2009 Volvo S60

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Interior - What the Auto Press Says

The 2009 Volvo S60 boasts some of the most comfortable seats in the class, with nicely grained leather standard. But much of the cabin's electronics are dated, and hard plastics are still found throughout the cabin. Reviewers also complain of an awkward trunk and poor visibility in several directions.

• "The interior, while functional, is also a bit outdated -- even by Volvo standards -- as it lacks the visually stunning "waterfall" center console found in the S60's stablemates." -- Edmunds
• "The interior design is contemporary. Some budget-grade plastic panels are inappropriate for this price level, however." -- Consumer Guide
• "The impression I got is that the S60 has been artfully engineered, but somewhere along the line, somebody skipped a dummy test or two-making sure all the great ideas work in the real world." -- U.S. News
• "The graceful roofline may look good, but it impairs outward visibility." -- Forbes

Seating

Volvo has long offered highly-adjustable, supportive seats that reviewers say hold up well even on long rides. Legroom in the rear is at a premium, however, and some reviewers say they can't find a comfortable head position with Volvo's anti-whiplash headrests -- you might need to test the car to see if the seats work for you.

• "Excellent front-seat comfort Front occupants will find the orthopedically designed seats comfortable even for long periods, but rear passengers may find legroom lacking." -- Edmunds
• "Comfortable, supportive seats are wider and softer than the European norm. Headroom and legroom are outstanding." -- Consumer Guide
• "The power-adjustable driver's seat and manually adjustable steering wheel (which moves up, down, fore and aft) offer flexibility for all shapes and sizes." - Forbes
• "There is literally support for every single contour and curve of your body." - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
• "Legroom gets tight for a tall rear occupant if the driver's seat is moved back more than halfway" -- MSN

Interior Features

The passenger cabin of the 2009 S60 trails many rivals in overall refinement. Gauges and controls seem to be placed thoughtfully, according to many reviewers, but the cockpit doesn't feel as upscale as it should for the price, and some say the standard-issue stereo is below class average.

• "The 2009 Volvo S60's interior is functional and slightly upscale, thanks to the now standard leather upholstery and added rear-shelf speakers. Controls have a positive feel, but Volvo's use of icons and symbols rather than spelling out button functions tends to be a bit cryptic at first." -- Edmunds
• "There are [optional] tasteful woodgrain accents on the doors and glove box, and the instruments and controls have a look and feel of solid craftsmanship." - Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
• "Volvo's fancy ‘chronograph-style' gauges are indistinct in dim light. The navigation system is governed by steering wheel buttons that are inaccessible to the front passenger. Its dashtop screen is hard to read in daylight. In its favor, the navigation system doesn't absorb audio or climate functions." -- Consumer Guide
• "The interior looks bland, but has easily read gauges and fairly large controls placed within the natural arc of a hand." -- MSN
• "Controls on the dash for the radio and optional in-dash six-disc changer are confusing." -- Forbes

Cargo

The Volvo S60 offers nearly 14 feet of trunk space, but an awkward, small opening makes it hard to use. Awkwardly placed cupholders are another frequent complaint.

• "The trunk is wide and deep but not very tall. The opening is also on the small side, making loading of bulky items difficult. Cabin storage is only so-so." -- Consumer Guide
• "To get the S60's swoopy shape, Volvo had to make design concessions that constrict the trunk opening. The trunk itself is roomy and deep; it'll hold a lot of small bags, but big hard-sided bags might be a challenge." -- New Car Test Drive
• "I put my coffee mug into one of the cupholders and it directly interfered with my ability to reach the shifter." -- U.S. News
• "The location of the cup holder on the instrument panel blocks the air vent and some of the radio controls." - Detroit News