STARTING AND DRIVING
* Option/accessory.447
Using the steering wheel paddles*to shift
The steering wheel paddles are a supplement tothe gear selector and make it possible to shiftmanually without removing your hands from thesteering wheel.
Activating the steering wheel paddles
In order to shift gears using the paddles, theymust first be activated:
–Pull one of the paddles toward the steeringwheel.
>A number in the instrument panel indi-cates the current gear being used.
Instrument panel when the paddles are activated forshifting.
Change
To shift one gear:
–Pull one of the paddles toward the steeringwheel and then release.
"-": Shift down one gear.
"+": Shift up one gear.
As long as the engine speed (rpm) is within thepermissible range for the selected gear, a gearshift will take place each time a paddle is pulled.
After each gear shift, a number indicating thecurrent gear will be displayed in the instrumentpanel.
Turning off Start/Stop
Manual deactivation in gear D and B
–Deactivate the paddles by pulling the rightpaddle (+) toward the steering wheel andholding it until the number of the currentgear is no longer displayed in the instrumentpanel.
>The transmission will revert to gear D or Bdepending on which gear was selectedbefore the paddles were activated.
Automatic deactivation
In gear position D, the steering wheel paddlesare deactivated after a short period of time if theyare not used. The number of the current gear willno longer be displayed in the instrument panel.
In gear position B, the paddles will not activateautomatically.
Related information
Gear selector positions for automatic trans-missions (p. 445)
STARTING AND DRIVING
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453
This drive mode is optimized for maximum controlwhen driving at low speeds on very poor roads or
difficult terrain. It raises the chassis3, reducesdriveline throttle response, and locks the vehiclein all-wheel drive. The Hill Descent Control func-tion facilitates controlled driving on steep down-grades.
NOTE
This drive mode is not designed to be usedfor normal street driving.
NOTE
Due to the increased ground clearance, if theOFF ROAD mode was selected when theengine was switched off, the suspension willlower when the engine is restarted.
CAUTION
Do not use the OFF ROAD drive mode whentowing a trailer without an electrical connec-tion. This could result in damage to the pneu-matic suspension system's bellows.
AWD
Improves the vehicle's traction and handlingby increasing all-wheel drive.
This drive mode locks the vehicle in all-wheeldrive. An optimal distribution between front andrear axle torque helps provide the best possiblecontrol, stability and traction, e.g. on slipperyroads or when towing a heavy trailer or anothervehicle. The AWD drive mode is always availableregardless of the hybrid battery's charge status.
Both the combustion engine and the electricmotor are engaged to enable all-wheel drive,which results in higher fuel consumption.
In the other drive modes, the vehicle automati-cally adapts the need for all-wheel drive accord-ing to the road surface, and can activate the elec-tric motor or start the combustion engine as nee-ded.
POWER
Power mode is designed to provide sportierdriving characteristics and a faster accelera-tion response.
This drive mode maximizes the combined powerfrom the combustion engine and the electricmotor by providing power to both the front andrear wheels. Gear shifting will be faster and moredistinct and the transmission will prioritize gearswith a higher traction force. Steering response isfaster, suspension is stiffer and ground clearance
is lower3 to help reduce body roll when cornering.
Both the combustion engine and the electricmotor are engaged to enable all-wheel drive,which results in higher fuel consumption.
This drive mode is optimized for maximum per-formance and throttle response. It changes thethrottle response, gear shifting program andturbo boost system. Chassis settings and steer-ing and brake response are also optimized. ThePower drive mode is always available regardlessof the hybrid battery's charge status.
3For vehicles with pneumatic suspension.
STARTING AND DRIVING
* Option/accessory.460
Leveling control settings*
Turn off leveling control before lifting the vehiclewith a jack to help avoid problems with thepneumatic suspension.
The vehicle can be lowered or raised to make iteasier to load or for passengers to get in andout.
Adjusting loading mode
Use the buttons in the cargo compartment toraise or lower the rear section of the vehicle tofacilitate loading or unloading the vehicle or con-necting or disconnecting a trailer.
Center display settings
Easy Entry and Exit Suspension Control
The vehicle can be lowered to make it easier toget in and out.
