Key Takeaways
- The Volvo XC90, BMW X5, and Lexus NX received Top Safety Pick+ ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
- All three SUVs performed well in the updated moderate overlap front test.
- Volvo performed very well despite its advanced age – it first debuted for MY2016.
The Volvo XC90 may be long in the tooth, but when it comes to safety, the eight-year-old SUV still comes out on top. In the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) latest evaluations, the Swedish luxury SUV earned a 2024 Top Safety Pick+ award (TSP+).
Per the IIHS, the 2024 XC90 managed to achieve this thanks to strong performance in the updated moderate overlap front test, something that has thwarted SUVs much bigger than the Volvo. The new test makes things a lot harder for cars to receive a TSP+ rating. The updated evaluation emphasizes rear-seat safety, with another dummy sitting in the second row behind the driver.
Volvo XC90 Isn’t The Only SUV To Impress The IIHS
The XC90 wasn’t the only luxury SUV to receive this award. The recently facelifted BMW X5 and Lexus NX have also been honored with the TSP+ rating, with differences ranging from model to model. The Volvo and BMW, for example, received ‘Good’ ratings in the updated moderate overlap front test, while the Lexus was rated as ‘Acceptable.’ While all three cars have strong driver protection, this varies for the rear-seat occupant.
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In the XC90, the data showed a “slightly elevated risk of injuries” to the rear dummy’s head/neck and chest. In the Lexus NX, the rear dummy’s lap belt moved from the preferred position to the pelvis, which can increase the risk of injury to the abdominal area. In the BMW X5, the IIHS notes there was no elevated injury risk, which is very impressive.
How Did They Fare, Exactly?
Beyond the moderate overlap test, IIHS award recipients must also receive ‘Good’ ratings in the small overlap front and updated side tests, as well as an ‘Acceptable’ or ‘Good’ rating in the pedestrian front crash prevention evaluation. All trims of the evaluated model must also come standard with ‘Acceptable’ or ‘Good’ headlights; optional Matrix LEDs won’t count toward a positive evaluation.
Related
Only One Small SUV Earned A ‘Good’ Rating In This Updated IIHS Test
Seven of the evaluated SUVs were slapped with a Marginal or Poor score in the improved IIHS front crash prevention test.
In the case of the X5, all trims have ‘Acceptable’ headlights and a standard front crash avoidance system that receives a ‘Good’ rating. The NX is also rated ‘Good’ in this area but betters the Bimmer with the best possible rating for the headlights. Finally, the XC90 is rated ‘Acceptable’ in both categories.
“Safety is at the core of everything we do at Volvo Cars. As part of our company’s longstanding commitment to safety, we constantly strive to raise safety levels. The Volvo XC90 reflects our safety legacy, and we are proud it was recognized by the IIHS given our shared dedication to the advancement of automotive safety with the goal of reducing traffic-related deaths and injuries.”
– Mike Cottone, Head of USA and Canada at Volvo Cars
Source:
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
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