2018 VOLVO XC90 TWIN ENGINE steering

||STARTING AND DRIVING
454
NOTE
When LSC with HDC is activated in the OFF
ROAD drive mode, the feel of the accelerator
pedal and engine response will change.
NOTE
This drive mode is not designed to be used
for normal street driving.
NOTE
The function is deactivated when driving at
high speeds and must be reactivated at lower
speeds if so desired.
Related information
•
Activating and deactivating Low Speed Con-
trol using the function button (p. 454)
• Changing drive mode (p. 449)
• Hill Descent Control (p. 454)
• All Wheel Drive (AWD) (p. 443) Activating and deactivating Low
Speed Control using the function
button
Vehicles that are not equipped with drive mode
controls in the tunnel console have a function
button for Low Speed Control with Hill Descent
Control in the center display's Function view.
Selecting Low Speed Control in the
center display's Function view
– Tap the Hill Descent Control button to
activate or deactivate the function. > An indicator light in the button will illumi-
nate when the function is activated.
When the engine is switched off, the function will
be automatically deactivated.
NOTE The function is deactivated when driving at
high speeds and must be reactivated at lower
speeds if so desired.
Related information
•
Low Speed Control (p. 453)
• Changing drive mode (p. 449) Hill Descent Control
The function for assisting when driving downhill,
Hill Descent Control (HDC), is a low-speed
function with increased engine braking. The
function makes it possible to increase or
decrease the vehicle's speed on steep downhill
gradients by only using the accelerator pedal,
without applying the brakes.
The function is included in the Off Road drive
mode.
HDC is designed for driving on rough roads at
low speeds and downhill gradients with slippery
or otherwise difficult road surfaces. The driver
does not need to use the brake pedal but can
instead focus on steering.
WARNING
HDC is only intended to be a supplementary
braking aid and it does not function in all sit-
uations.
The driver is always ultimately responsible for
operating the vehicle in a safe manner.
FunctionHill Descent Control allows the vehicle to move
forward or backward at very low speeds assisted
by the brake system. The driver can increase the
speed by pressing the accelerator pedal. When
the accelerator pedal is released, the vehicle will
return to very low speed regardless of how steep

||STARTING AND DRIVING
456
Related information
•
Hill Descent Control (p. 454)
• Changing drive mode (p. 449) Economical driving
Drive economically and environmentally con-
scious by thinking ahead, avoiding rapid starts
and stops and adapting driving style and speed
to the current traffic conditions.
Planning for electric drivingIt is important to plan electric motor use carefully
to achieve the best possible mileage:
Charge
• Charge the vehicle regularly by plugging it
into an electrical outlet. Make it a habit to
always begin trips with the hybrid battery fully
charged.
• Locate charging stations along your route.
• If possible, choose parking spots with charg-
ing stations.
NOTE Charge the vehicle from the electricity grid as
often as possible!
Preconditioning
•
Whenever possible, precondition the vehicle
before driving by connecting the charging
cable to an electrical outlet.
• Avoid parking the vehicle somewhere where
the interior will become too hot or too cold
while the vehicle is parked. If possible, park
the vehicle in a climate-controlled garage. •
During a short drive after passenger com-
partment preconditioning, turn off the pas-
senger compartment fan or the air condition-
ing in a hot climate.
• If preconditioning is not possible when it is
cold outside, use seat and steering wheel
heating first. Avoid heating the entire pas-
senger compartment to reduce the amount
of current being taken from the hybrid bat-
tery.

