Volvo still top on safety
 

EURONCAP published new test data, also of the 2019 Audi Q7:
https://www.euroncap.com/en/results/Audi/Q7/38855
The XC90 is still better, even much better on standard safety assist features:
https://www.euroncap.com/nl/results/volvo/xc90/20976

Always has been , Always will be the world leader ...

Did the test not change quite a bit in 2018 - to the degree that they say you can't compare tests from 2018 onwards to those conducted prior?

This is even better when you consider how long ago the XC90 was changed to its current guise and the Q7 is a brand new model :)

well as you know volvo are more often than not 10 years ahead of legislation :-) and the american car safety regulations were taken from the capabilities of the 240 back in 1973...

I didn't know this, but I've just watched a really good review of the V90. Apparently the new Spa platform is made using 40% hot formed boron steel, the strongest in the motor industry, and uses more than any other manufacturer.

That has been the case for many years , those beams behind the rear bumper are boron steel for the last 13 years and also used in critical places in the bodyshell , You just cannot drill Boron steel, it is so hard , equivalent to steel 5 or 6mm thick with 1/5 the weight . Volvo never boasted about it in Advertisments just carried on behind the scenes doing the best job in the industry as they always have of course..

This is a V60 if i'm not mistaken Red = Boron and there are various other less hard grades to allow a softer impact ,

Nice video by Henrik Ljungqvist, body structure expert at Volvo Cars:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDPH8Q-uKLo

I think its a shame that people don't consider this kind of thing more. The amount of times I hear "<insert manufacturer> has <insert factory option> as standard, why doesn't Volvo?" My usual response is that Volvo Spend more on Saftey Design/Systems than any other manufacturer (relative to their size) and so the fact that our car doesn't have <insert option> is possibly due to the fact they've spent the money on more Boron Steel or Crash testing.... usually does the trick, but you can see the customers thinking "yes, but I still want <insert option> as standard too"

A lot of the money Volvo invest into their cars wouldn't ever be seen unless the worst happened - but then it may save your life - Maybe that needs to be Volvos new strapline? - "Yes - Maybe we don't have <insert option> as standard, but we put extra Boron Steel into your car which may save your life - Which would you prefer?...." :tounge_smile:

At the current date, I don't consider Audi as a reference for anything, at least not in pair as brands like Mercedes or BMW. Time will prove me right.

Just because in the past they were, it shouldn't mean that they will be forever.
The same applied to Toyota a few years ago in terms of quality and reliability. Today Toyota is not considered a reference brand.