Quick Answer
Park the car, clear the rear seat, and unbuckle the belts. Push the center head restraint down, then pull the release handle on top of the backrest. On models with electric folding, press and hold the L or R button in the cargo area instead.
Learning how to put Volvo back seats down is the fastest way to turn your car into a load carrier. This guide covers the exact release for the XC40, XC60, XC90, S60, V60, EX30 and EX90, plus the cargo space each one opens up.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Park first, clear the seat, unbuckle the belts, and push the center head restraint down before folding.
- Manual folding: pull the handle on top of the backrest; the lock releases and the backrest folds forward flat.
- Electric folding: with the tailgate open, press and hold the L or R button in the cargo area.
- Most Volvo rear seats split 60/40, so one side can stay up for a passenger.
- A red indicator near the lock means the backrest is NOT locked. Check it before driving.
How to Put Volvo Back Seats Down: The General Steps
Every modern Volvo follows the same basic idea, though the handle or button changes by model. These steps come from Volvo’s owner’s manuals and work for the XC40, XC60, XC90, S60, V60, S90, V90, EX30, and EX90.
1. Park the car. The vehicle must be stationary. On models with electric folding, a rear door or the tailgate must be open before the backrest will fold.
2. Clear the rear seat. Remove everything from the seat. Seat belts must not be buckled. A buckled belt can get trapped in the hinge and damage the upholstery.
3. Stow the extras. If your Volvo has an integrated booster cushion, it must be stowed first. Raise the center armrest and close the ski hatch in the backrest before folding.
4. Move the front seats if needed. Push the front seats forward and set their backrests upright. This matters most in smaller cars like the XC40 and EX30.
5. Push the center head restraint down. Push it down manually. On electric-folding models, the outer head restraints fold down automatically first.
6. Release the backrest. For manual folding, pull the handle on top of the backrest forward. The lock releases and the backrest folds flat.
7. Check it is flat and clear. Make sure nothing is caught in the hinge, especially seat belts. When you put the seats back up, press the backrest until the lock engages. Then raise the head restraints by hand.
Volvo XC40: Folding the Back Seats Down
The XC40 has a 60/40 split rear seat, and folding it is a manual job. Open a rear door, clear the seat, and push the center head restraint down.
Pull the release handle on the top outer edge of the backrest section you want to fold. Guide the backrest forward until it lies flat.
If the backrest will not go fully flat, slide the front seat on that side forward a little and try again.
Folding the seats grows the cargo area from about 20.7 cu. ft. to about 57.5 cu. ft. That fits flat-pack furniture, a bicycle with the front wheel off, or several large suitcases.
- Fold the smaller 40 section first when you only need room for one long item.
- Keep the load low and against the backrests so it cannot slide forward when you brake.
- Use the load anchoring eyelets for heavy items instead of letting them rest loose.
Volvo XC60: Folding the Back Seats Down
The XC60 is where most owners first learn how to put Volvo back seats down with electric folding. Its second-row backrest splits into two sections that fold forward on their own.
Manual method: Open a rear door and pull the handle on the top of the backrest forward. The lock releases and the backrest folds down flat.
A red indicator near the backrest lock tells you the backrest is no longer locked. Check it every time before you drive with passengers in the back.
Electric method (if equipped): Open the tailgate and make sure the rear seat is empty. Push the center head restraint down manually first.
Then press and hold one of the electric fold-down buttons in the cargo area. The buttons are marked L for the left section and R for the right. The head restraint folds down first, then the backrest follows.
The XC60 also has a through-load hatch in the center of the rear seat for long, narrow items like skis. Use the hatch instead of folding a whole backrest when you only need to carry something long.
With the rear backrests folded, the XC60 offers about 63.3 cu. ft. of maximum cargo space. For the third row specifically, see our guide on how to fold down 3rd row seats in the Volvo XC60.
The head restraints at the outer seats must always be raised when a passenger sits there. Never drive with a rear passenger behind a folded or unlocked backrest.
Volvo XC90: Folding the Second and Third Rows
The XC90 has three rows, so there are two different jobs: the second row and the third row. Each one folds on its own.
Second row: The backrests split and fold the same way as the XC60. Use the handle on top of the backrest, or the electric L/R buttons in the cargo area if your XC90 has them.
You may need to tilt or slide the second-row seats forward first. The third row needs that room to fold flat.
Third row: Each third-row seat folds separately. Pull the handle on the upper side of the backrest upward or forward, and fold the backrest down.
The seat cushion moves down and forward as the backrest lowers. The head restraint folds down automatically, creating a flat surface.
To put it back, fold the backrest up manually until it locks. Then fold the head restraint up by hand.
With all rear rows folded, the XC90 opens up to about 85.7 cu. ft. of cargo space. That is the largest load area of any Volvo, and it is why families who carry big items often choose the XC90.
The XC90’s third-row head restraints fold down automatically as the backrest lowers, so the folded row sits flat without you touching them.
Volvo S60, V60, S90, and V90: Folding the Back Seats Down
Volvo’s sedans and wagons fold their rear seats from the cabin or the trunk. The details change a little by model year, so check your owner’s manual for your exact car.
S60: Open the trunk and pull the rear seat release handle labeled “Release” at the upper center of the trunk. Then open a rear door and fold the backrest down from inside.
Some S60 models also have release buttons in the parcel shelf on the left-hand side. Press and hold one, the head restraints lower automatically, and then you lower the backrest manually.
Newer S60 models may have electric folding controlled from buttons in the trunk. The layout varies by model year and trim.
