The Volvo brand has always put a huge emphasis on the safety of its vehicles’ passengers, so it’s no surprise that the company’s just-revealed XC60 SUV continues the trend. What is surprising, however, is just how remarkably safe it appears to be. Volvo is so proud of its sturdy design that the company decided to release its own internal crash test videos along with the official press release announcing its production plans and vehicle specs.
The small overlap test — also sometimes called an offset crash — shows the vehicle’s passengers kept well out of harm’s way, with a wall of airbags providing cushion and no noticeable trauma to the cabin structure.
In the frontal crash test, which is just a straight-on smash with no bells or whistles, the XC60 appears to perform equally well. The crumble zones on the vehicle’s frame — easily seen from the below-vehicle camera — provide cushion but prevent any destruction to the passenger compartment.
The last test, which is a 30 mph complete roll over crash, is arguably the most impressive out of all of them. Glass cracks and the passengers sway a bit inside the cabin, as you would expect, but the vehicle shows zero signs of roof collapse or any damage that would seriously threaten those inside. It’s remarkable.
