Volvo Safety - Do You Still Get What You Pay For?

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted By: Astro14

If you really want a safe car, buy a Volvo.

No argument there, but now Volvo is a luxury brand. An XC90 is $60k now and the small wagon is $44k to start. Up in the those price ranges almost everything is pretty good now. I can't imagine any luxury priced car not getting top ratings these days. I don't think the comparable german vehicles have much worse safety records.
You can buy vehicles that have equal safety test ratings for much less.

 

[nthach]

Around here, Subarus are the new Volvo. But a Volvo has that vault-like confidence a Subaru can't match. I drove a friend's S60 and it was a nice car, luxury-wise it wasn't on par with Mercedes/Lexus or even Acura.

 

[nthach]

Originally Posted By: Claud

The Renault had an intact passenger cabin, and the doors could be opened. The airbags and pretensioner seat belts had deployed. The driver would probably have suffered only minor injuries.
I can't put up a link, but if you look up "Renault vs Volvo crash Fifth Gear" on you tube it should take you there.

The IIHS here in the US crash tested a Bel Air vs. a modern Chevy Malibu and despite the size difference the Bel Air fared pretty badly. Sure, modern steel alloys, crumple zones, airbags and pretensioners can make even a subcompact safe, but if you were to crash a modern subcompact into a bigger car, the results still won't be pretty.

Sure, if I was to cross paths with a truck or SUV in my Prius I would end up in an ambulance or body bag. But if something like a Fit/Yaris/Mazda2/Fiesta were to hit me, the driver in the other car would have a higher chance of being injured.

And if a lifted brodozer rear ends you or you run into one, unless you're in a Freightliner or a Kenworth it's game over.

 

[Claud]

Originally Posted By: nthach
Originally Posted By: Claud

The Renault had an intact passenger cabin, and the doors could be opened. The airbags and pretensioner seat belts had deployed. The driver would probably have suffered only minor injuries.
I can't put up a link, but if you look up "Renault vs Volvo crash Fifth Gear" on you tube it should take you there.

The IIHS here in the US crash tested a Bel Air vs. a modern Chevy Malibu and despite the size difference the Bel Air fared pretty badly. Sure, modern steel alloys, crumple zones, airbags and pretensioners can make even a subcompact safe, but if you were to crash a modern subcompact into a bigger car, the results still won't be pretty.

Sure, if I was to cross paths with a truck or SUV in my Prius I would end up in an ambulance or body bag. But if something like a Fit/Yaris/Mazda2/Fiesta were to hit me, the driver in the other car would have a higher chance of being injured.

And if a lifted brodozer rear ends you or you run into one, unless you're in a Freightliner or a Kenworth it's game over.


All else being equal, in this case designed in safety, then a bigger vehicle will always come out better. The point was a modern compact came out better than a big (by European standards) older model. And as has been pointed out Volvos were leaders in safety from the 1950's when they were the first to fit 3 point seat belts in the factory. To their eternal credit, although Volvo invented the modern £ point belt, they never patented it.

Claud.

 

[nthach]

Volvo also created the proper side-impact airbag system(with Autoliv's help), laminated windshields(or was that Saab who introduced that) and the side-curtain airbag I think.

 

[Claud]

Originally Posted By: nthach
Volvo also created the proper side-impact airbag system(with Autoliv's help), laminated windshields(or was that Saab who introduced that) and the side-curtain airbag I think.


I think it was the USA that introduced laminated glass windshields.
Amazingly British Leyland beat everyone to the punch in the 1970's with a more advanced laminated windshield. Triplex ten-twenty I believe it was called.

Claud.

 

[Chris B.]

I bought a 2004 Volvo XC70 and a 2008 S40. The XC70 has been AWESOME in every way. The S40 was a total POS in every way. I sold the S40 after I had enough of its bull [censored]. I wanted something trouble free and RELIABLE but also really safe to replace the S40. I ended up going with a new 2012 Honda Accord. It had excellent safety ratings on par or beyond many Volvo offerings. It is a very safe car and WAY more reliable then my S40.
The XC70 is still in our fleet at almost 15 years old and it has been great! I'd buy a new Volvo to replace our XC70 in a heart beat if I knew it would be as good a car as my 2004 XC has been. I have zero faith the new Volvos are any better then my 2008 S40. I'm not willing to risk buying a new Volvo. Not sure what will replace my XC70 when it comes time.....

 

[dlundblad]

Originally Posted By: Chris B.
I'm not willing to risk buying a new Volvo. Not sure what will replace my XC70 when it comes time.....


Another P2 XC70!

I tell my girlfriend I have too much invested in P2 Volvo specific tools I can't afford to get anything else.. Lol.

Slight over exaggeration, but still fun to pick fun at. Camshaft holding tool, crankshaft holding tool, ball joint hammer/ knee surgery instrument, oil filter wrench, fuel pump slotted socket, random tools to make jobs easier. etc. I am sure I am missing something.