STARTING AND DRIVING
}}
457
Driving
• Choose the Pure drive mode to help mini-
mize electric power consumption.
• Maintain a steady speed and a generous fol-
lowing distance to traffic ahead to minimize
braking. This drive mode has the lowest
power consumption.
• Balance energy requirements using the
accelerator pedal. Use the indicator on the
instrument panel to see available electric
power and avoid starting the combustion
engine unnecessarily. The electric motor is
more effective than the combustion engine,
especially at low speeds.
• When braking is necessary, brake gently
using the brake pedal. This will recharge the
hybrid battery. A regenerative function is
integrated in the brake pedal and can be
augmented by the electric motor's braking
capacity when the gear selector is in mode
B.
• Higher speeds increase energy consumption
- air resistance increases with speed.
• Activate the
Hold function in the Function
view at high speeds when traveling farther
than is possible using the hybrid battery's
capacity.
• Whenever possible, avoid using the Charge
function to charge the hybrid battery. Charg-
ing the battery using the combustion engine increases fuel consumption and carbon diox-
ide emissions.
• In a cold climate, reduce heating of the wind-
shield/rear window, mirrors, seats and the
steering wheel.
• Maintain the correct pressure in the tires and
check pressure regularly.
• The type of tires used could affect energy
consumption - consult a retailer for advice on
suitable tires.
• Remove unnecessary items from the vehicle
- the heavier the load, the higher the fuel
consumption.
• Roof loads increase air resistance and
increase fuel consumption. Remove roof
boxes, ski racks, etc. that are not in use.
• Avoid driving with the windows open.
• Do not keep the vehicle still on an upward
gradient by using the accelerator pedal. Use
the brakes instead.
Related information
•
Drive-E
‒
purer driving pleasure (p. 27)
• Factors affecting electric motor range
(p. 458)
• Using the electric motor only (p. 457)
• Hybrid gauge (p. 87)
• Checking tire pressure (p. 557) Using the electric motor only
When using the electric motor, Volvo Twin
Engine provides a combination of good fuel
economy, low emissions and high performance.
For energy-efficient driving:
• Select the Pure drive mode to help maximize
driving range using only the electric motor.
• Balance energy requirements using the
accelerator pedal. Use the indicator on the
instrument panel's hybrid gauge to see avail-
able electric power and avoid starting the
combustion engine unnecessarily.
• When braking is necessary, brake gently
using the brake pedal. This will recharge the
hybrid battery.
• Activate the
Hold function in the Function
view at high speeds when traveling farther
than is possible using the hybrid battery's
capacity.
• Reduce current consumption in the passen-
ger compartment by reducing e.g. fan speed,
electric heating, or air conditioning use.
Also follow the general economical driving advice
regarding speed, tires and load to maximize
range.
Related information
• General information about Twin Engine
(p. 406)
• Economical driving (p. 456)

STARTING AND DRIVING
}}
* Option/accessory. 471•
If contact occurs, flush the affected area
immediately with water. Obtain medical
help immediately if eyes are affected.
• Never expose the battery to open flame
or electric spark. Do not smoke near the
battery. Failure to follow the instructions
for jump starting can lead to injury.
NOTE The vehicle cannot be started if the hybrid
battery is discharged.
Related information
•
Starting the vehicle (p. 424)
• Ignition modes (p. 427)
• Adjusting the steering wheel (p. 199)
• Selecting ignition mode (p. 428) Detachable towbar*
Volvo recommends the use of Volvo towbars
that are specially designed for the vehicle.
NOTE The optional detachable trailer hitch may not
be available in all markets or on all models.
Consult your Volvo retailer.
Ball holder
Cotter pin
Towbar assembly
Locking bolt
Safety wire attachment bracket
Installing the ball holder1. If necessary, remove the cotter pin from the
locking bolt and slide the locking bolt out of
the towbar assembly.
2. Slide the ball holder into the towbar assem- bly.
3. Align the hole in the ball holder with the one in the towbar assembly.
4. Slide the locking bolt through the towbar assembly/ball holder.
5. Insert the cotter pin in the hole at the end of the locking bolt.
WARNING •
Be sure the towbar is securely locked in
position before attaching anything to it.
• Always attach the trailer's safety wire
securely to the towbar's safety wire
attachment bracket.
Removing the ball holder1. Remove the cotter pin from the locking bolt
and slide the locking bolt out of the ball
holder/towbar assembly.
2. Pull the ball holder out of the towbar assem- bly.

