XC60 vs XC90 driver's headroom

lupinIII · Apr 9th, 2018, 15:51

Dear all,

I test drove the new XC60 and XC90 and I cannot make sense of the headroom space dimensions reported by Volvo.

I'm a tall guy (6.3 feet or 193 cm) and when I sit in the XC60, even with the driver's seat at its lowest position, the sun visor is right in front of my forefront. My eyes are basically at the same level as the end of the windshield. As a result, my visibility is quite constrained. Things are much better on the XC90. However, when looking at the interior dimension reported by Volvo, the actual difference should be only 1.4cm... I think part of the reason why the XC60 feels like that is because the seating position is closer to the windshield, or the windshield itself is more diagonal than the XC90, but I'm not sure.

Has anyone noticed this? Are you tall guys fine in your XC60? Is it just me?

Thanks!

Waggatron · Apr 9th, 2018, 17:10

I'm 6'5" and have never experienced any feeling of being visually constrained in either of my XC60's.

I sit with the seat at its lowest level and quite upright.... and my forehead is about 6" off the sun visor. I'm also looking through the top third of the windscreen.

I know I'm close to the sun visor as, once or twice over the eight years of ownership, the city safety system has bought the car to a sudden and complete stop and I've tw*tted my head against the sun visor....ouch!!

It's also no worse than any other car I've had or sat in....

nu11eaf · Apr 9th, 2018, 18:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by lupinIII

Dear all,

I test drove the new XC60 and XC90 and I cannot make sense of the headroom space dimensions reported by Volvo.

I'm a tall guy (6.3 feet or 193 cm) and when I sit in the XC60, even with the driver's seat at its lowest position, the sun visor is right in front of my forefront. My eyes are basically at the same level as the end of the windshield. As a result, my visibility is quite constrained. Things are much better on the XC90. However, when looking at the interior dimension reported by Volvo, the actual difference should be only 1.4cm... I think part of the reason why the XC60 feels like that is because the seating position is closer to the windshield, or the windshield itself is more diagonal than the XC90, but I'm not sure.

Has anyone noticed this? Are you tall guys fine in your XC60? Is it just me?

Thanks!

The seat goes lower if you play about and adjust the tilt and move it back, in my XC90 I found just lowering does not move it to its lowest setting. I am sure it will be the same in the XC60.

lupinIII · Apr 9th, 2018, 18:48

Thank you very much for your replies. I guess I will give it one more test drive just to be sure, before deciding between XC60 and XC90.

What's weird is that I also have the impression that in the XC60 at the lowest position you are already seated very low with respect to the dashboard and the central tunnel. Definitely lower than in the XC90.

Quacker · Apr 9th, 2018, 19:29

I have zero experience of the new XC60 but I did want to buy a V90CC, until I sat in it. The standard V90 is far too low to the ground for me.

Unfortunately I found that the CC uses the same body shape as the standard V90 and the issue is the angle of the windscreen and A pillars. The A pillar slopes back at such an angle that, as you say, the top of the screen and visor comes very close to my head. Also the door top frame, including the A pillar, is too low to get my head out without contortions that are not acceptable [to me]. Bending my head forward is not an effective answer, because the A pillar/door aperture slopes back at such an angle that whatever I do, my headroom is severely compromised on exit.

As I said, I have not tried the XC60 but it sounds like a similar problem. My answer was to dip into my bank account further to try and justify the XC90, which in truth was the car I wanted all along [but the £15k saving on a similarly equipped D4 V90CC was so very tempting].

lupinIII · Apr 9th, 2018, 20:23

Quacker, I think that's exactly the issue. I currently drive a Hyundai Tucson and I look through the upper portion of the windscreen (I would say the top quarter), but in no way my head is so close to it or to the visor. I guess how uncomfortable that A pillar is also depends on how upright you like to sit.

weemark · Apr 10th, 2018, 22:46

I've tried both and the interior design while superficially similar is very different. In the xc60 the centre tunnel is much higher and angular - the xc90 is lower and slightly sloping so gives the impression of much more space. The whole seating position in the 60 is more cramped and claustrophobic with the visor and A pillar in weird positions for me. Driving position for me much better in the old xc60 but destroyed by the ludicrously large and too close left foot rest! So I bought the xc90 - I'm 6'7" BTW so a bit taller than the OP

Quacker · Apr 10th, 2018, 23:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by weemark

I've tried both and the interior design while superficially similar is very different. In the xc60 the centre tunnel is much higher and angular - the xc90 is lower and slightly sloping so gives the impression of much more space. The whole seating position in the 60 is more cramped and claustrophobic with the visor and A pillar in weird positions for me. Driving position for me much better in the old xc60 but destroyed by the ludicrously large and too close left foot rest! So I bought the xc90 - I'm 6'7" BTW so a bit taller than the OP

Did you try the S90 or V90? If so, were you like me and having to be a contortionist to get out of the thing?

weemark · Apr 11th, 2018, 10:26

Yes I tried everything - contortionists abound! Even worse, my wife has a V40, nice and comfy once I'm in but getting in and out is hard work and impossible to do in any dignified manner!

nu11eaf · Apr 11th, 2018, 11:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quacker

Did you try the S90 or V90? If so, were you like me and having to be a contortionist to get out of the thing?

