Each week, we ask you what you'd like to know about our COTW. Thought I'd answer a couple of the questions you asked.
phybenz says, "How is the rear visibility?"
Frankly, not great when you're looking over your shoulder, but the backup camera can help bridge the visibility gap. In the above photo, there is a parking meter that I cannot see by just looking over my shoulder. Let's pretend it's a toddler (fun, right?).
But that toddler is visible if I take a look in my backup camera. This isn't a big surprise in a modern crossover. Most of them are designed like this these days. Distinctive rear styling, a high beltline, dreadful rear visibility. These make camera technology all the more necessary (and in my opinion, when a vehicle is designed so you can't see out the back, the backup camera should be standard). I definitely suggest springing for the optional Multimedia Package, which includes a backup camera (with a pricetag of $2,700, ouch) or having an aftermarket camera installed.
altimadude00 says, "Is the rear hatch split like on the XC90 or is it one piece?"
The rear hatch is indeed one piece. I didn't get a pic, but you can see it in action (and in black and white) in Scott Oldham's post.
Bryn MacKinnon, Senior Editor, Edmunds.com
firstwagon says:
12:38 PM, 10/23/09
No car this small should require a back up camera to back up safely.
I'd expect more out of a company like Volvo that "claims" to be interested in safety.
bankerdanny says:
01:02 PM, 10/23/09
I can't tell how much I HATE the proliferation of monster rear seat headrests.
Unless you are a soccar mom/dad or drive a taxi, you probably don't even have a back seat passenger very often. There is no reason why the rear headrests can't be made to easily fold down out of the line of site. What's the point of protecting the necks of passengers if the cost is more accidents from reduced visibility.
The medium size ones from my Forester live on the floor behind the seats only to be used on the rare occasion that I have a back seat passenger.
ahightower says:
01:26 PM, 10/23/09
That camera is nifty, but isn't much help if it only comes on in reverse. Imagine you're on the freeway, and replace "parking meter/toddler" with "motorcycle". I know, there's a blind spot monitoring system... but I don't trust anything as much as my own eyes. Let's all quit copying the 2002 Murano and start making windows bigger again.
altimadude00 says:
01:39 PM, 10/23/09
Ah, thanks Bryn. I missed it in that pic I suppose.
hybris says:
08:17 AM, 10/24/09
If in order to see behind me properly I have to pay $2700 then I will reconsider my car choice altogether.
It been said and I will repeat it for a company like Volvo whose legacy is almost purely safety you would think that driver visibility and lines of sight would be a major design factor or at least a consideration.
allthingshonda says:
09:06 AM, 10/24/09
Styling is not the only reason the pillars in modern vehicles are huge. Those massive pillars have to be able to hold all of the vehicles wieght in a rollover. More steel and less glass is the trade off for safety.
firstwagon says:
09:54 AM, 10/24/09
It's more style then strength. High strength steel doesn't need to be large to be strong.
By far the largest pillar is the most rearward one. Yet it would get the least load in a roll over.
Why?, because that's the "crossover" look everyone is going for even at the expense of safety.
kurtamaxxxguy says:
01:55 PM, 10/24/09
Visibility does not appear good, hence the need for the rear view camera. But $2700 for a rear camera (even if you don't need/want the Multimedia capabilities) is ridiculous.
The X60 reminds me of the Land Rover LR2. Is that a fair comparison?
kurtamaxxxguy says:
01:55 PM, 10/24/09
Visibility does not appear good, hence the need for the rear view camera. But $2700 for a rear camera (even if you don't need/want the Multimedia capabilities) is ridiculous.
The X60 reminds me of the Land Rover LR2. Is that a fair comparison?
rocknroll389 says:
11:26 PM, 10/24/09
For better visibility, you CAN fold down the rear headrests. On previous generation Volvos (like my 04 S80), you could actually fold it down by just pressing a switch on the center console. However, on the XC60 which i also have, cost cutting has come into play, and you now actually have to go to the rear seat and manually fold down the head restraints.
srlracing says:
09:12 PM, 10/25/09
This is the result of trying to design a roof that acts as a roll cage.