The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is an independent, nonprofit, scientific, and educational organization dedicated to reducing deaths and injuries from crashes on highways. Each year the IIHS conducts testing on new vehicles to determine the safest cars in a range of classifications and awards them with a Top Safety Pick rating.
The Volvo C30 (2010-11 models), S80, XC60 and XC90 have all been recognized as Top Safety Picks in 2010; five of only 34 cars awarded in 2010. This is a great accomplishment when considering the stringency of new IIHS requirements and the relatively small size of the Volvo line-up.
With an added roof strength test requirement, earning a Top Safety Pick award in 2010 was more difficult than ever. The roof strength test measures protection in the event of a rollover: a kind of accident that kills over 9,000 people in passenger vehicles each year. In order to be eligible for the award, a roof must withstand a force of four times the vehicle’s weight, a test that goes far beyond minimum safety standards. The IIHS estimates that the risk of serious or fatal injury is 50 percent less for vehicles with a good roof-crush rating.
To earn the coveted Top Safety Pick for 2010, vehicles were required to earn a good rating in front, side and rear crash-tests, the new roof strength test, and be outfitted with electronic stability control. Many vehicles previously awarded are no longer represented on this year’s list, but the Volvo C30, S80, XC90 and XC60 continue to meet the tightened criteria with the addition of our newest member, the 2011 C30.
XC60 Safety Cage and Air Bags