Same here, I had no problem with seating height in the S/V90 (I am 6 foot) but getting out of them was a nightmare, but all normal saloon cars are the same for me, far too low for a dignified exit.
I once had a last model V40 as a loaner, and asked them to give me something taller, they gave me another V40 but it was the V40CC a bit higher like the V90CC and easier to get in and out, I would think the V90cc will be about the same to exit as that V40CC which I could manage, not perfect but a lot less undignified.

Apr 9th, 2018, 15:51	#1
lupinIII New Member Last Online: Jul 30th, 2018 15:41 Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Washington	XC60 vs XC90 driver's headroom Dear all, I test drove the new XC60 and XC90 and I cannot make sense of the headroom space dimensions reported by Volvo. I'm a tall guy (6.3 feet or 193 cm) and when I sit in the XC60, even with the driver's seat at its lowest position, the sun visor is right in front of my forefront. My eyes are basically at the same level as the end of the windshield. As a result, my visibility is quite constrained. Things are much better on the XC90. However, when looking at the interior dimension reported by Volvo, the actual difference should be only 1.4cm... I think part of the reason why the XC60 feels like that is because the seating position is closer to the windshield, or the windshield itself is more diagonal than the XC90, but I'm not sure. Has anyone noticed this? Are you tall guys fine in your XC60? Is it just me? Thanks!

Apr 9th, 2018, 17:10	#2
Waggatron Senior Member Last Online: Jun 11th, 2019 20:44 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Endor	I'm 6'5" and have never experienced any feeling of being visually constrained in either of my XC60's. I sit with the seat at its lowest level and quite upright.... and my forehead is about 6" off the sun visor. I'm also looking through the top third of the windscreen. I know I'm close to the sun visor as, once or twice over the eight years of ownership, the city safety system has bought the car to a sudden and complete stop and I've tw*tted my head against the sun visor....ouch!! It's also no worse than any other car I've had or sat in.... __________________ XC60 MY19 D4 Momentum Pro Auto, Denim Blue, Blond, Rear Camera, Rear Heated Seats. XC60 MY15 D4 SE Lux Nav, Crystal White, Winter Pack, Front & Rear Parkies. XC60 MY11 2.4D Drive SE, Chameleon Blue, Winter Pack.

Apr 9th, 2018, 19:29	#5
Quacker Premier Member Last Online: Nov 22nd, 2021 00:53 Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: West of Carmarthen	I have zero experience of the new XC60 but I did want to buy a V90CC, until I sat in it. The standard V90 is far too low to the ground for me. Unfortunately I found that the CC uses the same body shape as the standard V90 and the issue is the angle of the windscreen and A pillars. The A pillar slopes back at such an angle that, as you say, the top of the screen and visor comes very close to my head. Also the door top frame, including the A pillar, is too low to get my head out without contortions that are not acceptable [to me]. Bending my head forward is not an effective answer, because the A pillar/door aperture slopes back at such an angle that whatever I do, my headroom is severely compromised on exit. As I said, I have not tried the XC60 but it sounds like a similar problem. My answer was to dip into my bank account further to try and justify the XC90, which in truth was the car I wanted all along [but the £15k saving on a similarly equipped D4 V90CC was so very tempting]. __________________ XC90 D5, 2017 Inscription. Dark Grey. Xenium pack. Winter Plus with HUD. Black leather interior with alloy trim inserts. Ownership ended June 2020, Happy motoring times!

Apr 9th, 2018, 18:48	#4
lupinIII New Member Last Online: Jul 30th, 2018 15:41 Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Washington	Thank you very much for your replies. I guess I will give it one more test drive just to be sure, before deciding between XC60 and XC90. What's weird is that I also have the impression that in the XC60 at the lowest position you are already seated very low with respect to the dashboard and the central tunnel. Definitely lower than in the XC90.

Apr 9th, 2018, 20:23	#6
lupinIII New Member Last Online: Jul 30th, 2018 15:41 Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Washington	Quacker, I think that's exactly the issue. I currently drive a Hyundai Tucson and I look through the upper portion of the windscreen (I would say the top quarter), but in no way my head is so close to it or to the visor. I guess how uncomfortable that A pillar is also depends on how upright you like to sit.

Apr 10th, 2018, 22:46	#7
weemark Member Last Online: Feb 5th, 2023 21:58 Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Mid-Wales	I've tried both and the interior design while superficially similar is very different. In the xc60 the centre tunnel is much higher and angular - the xc90 is lower and slightly sloping so gives the impression of much more space. The whole seating position in the 60 is more cramped and claustrophobic with the visor and A pillar in weird positions for me. Driving position for me much better in the old xc60 but destroyed by the ludicrously large and too close left foot rest! So I bought the xc90 - I'm 6'7" BTW so a bit taller than the OP

Apr 11th, 2018, 10:26	#9
weemark Member Last Online: Feb 5th, 2023 21:58 Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Mid-Wales	Yes I tried everything - contortionists abound! Even worse, my wife has a V40, nice and comfy once I'm in but getting in and out is hard work and impossible to do in any dignified manner!

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