STARTING AND DRIVING
* Option/accessory.
474 Trailer Stability Assist*
Trailer Stability Assist (TSA 8
) is a function
designed to help stabilize a vehicle that is tow-
ing a trailer when the vehicle and trailer have
begun to sway. The function is part of the Elec-
tronic Stability Control system ESC 9
.
Reasons for swayingA vehicle towing a trailer may begin to sway for
various reasons. Normally this only occurs at high
speeds. However, if the trailer is overloaded or
unevenly distributed, e.g. too far back, there is a
risk of swaying even at low speeds.
Swaying may be caused by factors such as:
• The vehicle and trailer are hit by a sudden,
strong crosswind.
• The vehicle and trailer are traveling on an
uneven road or over a bump.
• Sudden movements of the steering wheel.
Once swaying has begun, it can be difficult or
impossible to stop it. This makes the vehicle and
trailer difficult to control and there is a risk of
swerving into oncoming traffic or driving off the
road.
Trailer Stability Assist functionTrailer Stability Assist continuously monitors the
vehicle's movements, particularly lateral move- ments. If swaying is detected, the brakes are
applied individually on the front wheels, which has
a stabilizing effect on the vehicle and trailer. This
is often enough to enable the driver to regain
control of the vehicle.
If the Trailer Stability Assist function's first
attempt is not adequate to stop the swaying
motion, the brakes are applied on all wheels and
engine power is temporarily reduced. As the
swaying motion begins to decrease and the vehi-
cle and trailer have once again become stable,
TSA stops regulating the brakes/engine power
and the driver regains control of the vehicle.
NOTE
Trailer Stability Assist is deactivated if the
driver selects the sport mode by deactivating
ESC in the center display's menu system. Trailer Stability Assist may not intervene if the
driver tries to compensate for the swaying motion
by moving the steering wheel rapidly, because
the system will then not be able to determine if it
is the trailer or the driver causing the swaying. When Trailer Stability Assist is
activated, the ESC symbol is
displayed in the instrument
panel.
Related information
•
Driving with a trailer (p. 472)
• Electronic Stability Control (p. 274) 8
Trailer Stability Assist
9 Electronic Stability Control

STARTING AND DRIVING
* Option/accessory.475
Checking trailer lights
When connecting a trailer, make sure that all of
the lights on the trailer are functioning before
starting to drive.
Trailer turn signals and brake lightsIf one or more of the turn signals or brake lights
on the trailer is not working, a symbol and mes-
sage will be displayed in the instrument panel.
The other lights on the trailer must be checked
manually by the driver before the vehicle is driven. Symbol
Message •
Trailer turn indicator Right
turn indicator malfunction
• Trailer turn indicator Left
turn indicator malfunction •
Trailer brake light Malfunc-
tion If any of the trailer's turn signal lights is not work-
ing, the turn signal symbol in the instrument
panel will also flash more quickly than normal.
Trailer rear fog lightWhen a trailer is connected, the vehicle's rear fog
light may not illuminate and rear fog light func-
tionality is instead transferred to the trailer. If this
is the case, check to see if the trailer is equipped
with a rear fog light before activating the vehicle's fog lights when driving with a trailer to help
ensure safe operation.
Checking trailer lights*
Automatic check
When the trailer has been connected to the vehi-
cle's electrical system, its lights can be checked
by automatically activating them. This function
helps the driver check that the trailer's lights are
functioning correctly before starting to drive.
In order to perform this check, the engine must
be turned off.
1. When a trailer is connected to the towbar, the message Automatic Trailer Lamp
Check will appear in the instrument panel.
2.

Acknowledge the message by pressing the
O button on the right-side steering wheel
keypad.
> The light check will begin.
3. Get out of the vehicle to perform the check. > All of the lights on the trailer will beginflashing, and then illuminate separately
one at a time.
4. Visually check that all of the trailer's lights are functioning correctly.
5. After a short time, all of the trailer's lights will start flashing again.
> The light check is completed.
Disabling the automatic check
The automatic light check can be disabled in the
center display.
1.Tap Settings in the Top view.
2.

