A Few Too Many Buttons - 2015 Volvo S60 Long-Term Road Test

Edmunds.com

A Few Too Many Buttons - 2015 Volvo S60 Long-Term Road Test

Although the overall interior design of the Volvo S60 is clean and elegant, the center stack has far too many buttons for my tastes.

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ebeaudoin

The phone keypad is so outdated. Thing is, they've been using this basic dash design since at least 2007. It looks so old and tacky. Now, like you said, it does have the simplicity of the tuning knobs and all, but this is just a little too outdated.

allthingshonda

ebeaudoin said:

The phone keypad is so outdated. Thing is, they've been using this basic dash design since at least 2007. It looks so old and tacky. Now, like you said, it does have the simplicity of the tuning knobs and all, but this is just a little too outdated.

But it you could probably dial a number and call some one faster using the keypad rather than the voice command.

You: Call Mary
Car: Would you like to call Gary?
You: No
Car: Say a Command
You: Call Mary
Car: Radio 87.9 FM
You: CANCEL

This goes on for another 5 miles until it get's it right or you pick up the phone and dial it yourself.

dm7279

allthingshonda said:

ebeaudoin said:

The phone keypad is so outdated. Thing is, they've been using this basic dash design since at least 2007. It looks so old and tacky. Now, like you said, it does have the simplicity of the tuning knobs and all, but this is just a little too outdated.

But it you could probably dial a number and call some one faster using the keypad rather than the voice command.

You: Call Mary
Car: Would you like to call Gary?
You: No
Car: Say a Command
You: Call Mary
Car: Radio 87.9 FM
You: CANCEL

This goes on for another 5 miles until it get's it right or you pick up the phone and dial it yourself.

Exactly! Give me real buttons any day of the week over voice commands or unbelievably distracting touch-sensitive controls in other cars. I love the "outdated" keypad in my S60, and the infotainment and other systems really are fairly simple to use. The only annoyance is that some simple functions take multiple steps, like changing from FM to AM, and you can only adjust the temperature zones on the climate control system separately.

saulster

I agree with DM7279. I have not used the number keyboard in my 2015.5 S60 for phone numbers, yet, the Bluetooth imported the numbers I need and use from my cell phone anyway. But easy enough to input this way if and when needed. And the voice command inputs are a hit and miss when using other functions, like address input into navigation.

The comment about switching from AM to FM is telling. This also applies to switching from either AM or FM to Sirius. It's really a pain to press "Exit" on the steering wheel, then scroll the scroll wheel to the radio function I want, then press it down to make the selection. But not a problem to switch easily to CD or USB stick, there is a "Media" button conveniently provided for that.

Ditto the lack of linked temperature zones on the know controls, that should be an option like on just about every car around now except Volvo. Double work for a single function and so unnecessary......

The bigger picture is that Volvo's configuration of ICE and controls is so hit and miss. The knobs for sound and temperature are easy and convenient. ( Sound volume is also easily controlled with the buttons on the steering wheel. ) I find the multiple buttons for many other items also easy and convenient, quicker than scrolling through one single MMI interface for the common tasks. Front or rear defroster, on / off for lane guidance control, automatic start stop in traffic, etc. Although I gotta admit that I don't understand why they use up one button space for the button to release the rear headrests to the declined position, that could be safely hidden away with other less used items. Hey, that's the extra button to switch from AM / FM to Sirius!

The navigation inputs are clumsy as is the actual navigation system. Still no Edmunds comments on the difficulties with the POI function, don't you people ever try it out? Just try input for a Costco or Barnes and Noble and get sent from Los Angeles to Maine! It's arcane, time consuming, and frustrating to find POIs, when you can, and that's inexcusable with the better functionality in most cars.

spidaman

There are a lot of buttons, but I'm OK with that. At least they are all clustered in one place, and not spread out everywhere. I agree the phone buttons are lame--couldn't you just use the keypad on the actual phone?