Activating easy entry in the center display:
1.Tap Settings in the Top view.
2.Tap My CarMirrors and Convenience.
3.Select Easy Entry and Exit SuspensionControl.
>When the vehicle is parked and theengine is turned off, the level is lowered.(Level adjustment will stop if a side dooris opened and will resume after a slightdelay when the door has been closed.)When the engine is started and the vehi-cle begins to move, the level will be raisedto the height set by the selected drivemode.
Disable Leveling Control
In certain situations, this function must be turnedoff, e.g. before the vehicle is raised using a jack*.The level difference caused by raising the vehiclewith a jack could cause problems with the pneu-matic suspension.
Turning off the function in the center display:
1.Tap Settings in the Top view.
2.Tap My CarParking Brake andSuspension.
3.Select Disable Leveling Control.
Related information
Leveling control* and suspension (p. 457)
Loading recommendations (p. 595)
Low Speed Control
The low-speed function, Low Speed Control(LSC), facilitates and improves control and trac-tion on rough roads and slippery surfaces, e.g.when towing a trailer on grass or up boat ramps.
The function is included in the Off Road drivemode.
Low Speed Control is designed for driving onrough roads and when towing trailers at lowspeeds, up to approximately 40 km/h (25 mph).
When driving at low speeds, LSC prioritizes lowgears and all-wheel drive to help avoid wheel spinand improve traction on all wheels. The accelera-tor pedal will be less responsive to improve trac-tion and speed control at low speeds.
The function is activated together with HillDescent Control (HDC), which makes it possibleto control speed going down steep hills using theaccelerator pedal and reduces the need to usethe brake pedal. The system makes it possible tomaintain a low and uniform speed when drivingdown steep hills.
STARTING AND DRIVING
469
Slippery driving conditions
For optimal traction and roadholding, Volvo rec-ommends using snow tires on all wheels when-ever there is a risk of snow or ice on the road.
NOTE
Certain countries require use of winter tiresby law. Not all countries permit the use ofstudded tires.
Practice driving on slippery surfaces under con-trolled conditions to learn how the vehicle reacts.
Related information
Snow tires (p. 577)
Snow chains (p. 577)
Braking on salted roads (p. 437)
Braking on wet roads (p. 437)
Filling washer fluid (p. 660)
Start battery (p. 625)
Replacing windshield wiper blades (p. 658)
Changing rear window wipers (p. 657)
Refilling coolant (p. 623)
Driving through standing water
Driving the vehicle through a deep pool of stand-ing water on a water-covered roadway is calledfording. This must be done with great caution.
To prevent damage to the vehicle when drivingthrough water (e.g. on flooded roads):
Do not drive in water higher than the floor ofthe vehicle. If possible, check the depth ofthe water at its deepest point before drivingthrough it. Be particularly careful when driv-ing through flowing water.
Always select the Off Road drive modebefore driving in water to ensure the gasolineengine is running.
Do not drive faster than walking speed.
Do not stop the vehicle in the water. Drivecarefully forward or back the vehicle out ofthe water.
Remember that waves created by passingvehicles could cause the water level to riseabove the vehicle's floor level.
Avoid driving through salt water to help avoidthe risk of corrosion.
CAUTION
Parts of the vehicle (e.g. engine, transmission,driveline, electrical components, etc.) can bedamaged if the vehicle is driven through waterhigher than its floor level. Damage to anycomponents caused by flooding, vapor lock orinsufficient oil is not covered under warranty.
If the engine stalls while the vehicle is inwater, do not attempt to restart it. Have thevehicle towed on the bed of a tow truck to aworkshop - an authorized Volvo workshop isrecommended.
CAUTION
Because it can be difficult to determine thewater depth, avoid driving through standing orrunning water.
When you have passed the water, press lightly onthe brake pedal and check that the brakes arefunctioning properly. Water, mud, slush, etc. canmake the brake linings slippery, resulting indelayed braking effect.
If the vehicle is equipped with a trailer couplingcontact, clean the contact after driving in water ormud.
Related information
Recovery (p. 485)
Low Speed Control (p. 460)
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STARTING AND DRIVING
474
NOTE
When switching to higher octane fuel orchanging gasoline brands, it may be neces-sary to fill the tank more than once before adifference in engine operation is noticeable.