Tap My Car Lights and Lighting
.
3. Deselect Automatic Trailer Lamp Check.
Manual check
If the automatic check has been disabled, the
check can be started manually.
1.
Tap Settings in the Top view.
2.

Tap My Car Lights and Lighting
.
3. Select Manual Trailer Lamp Check.
>

The light check will begin. Get out of the
vehicle to perform the check.
Related information
• Driving with a trailer (p. 472)

AUDIO, MEDIA AND INTERNET
* Option/accessory.
486 Audio, media and Internet
The audio and media system consists of a media
player and a radio. A cellular phone can also be
connected through Bluetooth to use hands-free
functions or play music in the vehicle. When the
vehicle is connected to the Internet, it is also
possible to use apps to play media. Audio and media overview
The functions can be controlled using voice com-
mands, the steering wheel keypad or the center
display. The number of speakers and amplifiers
varies depending on the audio system installed in
the vehicle.
System updates
The audio and media system is continuously
improved. When the vehicle has an Internet con-
nection, system updates can be downloaded for
optimal functionality; see support.volvocars.com.
Related information
•
Media player (p. 507)
• Radio (p. 490)
• Phone (p. 520)
• Internet-connected vehicle* (p. 529)
• Apps (p. 487)
• Voice control (p. 145)
• Ignition modes (p. 427)
• Driver distraction (p. 39)
• Handling system updates via Download Cen-
ter (p. 601)
• License agreement for audio and media
(p. 539) Sound settings
The audio system is precalibrated for optimal
sound reproduction but these settings can be
personalized.
The system's volume is normally adjusted using
the volume control below the center display or
the right-side steering wheel keypad. This
applies, for example, when playing music or the
radio or during phone calls and active traffic mes-
sages.
Optimal sound reproductionThe audio system is precalibrated for optimal
sound reproduction using digital signal process-
ing. This calibration takes into account speakers,
amplifiers, passenger compartment acoustics, lis-
tener position, etc. for each combination of vehi-
cle model and audio system. There is also a
dynamic calibration that takes into account the
volume control setting and the vehicle's speed.
Sound settings as needed
In Top view under Settings Sound, the fol-
lowing settings can be selected:
• Tone — personal preference for bass, treble,
equalizer for example.
• Balance - balance between right/left and
front/rear speakers.
• System Volumes – adjusts volume in the
various systems of the car, e.g.
Voice
Control, Park Assist and Phone Ringtone.

AUDIO, MEDIA AND INTERNET
* Option/accessory.
490 Deleting apps
When the vehicle is connected to the Internet, it
is possible to uninstall apps. If the app is being used, it must be closed before
it can be uninstalled.
1. Open the Download Center app in App
view. 2.
Select Application updates to open a list
of all installed apps.
3. Find the desired app and select Uninstall to
begin uninstalling the app.
>

When the app has been uninstalled, it will
be removed from the list.
Related information
• Apps (p. 487)
• Download apps (p. 488)
• Updating apps (p. 489)
• Handling system updates via Download Cen-
ter (p. 601)
• Internet-connected vehicle* (p. 529) Radio
The radio can receive broadcasting from the FM
waveband with HD Radio™ Technology and
SiriusXM
®
Satellite radio *. When the vehicle has
an Internet connection, it is also possible to lis-
ten to web radio. The radio can be controlled
using voice commands, the
right-side steering wheel key-
pad or the center display.
Related information
•
Starting the radio (p. 491)
• Changing waveband and radio station
(p. 491)
• Storing radio favorites (p. 493)
• Radio settings (p. 493) •
RBDS (p. 494)
• HD Radio™ (p. 494)
• SiriusXM ®
Satellite radio* (p. 498)
• Internet-connected vehicle* (p. 529)
• Voice control for radio and media (p. 148)
• Media player (p. 507)