2017 Volvo V60 Interior

Automotive journalists are generally pleased with the 2017 Volvo V60’s elegant and simple interior, noting its use of impressive cabin materials. Its seats are some of the most comfortable in the class, although larger folks may feel a little squeezed between the seats’ generous side support. Rear-seat room is a little tight for adults, but children will fit just fine, especially if they are young enough to sit in the built-in booster seats. The infotainment system is appealing at first, but it is sometimes difficult to use. For the class, overall cargo space is below average, but it’s quite versatile, thanks to a few innovative features.

• "The 2017 Volvo V60 offers a stylish interior fitted with premium materials. The look is subtly classy and as appealing as that of any of its direct competitors." -- Edmunds
• "Volvo's interiors continue to reflect a simple design aesthetic with high quality yet humble execution." -- Left Lane News (2015)
• "We'll start with this: The V60's cabin is very comfortable and stylish." -- Jalopnik (2015)

Seating

The Volvo V60 seats five and comes standard with cloth upholstery and power-adjustable front seats. Leather upholstery, heated seats in the front and back, a heated steering wheel, and built-in child booster seats make up the available seating options.

On long road trips, the V60’s front seats prove to be supportive. Side support is plentiful, so heftier folks may feel snug. Head- and legroom are fine up front, but tight legroom in the back makes those seats best suitable for children, not adults.

Speaking of children, some V60 models are equipped to quickly convert a regular seat into a booster seat. The V60’s LATCH system includes lower anchors on both outboard rear seats and tether anchors on all three rear seats.

• "The V60's front seats are some of the most comfortable and supportive in any car, although bigger folks might find themselves a little squished between the ample bolsters. Adults in the rear seats might also wish for a little more legroom, but it's livable for short hops and perfectly fine for younger kids. The available built-in booster seats are remarkably handy for anyone who needs to transport little ones." -- Edmunds
• "The materials and assembly quality are all first-rate, and if you like long distance driving, you'll love the comfortable and supportive seats." -- Kelley Blue Book (2016)
• "Inside, the V60 is surprisingly accommodating with good front and rear headroom, though rear-seat legroom is snug." -- AutoTrader (2015)

Interior Features

Standard features include dual-zone automatic climate control, a power moonroof, and Volvo’s Sensus Connect infotainment system, which comes with a 7-inch touch screen, USB ports, satellite radio, HD Radio, and Bluetooth for streaming audio and phone calls. Optional interior features consist of push-button start, navigation, remote start, a rearview camera, steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, parallel parking assist, and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.

Critics appreciate the V60’s gauge cluster, which you can custom-tailor to display the information you want in a layout that makes sense to you. However, they are disappointed with Volvo’s awkward Sensus infotainment system. Its controls blend touch input, physical knobs, and an outdated phonelike keypad, reminiscent of luxury cars of yore.

See 2017 Volvo V60 specs »

• "The V60 interior has a high-tech feel, especially on upper trim levels that feature a customizable gauge cluster. The audio system's phone-style number pad and surrounding buttons might look a bit antiquated relative to other luxury cars, but they offer easy control of basic stereo functions. For more complicated tasks such as selecting a media player playlist or programming the optional navigation system, the V60 relies on the standard Sensus system. It's fairly easy to use, though the multipurpose knob's location on the dash (rather than the center console) is not ideal and lacks a touchpad input like some rival systems." -- Edmunds
• "We do wish Volvo would upgrade its multimedia control interface. The system alternates between buttons and a knob, and it's clumsy to operate." -- Kelley Blue Book (2016)
• "The new Sensus Connect system of electronic connectivity is very cool and incorporates some neat applications, but the software behind the touchscreen interface is clumsy and difficult to sort out." -- Automobile Magazine (2015)

Cargo

With the seats in use, the V60’s cargo hold is 28 cubic feet, which is about average for the wagon class. However, once you fold down the seats, you’re only left with 43.8 cubic feet, which is subpar. It’s quite small compared to the Subaru Outback and Volvo’s own XC60, both of which offer more than 70 cubic feet of cargo space.

However, the V60’s 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats make it more versatile with cargo. You can fit long objects, like lumber or hockey sticks, between two passengers. Critics praise the V60’s unique features, like a dog security net that rolls out, so your pooch won’t ruin your wagon. Also, some models come with a grocery bag holder, so a rolling milk jug won’t crush your eggs and bread.

• "Fold down those rear seatbacks and the V60 yields 43.8 cubic feet of cargo room. That's less space than some competitors, but the 40/20/20-split design provides flexibility that helps make the best use of the space available. The cargo area's two-position, rollout dog security net and available grocery bag holder are clever features that go beyond simply providing a big old space in which your stuff (and four-legged friends) can roll around." -- Edmunds
• "If you're looking for the ultimate in cargo hauling, this small Volvo's cargo area may not cut it for you - you might want to check out the larger Volvo XC60 instead." -- Kelley Blue Book (2015)
• "Still, the rear seat with 40-20-40 folding capabilities can handle most items from skis to a full IKEA shopping spree complete with a year's supply of meatballs and a difficult-to-build-bookcase." -- Left Lane News (2015)