Fuel Formulations
Do not use gasoline that contains lead or manga-nese as a knock inhibitor, and do not use leadadditives. Besides damaging the exhaust emis-sion control systems on your vehicle, lead hasbeen strongly linked to certain forms of cancer.
Many fuels contain benzene as a solvent.Unburned benzene has been strongly linked tocertain forms of cancer. If you live in an areawhere you must fill your own gas tank, take pre-cautions. These may include:
standing upwind away from the filler nozzlewhile refueling
refueling only at gas stations with vaporrecovery systems that fully seal the mouth ofthe filler neck during refueling
wearing neoprene gloves while handling afuel filler nozzle.
Use of Additives
With the exception of gas line antifreeze duringwinter months, do not add solvents, thickeners, or
other store-bought additives to your vehicle'sfuel, cooling, or lubricating systems. Overuse maydamage your engine, and some of these additivescontain organically volatile chemicals. Do notneedlessly expose yourself to these chemicals.
WARNING
Never carry a cell phone that is switched onwhile refueling your vehicle. If the phone rings,this may cause a spark that could ignite gaso-line fumes, resulting in fire and injury.
WARNING
Carbon monoxide is a poisonous, colorless,and odorless gas. It is present in all exhaustgases. If you ever smell exhaust fumes insidethe vehicle, make sure the passenger com-partment is ventilated, and immediately returnthe vehicle to a trained and qualified Volvoservice technician for correction.
Demanding driving
In demanding driving conditions, such as whentowing a trailer or driving in hot weather or forprolonged periods at high altitudes, it may be a
good idea to switch to a higher-octane fuel (AKI6
91 or higher) or to switch to another brand ofgasoline in order to fully utilize the vehicle'sengine capacity and optimize traction.
Related information
Fuel (p. 472)
Emission controls (p. 475)
6AKI (Anti Knock Index) is an average value of RON (Research Octane Number) and MON (Motor Octane Number) - (RON)+(MON)/2
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STARTING AND DRIVING
* Option/accessory.478
12. Remove the jumper cables in the reverseorder ‒ first the black cables and then thered cables.
Make sure that none of the clamps of theblack jumper cables come into contact witheither vehicle's positive (+) jump start termi-nals or either of the red jumper cable's con-nected clamps.
WARNING
PROPOSITION 65 WARNING! Battery posts,terminals, and related accessories containlead and lead compounds, chemicals knownto the state of California to cause cancer andreproductive harm. Wash hands after han-dling.
WARNING
Batteries generate hydrogen gas, whichis flammable and explosive.
Do not connect the jumper cable to anypart of the fuel system or to any movingparts. Avoid touching hot manifolds.
Battery fluid contains sulfuric acid. Do notallow battery fluid to contact eyes, skin,fabrics or painted surfaces.
If contact occurs, flush the affected areaimmediately with water. Obtain medicalhelp immediately if eyes are affected.
Never expose the battery to open flameor electric spark. Do not smoke near thebattery. Failure to follow the instructionsfor jump starting can lead to injury.
NOTE
The vehicle cannot be started if the hybridbattery is discharged.
Related information
Starting the vehicle (p. 430)
Ignition modes (p. 433)
Adjusting the steering wheel (p. 198)
Selecting ignition mode (p. 434)
Detachable towbar*
Volvo recommends the use of Volvo towbarsthat are specially designed for the vehicle.
NOTE
The optional detachable trailer hitch may notbe available in all markets or on all models.Consult your Volvo retailer.
Ball holder
Cotter pin
Towbar assembly
Locking bolt
Safety wire attachment bracket
STARTING AND DRIVING
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479
Installing the ball holder
1. If necessary, remove the cotter pin from thelocking bolt and slide the locking bolt out ofthe towbar assembly.
2. Slide the ball holder into the towbar assem-bly.
3. Align the hole in the ball holder with the onein the towbar assembly.
4. Slide the locking bolt through the towbarassembly/ball holder.
5. Insert the cotter pin in the hole at the end ofthe locking bolt.
WARNING
Be sure the towbar is securely locked inposition before attaching anything to it.
