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06 Starting and driving
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General
The load capacity is affected by extra acces-
sories mounted on the car, such as a towbar,
the load on the towball, load carriers and
space box, and the passengers’ combined
weight. The load capacity of the car is re-
duced by the number of passengers and
their weight. For information on permitted
weights, see page 222.
Loading the cargo area
Stop the engine and apply the parking brake
when loading or unloading long objects. The
gear lever or gear selector can be knocked
out of position by long loads, which could set
the car in motion.
To increase the size of the cargo area, the
head restraints can be removed and the
seats folded down, see page 86.
Place the load firmly against the backrest in
front.
• The head restraints can be removed so
that they are not damaged.
• Put wide loads in the centre.
• Heavy objects should be placed as low as
possible. Avoid placing heavy loads on a
lowered backrest.
• Cover sharp edges with something soft to
avoid damaging the upholstery or the
large glass surface of the tailgate.
• Secure all loads to the load retaining eye-
lets with straps or web lashings.
Using load carriers
To avoid damaging the car and for maximum
possible safety while driving, it is recom-
mended to use load carriers specially de-
signed for your car by Volvo.
Carefully follow the mounting instructions
supplied with the load 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 driving characteristics change de-
pending on how heavily it is loaded and how
the load is distributed.
WARNING
A loose object weighing 20 kg can, in a
frontal collision at a speed of 50
km/h, carry
the impact of an item weighing 1000
kg.
WARNING
Never load cargo above the backrest.
The protection provided by the inflatable
curtain in the headlining may be compro
-
mised or eliminated if the load is too high.
Always secure the load. During heavy brak-
ing the load may otherwise shift, causing in-
jury to the car’s occupants.
WARNING
The car’s centre of gravity and driving char-
acteristics are altered by roof loads.