XC90 - Impressive SMALL overlap test!

irishcarfan · Nov 7th, 2013, 19:29

Waving the Volvo flag right now after seeing this new video:

+ YouTube Video

For a car that came out in 2002, that is a hugely impressive result for XC90, especially since brand new Audis et al are still getting screwed in the newly-added IIHS small overlap test!!!

Well done, Volvo. And well done XC90 - life in the old dog yet.

irishcarfan · Nov 7th, 2013, 22:07

Just to put it into perspective, here is the brand new M-Class doing the same test. In this particular set of circumstances, the Merc comes to a fairly dramatic stop, which, I suspect, would transmit more loads to the passengers.

+ YouTube Video

A lex · Nov 7th, 2013, 22:16

Im not sure what sensors and monitors the Americans use on the crash tests, but im fairly certain the dummies will have G-Meters etc..... therefore if the M-Class received a good rating, it probably is (genuinely) on a par with the XC...... then again, so it should be, being a brand new model!

Its incredibly impressive that the '90 continues to fair so well in these tests, what a great job Volvo did with the design all those years ago!

Try watching the video of the 2013 Rav4 and CRV, perceived as safe cars!

p.s. out of all the vids I watched, the XC90 is the only one that kept rolling forwards, made me laugh - heavy buggers

tt82 · Nov 8th, 2013, 07:55

Fantastic result for Volvo once again. I suppose other Manufacturers will follow Mercedes and claim they have a safe car and it's the test that's bad.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mercedes Benz

As a leader in automotive safety, we have full confidence in the protection that the C-Class affords it's occupants -- and less confidence in any test that doesn't reflect that,

+ YouTube Video

Volvo6 · Nov 8th, 2013, 14:25

Quote:

Fantastic result for Volvo once again. I suppose other Manufacturers will follow Mercedes and claim they have a safe car and it's the test that's bad.

I was really disappointed to see a car manufacturer that has such a supposedly proud history of safety try to defend a result for one of their models that was very poor - the height of arrogance on Mercedes' part. I would hope that despite their public comment they will be making improvements for future models.

I know Volvo did grumble a bit about Euro NCAP back in the early 2000s but since then they have really continued to push forward with their improvements and make every model safer than the last.

MTerry · Nov 14th, 2013, 19:40

The one thing that the Volvo did (the new S60 did this also) that the other cars didn't seem to do was shear off the front wheel. The big issue in this new test is that the wheel on most cars folds back and crushes the footwell and a-pillar base (it ripped the door totally off the VW CC) and that causes the instrument panel to move rearward and to the side so the airbag misses the dummy. The only other car I've seen on this new test that got the wheel totally out of the way was the Acura TL, which also got a top rating.

irishcarfan · Nov 15th, 2013, 01:32

I read somewhere by Volvo that the problem with those who were doing badly in the small-overlap test was that the main safety beam at the front wasn't spanning across the entire width of the car (perhaps to save money, improve styling) and therefore was bypassed in the test and unable to take the initial impact and dissipate the energy. The entire hit is then taken by the a-pillar, which is why you see many of them collapsing.

I believe that Volvo and Saab had this design in place for many, many years.

tt82 · Nov 15th, 2013, 07:22

I had noticed the fact that the front wheel shears off too. The Merc ML also does this and gets a good rating. Try going on the IIHS website and look at the post test pics when they have removed door. You can see how much intrusion there is in the footwell. Some of it is scary.

Clan · Nov 15th, 2013, 10:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by tt82

I had noticed the fact that the front wheel shears off too. The Merc ML also does this and gets a good rating. Try going on the IIHS website and look at the post test pics when they have removed door. You can see how much intrusion there is in the footwell. Some of it is scary.

I think the wheels coming off is due to the use of alluminium suspension arms these days ...whether they are designed to break off is another question !

tt82 · Nov 15th, 2013, 10:59

Seems to be a common feature on all the models tested so far - S60, XC60 and XC90. Watching the videos it almost as if the wheel is designed to shear off, so the wheel doesn't get trapped between the object being hit and the passenger compartment.

Nov 7th, 2013, 22:16	#3
A lex Premier Member Last Online: Jun 21st, 2022 08:16 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Maastricht View Photos By: A lex	Im not sure what sensors and monitors the Americans use on the crash tests, but im fairly certain the dummies will have G-Meters etc..... therefore if the M-Class received a good rating, it probably is (genuinely) on a par with the XC...... then again, so it should be, being a brand new model! Its incredibly impressive that the '90 continues to fair so well in these tests, what a great job Volvo did with the design all those years ago! Try watching the video of the 2013 Rav4 and CRV, perceived as safe cars! p.s. out of all the vids I watched, the XC90 is the only one that kept rolling forwards, made me laugh - heavy buggers __________________ 2007 V70 P3 2.0 Ex: 01 V70 T5, 04 S60 D5, 05 V70 D5, 09 XC90 D5 Other cars: MINI Clubman Cooper S, GMC Yukon XL Denali 6.2L, Ford Mustang GT 5.0 Supercharged 735bhp.

Nov 14th, 2013, 19:40	#6
MTerry Bored Member Last Online: Nov 23rd, 2020 19:46 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Baltimore, Maryland, USA	The one thing that the Volvo did (the new S60 did this also) that the other cars didn't seem to do was shear off the front wheel. The big issue in this new test is that the wheel on most cars folds back and crushes the footwell and a-pillar base (it ripped the door totally off the VW CC) and that causes the instrument panel to move rearward and to the side so the airbag misses the dummy. The only other car I've seen on this new test that got the wheel totally out of the way was the Acura TL, which also got a top rating. __________________ Elphie - '98 V70 AWD, also Polar White Sophie - '09 XC90 V8, Shadow Blue Gloria - '93 244 in Ruby Red Metallic Sandy Blu - '07 C70, Celestial Blue

Nov 15th, 2013, 07:22	#8
tt82 Forum Support Team Last Online: Today 09:04 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Here.... obviously!	I had noticed the fact that the front wheel shears off too. The Merc ML also does this and gets a good rating. Try going on the IIHS website and look at the post test pics when they have removed door. You can see how much intrusion there is in the footwell. Some of it is scary. __________________ The more people I meet, the more I like my dog! 2009 V70 D5 R-Design - Jeade'en

Nov 15th, 2013, 10:59	#10
tt82 Forum Support Team Last Online: Today 09:04 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Here.... obviously!	Seems to be a common feature on all the models tested so far - S60, XC60 and XC90. Watching the videos it almost as if the wheel is designed to shear off, so the wheel doesn't get trapped between the object being hit and the passenger compartment. __________________ The more people I meet, the more I like my dog! 2009 V70 D5 R-Design - Jeade'en

Nov 15th, 2013, 01:32	#7
irishcarfan Master Member Last Online: Jun 4th, 2024 02:29 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Dublin	I read somewhere by Volvo that the problem with those who were doing badly in the small-overlap test was that the main safety beam at the front wasn't spanning across the entire width of the car (perhaps to save money, improve styling) and therefore was bypassed in the test and unable to take the initial impact and dissipate the energy. The entire hit is then taken by the a-pillar, which is why you see many of them collapsing. I believe that Volvo and Saab had this design in place for many, many years.

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