The Volvo S60, redesigned for the 2019 model year, continues to be a strong contender in the luxury sedan market, especially when it comes to safety. This analysis delves into the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) passenger-side small overlap frontal crash test rating for the 2021 Volvo S60, providing a comprehensive overview of its performance. It’s important to note that this rating is applicable to Volvo S60 models from 2019 through 2025, reflecting the consistent safety engineering of this vehicle generation.
Volvo S60 Earns Top “Good” Rating in Passenger-Side Small Overlap Test
The IIHS passenger-side small overlap frontal test is designed to simulate what happens when the front corner of a vehicle collides with another vehicle or a fixed object like a tree or utility pole. This is a particularly challenging test because it bypasses the main energy-absorbing structures of the vehicle’s front end. For the 2021 Volvo S60, and models within the 2019-2025 range, the results are encouraging. The vehicle achieved an overall evaluation of “Good,” the highest rating possible. This “Good” rating extends across all critical evaluation criteria in this demanding test.
Alt text: 2021 Volvo S60 passenger-side small overlap frontal crash test simulation depicting structural integrity and airbag effectiveness
Detailed Breakdown of Passenger Injury Measures
The IIHS evaluation meticulously examines passenger injury measures, and the 2021 Volvo S60 demonstrated exceptional performance across the board. In terms of passenger injury measures, the S60 received “Good” ratings in all subcategories:
- Head/Neck: “Good” – indicating a low risk of injury to the head and neck area for passengers in this type of collision.
- Chest: “Good” – demonstrating effective protection of the chest area.
- Hip/Thigh: “Good” – signifying minimal risk of injury to the hip and thigh.
- Lower Leg/Foot: “Good” – showing robust protection for the lower extremities.
- Passenger Restraints and Dummy Kinematics: “Good” – confirming that the restraint systems and airbag deployment worked effectively to control passenger movement and minimize injury risk.
These “Good” ratings across all passenger injury measures highlight the comprehensive safety design of the 2021 Volvo S60 in protecting occupants during a passenger-side small overlap frontal crash.
Driver Safety Performance Mirrors Passenger Protection
The detailed measurements also include driver injury measures, which mirror the excellent passenger protection seen in the test. Similar to the passenger side, the driver-side assessment of the 2021 Volvo S60 also resulted in “Good” ratings across all categories:
- Head/Neck: “Good”
- Chest: “Good”
- Hip/Thigh: “Good”
- Lower Leg/Foot: “Good”
- Driver Restraints and Dummy Kinematics: “Good”
This consistent “Good” performance for both driver and passenger underscores Volvo’s commitment to overall occupant safety in the 2021 S60.
Alt text: Interior view of 2021 Volvo S60 during passenger-side small overlap crash test, illustrating occupant space preservation and dummy safety.
Occupant Compartment Intrusion and Technical Measurements
Technical measurements from the test provide further insight into the structural integrity of the 2021 Volvo S60. Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on the passenger side were minimal. For instance, the maximum intrusion at the lower hinge pillar was only 7 cm, and even less in other critical areas like the center dash (2 cm) and upper hinge pillar (2 cm). These low intrusion measurements are critical for maintaining occupant space and reducing injury risk.
Furthermore, specific injury measures were recorded for both passenger and driver. For the passenger, the Head Injury Criterion (HIC-15) was a low 58, and chest compression was only 19 mm. Similarly, for the driver, the HIC-15 was 65 and chest compression was 25 mm, all well within acceptable safety limits. Femur and tibia forces were also low for both passenger and driver, indicating a minimal risk of lower leg injuries.
Conclusion: 2021 Volvo S60 – A Safe Choice
The IIHS passenger-side small overlap frontal crash test results clearly demonstrate the 2021 Volvo S60‘s robust safety performance. Earning the highest rating of “Good” across all evaluation criteria for both passenger and driver injury measures, and exhibiting minimal occupant compartment intrusion, the S60 stands out as a safe vehicle choice in its class. These findings reinforce Volvo’s long-standing reputation for prioritizing safety in their vehicle design and engineering. For those considering a luxury sedan that places a high emphasis on safety, the 2021 Volvo S60 and models within its generation are definitely worth considering.
