Electronic Handrake

[Brodick]

Far to much of this nowadays. I think some drivers believe their cars should indicate automatically too. Drivers responsible for ensuring car is parked. It takes a few seconds to reach down and apply before getting out. Sorry but any driver should know their vehicle inside out before being allowed to drive it.

[Lamp Swinger]

Brodick,

You would have to do a week long course, just to get your head around the sensus system!!

David

[MikeIOW]

heh heh!
The EPB is the one ludicrous design 'feature' of the XC60, in my eyes.

Given how it lets itself off when you move away, I guess once you park and stop the engine there is no reason why it couldn't apply itself....but it is something you get used to.
I suspect the problem is that we are all so conditioned to reach for a "normal" handbrake, it takes a while to use the electronic one. Even placing that button in the centre console would have been easier to use rather than lean forward to reach the hidden one on the dash. Volvo designers: listen up!!

For my part, even 10,000+ miles in, I still need to think about whether to push or pull the button.....

[Harvey1512]

Originally Posted by MikeIOW

For my part, even 10,000+ miles in, I still need to think about whether to push or pull the button.....

I had a V60 with an EPB for 2 years and I am now 8 months into my XC60 ownership. I still get it wrong at times, usually when I am tired and not thinking. I just push / pull whatever until the light comes on. My fault, not the designers. Location of the button, now THAT is the designers fault. Were they all on holiday when they had the ergonomics lecture?

[Voltan]

I agree that the parking brake control is in an awkward place. On the Laguna I had, the switch for the auto-release handbrake was tucked neatly behind the gear lever on the front of the central arm rest console. I found this so convenient compared to the location on the previous Laguna which corresponded to where it is currently on the XC60.

Surprisingly, several design features on the Laguna were better than on the XC60, e.g. The retractable luggage cover operation and the keyless entry system and recessed screen washer jets (now a feature from MY 13).

[mordred1973]

37000 miles in and I still can't tell you if you push or pull the stupid parking brake switch...about 75% of time I forgot completely, lucky it is in park....

Please please let me have a proper Handbrake....

[Turnwood]

Originally Posted by Harvey1512

I had a V60 with an EPB for 2 years and I am now 8 months into my XC60 ownership. I still get it wrong at times, usually when I am tired and not thinking. I just push / pull whatever until the light comes on. My fault, not the designers. Location of the button, now THAT is the designers fault. Were they all on holiday when they had the ergonomics lecture?

The location of the EPB is the biggest bug bear I have with the new car. Why the switch isn't located in the centre console next to the gear stick like it was in my A4 I will never know.

[I-S]

Thankfully the new xc90 has the epb control in the correct place with the correct action (up for on, down for off).

[MariusXC]

I love my XC60. I really do......but I hate with a passion the location of the feckin EPB! Who the hell thought that was a good location for it?

The only thing I can think of that is worse than this is the ludicrous parking brake in the Lexus CT200h. You jump into a 21st century all singing, all dancing hybrid, laden down with the latest tech to be confronted with a parking brake straight out of the fifties! WTF! A foot brake in the foot well! Come on!

Hopefully, the next generation of XC60 will have the EPB where it should be. In the console between the seats!

[GJB]

Having come from the XC90 EPB is GREAT.