Always attach the trailer's safety wiresecurely to the towbar's safety wireattachment bracket.
Removing the ball holder
1. Remove the cotter pin from the locking boltand slide the locking bolt out of the ballholder/towbar assembly.
2. Pull the ball holder out of the towbar assem-bly.
Stowing the ball holder
WARNING
When not in use, the detachable ball holdershould always be properly stowed in the des-ignated location under the floor of the cargocompartment.
Related information
Driving with a trailer (p. 479)
Towing capacity and tongue weight (p. 668)
Driving with a trailer
There are a number of things to consider whentowing a trailer, such as the towbar, the trailerand how the load is distributed in the trailer.
Load-carrying capacity is determined by the vehi-cle's curb weight. The total weight of all passen-gers and any installed accessories, e.g. towbar,reduces the vehicle's load-carrying capacity bythe corresponding amount.
Towbars used on the vehicle must beapproved for the applicable use.
Distribute the load on the trailer so that theweight on the towbar complies with thespecified maximum towball weight. Thetongue weight is calculated as part of thevehicle's payload.
Increase the tire pressure to the recom-mended pressure for a full load.
The engine is subjected to more load thanusual when towing a trailer.
Towing a trailer affects the vehicle's han-dling, durability and driving economy.
Do not drive with a heavy trailer when thevehicle is very new. Wait until the mileagehas reached at least 1000 km (620 miles).
On long and steep downgrades, the vehicle'sbrakes are subjected to much more loadthan usual. When manually shifting, down-shift and adapt speed accordingly.
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STARTING AND DRIVING
* Option/accessory.480
Follow applicable regulations regarding per-mitted speed and weight.
Drive slowly when towing a trailer up a longand steep incline.
The maximum trailer weights given only applyto altitudes up to 1000 meters (3280 feet)above sea level. At higher altitudes, enginepower (and thus the vehicle's climbing ability)is decreased due to the reduced air density,and the maximum trailer weight must there-fore be reduced. The weight of the vehicleand trailer must be decreased by 10% foreach additional 1000 m (3280 feet) or partthereof.
Avoid driving with a trailer on inclines of morethan 12%.
Avoid overloading and other incorrect use.
The trailer's brakes must be balanced withthe vehicle's brakes to help ensure safestops (follow applicable local regulations).
NOTE
To facilitate towing a trailer in a vehicle equip-ped with pneumatic suspension*, select: the
Suspension ControlDynamic setting inIndividual drive mode.
CAUTION
Bumper-attached trailer hitches must notbe used on Volvos, nor should safetychains be attached to the bumper.
Trailer hitches attaching to the vehiclerear axle must not be used.
Never connect a trailer's hydraulic brakesystem directly to the vehicle brake sys-tem, nor a trailer's lighting system directlyto the vehicle lighting system. Consultyour nearest authorized Volvo retailer forcorrect installation.
When towing a trailer, the trailer's safetychains or wire must be correctly fastenedto the attachment points provided in thetrailer hitch on the vehicle. The safetychain or wire must never be fastened toor wound around the towing ball.
NOTE
The optional detachable trailer hitch may notbe available in all markets or on all models.Consult your Volvo retailer.
NOTE
Extreme weather conditions, towing a trailer,driving at high altitudes and fuel quality arefactors that significantly increase a vehicle'sfuel consumption.
Trailer weights
WARNING
Please adhere to the recommendations provi-ded for trailer weight. If the recommendationsare not followed, the vehicle and trailer maybe difficult to control during evasive maneu-vers and braking.
NOTE
The specified maximum trailer weights arethose permitted by Volvo. National vehicleregulations may set additional restrictions ontrailer weight and speed. The trailer hitchesmay be certified for higher towing weightsthan the vehicle is permitted to tow.
Self-leveling suspension *
The vehicle's self-leveling system attempts tokeep the vehicle at a constant level, regardless ofload (up to the maximum permitted weight).When the vehicle is stationary, the rear end of thevehicle will be slightly lowered, which is normal.
Driving in hilly terrain or hot weather
In certain conditions, there is a risk of overheat-ing when driving with a trailer. If overheating ofthe engine and drive system is detected, a warn-ing symbol will illuminate in the instrument panelalong with a message.