2010 Volvo XC60: Seat Heater Review

@bodyblue
That's how they do it in California, seat heaters and AC.

Not surprising. The heater in my '07 S60 is the worst heater I have ever had in a car, and I've had plenty. I have to turn the climate control to maximum heat just to get it warm enough to take off my jacket inside the car when it's 60 outside. On my way home during lunch today, I had the climate control set to 80 and it was blowing cool air at me (exterior temp was 62, and the interior wasn't much warmer). It's pretty sad. I figure the Swedish must like it cold... opposite of the heater, the car's AC is the best I've ever had (even better than Fords and GMs we've had). Meanwhile, the car's heated mirrors practically sizzle any water clinging to them.

I found out something odd about my Volvo last night, and I wonder if the XC60 is the same. They both have the same headlight dial with "off," parking lamps, and on positions. "Off" and on are pretty much the same thing: all lights on when vehicle is running with 80% headlamps during the day and full headlamps at night, which are controlled automatically by the light sensor. So, my light switch never leaves the "off" position. I was on my way last night to an Indian casino to meet a friend for her birthday, which required driving on some pitch black twisty canyon roads out in the middle of nowhere. I could not figure out how to lock the high beams on. Pulling on the left stalk would flash the high beams, but would switch off when released. You couldn't push the stalk away like many cars. I could feel two detent positions when I pulled, but neither did anything different. I had to hold the stalk constantly to maintain high beams, but since I had to steer so much, I did most of the drive without the high beams.

Before I left the casino, I decided to RTFM. It ends up that the only way the high beams can be locked in the on position is if the headlight dial is turned to the on position. I found it odd that someone went through the extra programming to restrict high beam operation depending on the position of a dial that really doesn't do anything. Front and rear fog lamps work with the headlight dial in the "off" position. Strange...

The best seat-heater setup was the one offered in the MKV Jetta / Golf / Rabit. All the way up your back with 5 distinct settings. But the best part was that if stayed exactly where you left it- far better than requiring an additional button press each time you start the car if you live in the snow belt where it's consistently cold 6 months out of the year.

bodyblue: jeepsrt is right... that is how we do it in California, even on hot days. However, I doubt that was the case here since it's been so cold (for us) lately. When Volvo (and I believe most manufacturers) climate control is set to auto, the AC compressor comes on to dehumidify the air unless the outside temperature is pretty low, and then the air is reheated as it comes into the cabin. These systems seem to work better in something like my F-150 where the big V8 doesn't care if the AC is on or off (fuel mileage doesn't appear to be affected by the AC... it's dismal no matter what). In my S60, I'll take the system off of auto so I can run without the AC on, but that defeats the whole purpose of having auto climate control.

Ummmm I live in CA also.....Sacramento

The best seat heaters that I have ever had were on my recently departed BMW 530i. I had the sport package and the side bolsters were all around you. the heat went completely around you and it was even on the thigh extension. Those were the best seats i've had in any car, and definitely the best heaters too. Three perfectly calibrated settings that surrounded you in warmth (they came on quick too). Man, do I miss that car in the cold (even with the rwd). Everyone would want to sit in those seats when it was cold out.

My current car, a hyundai sonata, has one level but its just okay. The Lexus RX400h is okay too. the worst i've had is in my moms toyota sienna. I really dont think they are on most of the time, even on the highest setting. They are pathetic.

I'm kinda dissapointed that the volvos are no good.

I'll put another vote in the BMW bin. The seat heaters in my MINI and my mom's 335xi are far better than the ones in my dad's A4... the heat evenly through the thighs, bum, and back. Like kono said, they wrap you with a radiant kind of heat. :) Very nice.

I would have expected Volvo's to be top notch. Though, I can almost forgive it for that chromey-glowy sitting person icon...

I find this surprising - the seat heaters in my '03 S60 are great (but not phenomenal). I think they're far better than the ones in my old TL. They heat up really quickly and spread the warmth evenly throughout the seat bottom (not so much for the back). Also, I've never had any problems with the heating system; it warms up quickly and I hardly ever have to make any adjustments. The buttons pretty much stay set on Auto and 72 degrees.
It's sad to see so many small-detail disappointments in this car - Volvo could really use a big hit these days with their otherwise lackluster lineup

I'll support BMW as well. My 1 heats up quick and has great coverage. Only complaint is that they're too strong really. I refer to the three settings as "rather warm", "uncomfortably warm", and "saute".

+1 on BMW seat heaters

Mercedes seat heater kind of suck, too. They warm up quickly but they always turn themselves of after a predefined time.

@jstandefer:

My mom's '99 V70 has the same headlight configuration. However, the lights on her car are halogens, and so there is no difference in the amount of light that is on during the day or night, it's always 100%. The only difference is that the instrument panel is lit up with the headlights in the "ON" position, and so we always just leave them turned on. The lights on her car always turn off when the engine is off, and so the easiest thing to do is to just leave the switch turned to on, and you never have to deal with the headlights

"hough, I can almost forgive it for that chromey-glowy sitting person icon..."

LOL I agree.....but even close up the switchgear looks nice and well built.

Either they fixed it on 2011's or your expectations or your bum are out of whack. My wife has Reynaud's syndrome and cannot get cold for even an instant or her extremities hurt badly and on our test in 25 degree weather before we bought it our seats were uncomfortably hot before we were even out of the parking lot. The car had been running maybe 5 minutes, max. You do realize it has 3 settings, right?