V60 and V90: The wagon backrests split into two parts that fold forward individually. Pull the handles on the left and right backrests forward to fold each side.
The same rules apply: raise the center armrest first, close the through-load hatch, and make sure no seat belt is buckled. The V90 offers about 53.9 cu. ft. with the rear seats down, and the V60 about 43.4 cu. ft.
Putting them back up: Push the backrest up until the lock engages, then raise the head restraints manually. Note that when private locking is active, the rear seat must be upright for the locking to work.
Volvo EX30 and EX90: Folding the Back Seats Down
Volvo’s electric models follow the same pattern as the rest of the range. The release is a handle on top of the seatback, or an L/R button in the cargo area on electric-folding cars.
The EX30’s rear backrest splits and folds forward using the release handles on top of the seatbacks. The EX90 uses the same handle-or-button layout as the XC90.
Because these are newer models, the exact button placement can vary by model year and trim. If the handle or button is not where you expect it, check your owner’s manual before forcing anything.
The EX30 is a small car, so move the front seats forward first. Behind the rear seats it has only about 14.7 cu. ft. (417 liters) of cargo space. The folded backrests are what make it usable for larger loads.
How Much Space Do You Gain?
Knowing how to put Volvo back seats down is the single biggest cargo upgrade you can make without buying anything. These approximate maximum figures vary by model year and market.
XC40: about 20.7 to 57.5 cu. ft. XC60: to about 63.3 cu. ft. XC90: to about 85.7 cu. ft. V60: to about 43.4 cu. ft. V90: to about 53.9 cu. ft. EX30: from about 14.7 cu. ft. behind the rear seats.
Keep the load low and against the backrests, and use the load anchoring eyelets to secure heavy items. Volvo’s manual warns against placing heavy objects on top of folded-down backrests.
If you only need to carry something long and narrow, use the through-load hatch instead of folding a whole section.
Troubleshooting: When Volvo Back Seats Will Not Fold Down
A backrest that will not fold is almost always a small check you missed, not a broken part. Work through these in order before booking a workshop visit.
The backrest will not release. Check that the car is stationary and a rear door or the tailgate is open. On electric models the buttons only work with the tailgate open.
Make sure the integrated child restraint cushion is stowed, the center armrest is raised, and the ski hatch is closed. These are the most common reasons a backrest refuses to fold.
The backrest stops halfway. The front seat on that side is probably too far back. Slide it forward and adjust its backrest upright, then try again.
Also check that a seat belt is not caught in the hinge. A trapped belt can stop the backrest short of flat.
The electric buttons do nothing. Press and hold the button instead of tapping it. The backrest only moves while the button is held down.
The red indicator stays on after you put the seat up. The red indicator near the backrest lock means the backrest is not locked. Push the backrest firmly until you hear and feel the lock engage. Never drive with rear passengers if that indicator is showing.
💡 Evans Torres Tip: Before you force a stuck backrest, check the seat belt. A buckled or trapped belt is the cause more often than a broken lock, and forcing the seat can tear the upholstery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all Volvo back seats fold down?
Nearly all modern Volvos have split-folding rear backrests, including the XC40, XC60, XC90, S60, V60, S90, V90, EX30, and EX90. The exact release varies by model and trim.
Where is the release handle for the rear seats?
On most models it sits on the top outer edge of the backrest. On cars with electric folding, use the L/R buttons in the cargo area instead.
Can you fold the rear seats from the trunk?
Yes, on SUVs you can use the cargo-area buttons or reach the backrest handles from behind. This works on models with electric folding; manual cars need the handle pulled from the cabin.
Do the head restraints fold down too?
Yes. Push the center head restraint down by hand. On electric models the outer head restraints fold down automatically before the backrest moves.
Can you fold down only one side of the back seat?
Yes. Most Volvo rear seats split into two sections, usually 60/40, and each section folds independently. Fold one side for a long item and keep the other side up for a passenger.
Do Volvo S60 back seats fold down?
Yes. Pull the “Release” handle in the trunk, then fold the backrest down from inside the cabin. Some S60 models have release buttons in the parcel shelf instead.
How do you fold the third row in a Volvo XC90?
Pull the handle on the upper side of the third-row backrest upward or forward. The cushion moves down and forward as the backrest lowers, and the head restraint folds automatically.
Why won’t my Volvo back seat fold down?
The most common causes are a buckled seat belt, an object on the seat, a raised center armrest, an open ski hatch, a child-restraint cushion that is not stowed, or the car not being stationary with a door or the tailgate open.
How do you put the back seats back up?
Lift the backrest until the lock engages with a click, then raise the head restraints by hand. Check that the red indicator near the lock is gone before driving with passengers in the back.
Final Words
Learning how to put Volvo back seats down takes less than a minute once you know where the release is. Pull the handle on top of the backrest, or hold the L/R button in the cargo area on electric models.
Clear the seat, unbuckle the belts, and push the center head restraint down first. The 60/40 split means you rarely need to fold the whole row, and the space you gain turns a passenger car into a cargo hauler without any tools.
If this guide helped, you may also want to read our how to fold down 3rd row seats in the Volvo XC60 guide, our is the EX60 a 7 seater guide, and our how big is the Volvo EX30 dimensions guide.
Author
Author
Evans Torres
I’m Evans Torres, an automotive engineer who loves Volvo cars. I graduated in Automotive Engineering from USC. I have worked in the car industry for years and now share my knowledge on The Volvo Life. I started this blog to connect with other Volvo fans. I offer tips, news, and advice to help you care for your car. My goal is to help you keep your Volvo in great shape and find all the best things about it. Join me as we discover everything Volvo has to offer!