofany accessories that may be installed, etc.
Loading recommendations
• Load objects in the cargo compartment against the backrest whenever possible.
• If the backrests of the second row seats arefolded down, they should not be in contactwith the front seat backrests. This couldimpede the function of the WhiplashProtection System (WHIPS).
• Unstable loads can be secured to the loadanchoring eyelets with straps or web lash-ings to help keep them from shifting.
• Stop the engine and apply the parking brakewhen loading or unloading long objects. Thegear selector can be knocked out of positionby long loads, which could set the vehicle inmotion.
WARNING
•
Stop the engine, put the gear selector in P
, and apply the parking brake when
loading or unloading long objects.
• The vehicle's driving characteristics may change depending on the weight and dis-tribution of the load.
• A 44-pound (20 kg) object produces aforce of 2,200 pounds (1,000 kg) in ahead-on collision at 30 mph (50 km/h).
• The cargo area and rear seat should notbe loaded to a level higher than 2 in.(5 cm) below the upper edge of the rearside windows. Objects placed higher thanthis level could impede the function ofthe Inflatable Curtain.
WARNING
• Cover sharp edges on long loads to help prevent injury to occupants. Secure theload to help prevent shifting during sud-den stops.
• Always secure large and heavy objectswith a seat belt or cargo retaining straps.
• Always secure the load to help prevent itfrom moving in the event of sudden stops.
• Switch off the engine, apply the parking brake and put the gear selector in
P
when loading and unloading the vehicle.

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* Option/accessory.217
Raising/lowering the rear-end of the vehicle*
Using the buttons on the read edge of the cargo compartment, the rear-end of the vehicle (thelevel of the cargo compartment floor) can beraised or lowered for easier loading or to make attaching a trailer 1
simpler.
Level control buttons on the rear edge of the cargo compartment
The level control consists of two buttons: one to raise and one to lower the rear-end of the vehi-cle. Press and hold the respective buttons until the desired level has been reached.
NOTE
The level cannot be adjusted if a door or the hood are open (this does not apply to the tail-gate).
WARNING
Be sure that the entire area under the vehicle is completely unobstructed before loweringthe level.
Extra loading spaceThe rear seat backrests can be folded down to added cargo space or for transporting longobjects.
WARNING
• Boxes, suitcases, etc. wedged behind the front seats could impede the function ofthe Whiplash Protection System.
• If the rear seat backrests are foldeddown, cargo must be secured to preventit from sliding forward against the frontseat backrests in the event of a collisionfrom the rear. This could interfere withthe action of the Whiplash ProtectionSystem.
WARNING
• Cover sharp edges on long loads to help prevent injury to occupants. Secure theload to help prevent shifting during sud-den stops.
• Always secure large and heavy objectswith a seat belt or cargo retaining straps.
• Always secure the load to help prevent itfrom moving in the event of sudden stops.
• Switch off the engine, apply the parking brake and put the gear selector in
P
when loading and unloading the vehicle.
Roof loadsLoad carriers are available as Volvo accessories. Observe the following points when in use:
• To avoid damaging your vehicle and toachieve maximum safety when driving, werecommend using the load carriers that Volvohas developed especially for your vehicle.
• Volvo-approved removable roof racks aredesigned to carry the maximum allowableroof load for this vehicle (see the article"Weights" for specific information).
• Never exceed the rack manufacturer's weighlimits.
• Avoid single-point loads. Distribute loadsevenly.
1
An accessory trailer hitch can be purchased from a Volvo retailer.

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LOADING AND STORAGE
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Place heavier cargo at the bottom of the load.
• Secure the cargo correctly with appropriatetie-down equipment.
• Check periodically that the load carriers andload are properly secured.
• Remember that the vehicle's center of gravityand handling change when you carry a loadon the roof.
• The vehicle's wind resistance and fuel con-sumption will increase with the size of theload.
• Drive smoothly. Avoid rapid starts, fast cor-nering and hard braking.
CAUTION
The optional panoramic roof should not be opened while load carriers are installed onthe vehicle.
See the article "Weights" for information about the maximum permissible load that can be trans-ported on the roof.
Related information
•
Folding the second row backrests (p. 176)
• Folding the third row backrests (p. 178)
• Weights (p. 557)
• Cargo net (p. 221) •
Cargo compartment cover
* (p. 225)
• Steel cargo grid
* (p. 223)
• Load anchoring eyelets (p. 224)
• Whiplash protection system (p. 63)
• Locking/unlocking the tailgate (p. 246)
Passenger compartment storage spaces
The following is an overview of the passenger compartment and its storage spaces.
Front seats
Storage spaces in the door panel, near the steering wheel, the glove compartment and the sun visors

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* Option/accessory.221
Grocery bag holder
The grocery bag holders (hooks) and elastic strap help keep shopping bags in place.
On the sides of the cargo compartment
There are also two fold-out holders in the side panels, one on each side.
CAUTION
The grocery bag holders (hooks) are only intended to hold weights less than approx.11 lbs (5 kg).
Related information
• Cargo net (p. 221)
• Steel cargo grid
* (p. 223)
• Cargo compartment cover
* (p. 225)
Cargo net
The cargo net helps protect passengers from objects in the cargo compartment in the event ofa sudden stop or hard braking.
The cargo net is attached at four points.
Cargo net
The cargo net can be mounted in two positions: • Rear mounting: behind the second row seats' backrests.
• Front mounting: behind the front seats' back-rests.
WARNING
•
Objects in the cargo compartment should always be securely anchored.
• All of the net's attachment points must besecurely in place when the net is used.
• A damaged net must never be used.
Attaching1. Fold out the cargo net and fold out the upper
rod. Be sure it locks in position.
2. Insert one of the net's upper hooks into the front or rear ceiling mounting point with thenet's lower straps' locks facing you.

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* Option/accessory.223
Steel cargo grid *
Your vehicle can be equipped with a steel grid that helps prevent objects in the cargo compart-ment from moving forward into the passengerarea.
The steel grid is made up of the grid itself and two separate mounting brackets. Each of the brackets has a screw cover and there are two plastic sleeves for the grid.
WARNING
• No one should ever be allowed to remain in the cargo compartment when the vehi-cle is moving.
• The steel grid may only be used in therear position described in this article. Theceiling attachment points above the front seats are
not intended to anchor the
steel grid.
• The third row of seats (7-seat models
*
only): these seats must be folded down when the steel grid is mounted in thevehicle.
• After being mounted, be sure that thesteel grid is securely anchored in place.
Mounting1. Fold down the rear seats (second row of
seats in 7-seat models) and lift in the steelgrid through one of the rear doors or the tail-gate. The curved (convex) side of the gridshould face toward the cargo compartmentand the hooks on each side of the gridshould face upward. The mounting bracketsand plastic sleeves are not needed in thisstep.
2. Press one of the grid's hooks into the largerpart of the opening in the ceiling attachment point (1) as shown in the illustration.
3. Grasp the grid near the hook and move it toward the smaller opening (2).
> This secures the hook in the attachmentpoint.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for the hook on the opposite side of the grid.
5. Attach the mounting bracket's hook through the cargo anchoring eyelet near the floor of the cargo compartment and insert the threa-ded section of the bracket through the grid'slower attachment hole (1).
6. Slide the plastic sleeve onto the threaded section of the of the mounting bracket withthe sleeve's flange turned upward and pressit down through the hole. Screw the screwcover into place until its underside is approx.0.2 in. (5 mm) from the grid (2).
7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 for the opposite side.
8. Center the grid and tighten both mounting brackets alternately until the grid is held securely in place.
RemovingPerform the steps above in reverse order. The hooks can be removed before the plastic sleeves are removed from the holes in the grid.

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Related information
• Cargo net (p. 221)
• Cargo compartment cover
* (p. 225)
• Load anchoring eyelets (p. 224)
• Loading (p. 216)
Load anchoring eyelets
The eyelets in the cargo compartment can be folded out to secure objects with straps, a net,etc.
Load anchoring eyelets
WARNING
• Cover sharp edges on long loads to help prevent injury to occupants. Secure theload to help prevent shifting during sud-den stops.
• Always secure large and heavy objectswith a seat belt or cargo retaining straps.
• Always secure the load to help prevent itfrom moving in the event of sudden stops.
• Switch off the engine, apply the parking brake and put the gear selector in
P
when loading and unloading the vehicle.
Related information
• Loading (p. 216)
• Grocery bag holder (p. 221)
• Cargo net (p. 221)
• Steel cargo grid
* (p. 223)
• Cargo compartment cover
* (p. 225)

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* Option/accessory.225
Cargo compartment cover *
The cover can be used to conceal objects in the cargo compartment.
Installing the cover 2
With the cover retracted, press the end piece on one side of the cargo area cover into theretaining bracket in the side panel of thecargo area.
Do the same on the opposite side.
Press both sides of the cover, one at a time, until they click into place.
> The red mark will no longer be visible.
Check that both ends of the cover are securely locked in place.
Using the coverThe cover can be used in two positions: fullyopen to completely cover the cargo compartmentor partially retracted to make it easier to reachfarther into the cargo compartment.
Fully open
7-seat models 1.
Third row seats: hang the seat belt latches in the hooks provided in the side panels.
Grasp the handle and pull out the cover above the side panels in the cargo compart-ment as far as possible.
With the cover completely open, press the attaching pins on the rear corners of thecover into the grooves in the side panels andrelease the cover slightly while pressing thehandle lightly downward.
> The cover is now fixed in the fully openposition.
5-seat models
2 XC90 Excellence only: the cover is permanently mounted and cannot be retracted or removed.

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Grasp the handle and pull out the cover above the side panels in the cargo compart-ment as far as possible.
With the cover completely open, press the attaching pins on the rear corners of thecover into the grooves in the side panels andrelease the cover slightly while pressing thehandle lightly downward.
> The cover will remain in the fully openposition.
Partially retracted
With the cover retracted, grasp its handle and pull it so that it is above the cargo com-partment's side panels until it is fully open.Press the attaching pins on the rear cornersof the cover into the grooves in the side pan-els. If the cover is already fully open see thenext step.
With the cover completely pulled out, press it upward lightly and allow it to retract slowly.
> Allow the cover to retract until it stops in the partially retracted position.
If you are holding something in one of your hands:
From the fully open position, push the cover's handle slightly upward with e.g., your elbow. >
The cover will close until it reaches the
partially retracted position.
To fully open the cover from the partially open position: 1. Grasp the handle and pull out the cover to
the fully open position.
2. Let the cover retract slightly and press the handle slightly downward.
> The cover will be secured n the fully openposition.
Avoid placing any objects on the cover when it is open.
WARNING
7-seat models: remove the cargo compart- ment cover completely from the vehicle if oneor both of the third row seats will be occupied.
Retracting the cover
From the fully open position:
–Lift the cover's handle and pull it rearward slightly to release the attaching pins fromtheir grooves. Allow the cover to retract.
From the partially retracted position:
–Grasp the handle and lift it slightly to release the attaching pins from their grooves. Pullthe cover to the fully open position.
> Allow the cover to retract completely.