Our Safety Standard

Because real life is more complex than standardized testing.

Above and beyond standardized testing since 1970

A crumpled orange car door with crash test markers displayed upright on a white pedestal in a gallery space.

Our process

Engineered for you. Tested for real life.

Crash tests are only as valuable as the real-world data behind them. That’s why we use data gathered from actual accidents to guide our safety approach.

We've developed Human Body Models that represent different sizes, shapes and genders to help ensure safety for everyone. By using these models in our testing methods, we leverage our research to develop our latest safety innovations. With this, our world-class safety is becoming more efficient and accessible. Resulting in improved safety features for every generation of Volvo cars – not just new ones.

Explore our safety technology

Setting the bar higher

Getting top safety ratings isn't enough for us. We go further and test real-life crash scenarios.

Variation of angles

Large animal crashes

Variation of speeds

Roll-over accidents

Variation of occupants

Run-off road crashes

Multiple collisions

Occupants in all seats and seating positions

The art our safety experts have been mastering for decades

Front view of a crash-tested orange car with a crumpled hood and exposed internal engine.

Close-up of torn and twisted orange metal with exposed steel and blue paint marks.

Close-up of dents and creases in glossy red car metal, showing impact damage with scuff marks.

Side view of a crash-tested orange Volvo car with severe door damage, crash test markers and a Safety Center label.

Close-up of crushed orange metal panels with blue paint transfer.

Crash-tested orange Volvo EX90 with extensive front and side damage displayed on a raised platform in a minimal gallery space.

Cars should help protect everyone

At the Volvo Cars Safety Center in Gothenburg, our state-of-the-art crash laboratory can recreate almost any real-life accident and help us gather vital crash data. Since 1970, we've built our safety knowledge from real-life traffic accidents. And with the E.V.A (Equal Vehicles for All) Initiative launched in 2019, we began sharing our research with the world. To help make roads safer for everyone.

Explore our safety research

EX90 Safety Cage

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Frequently asked questions

Are Volvos equipped with automatic braking?

Yes. Our automatic emergency braking system (AEB) is standard in all our cars, to help prevent collisions by automatically applying the brakes if it senses a potential impact.

How does Volvo Cars develop safety in cars based on real-world data?

We collect and study real-life accident data to design safety features that address common and severe crash scenarios. Since 1970, our Traffic Accident Research Team has analyzed over 50,000 accidents involving over 80,000 occupants, leading to advancements like whiplash protection, side-impact airbags and advanced driver assistance systems. Then, we apply these findings to the development of new Volvo cars to help protect people better from injuries, for continuous improvement within our safety standards.

For how long has Volvo Cars been testing with female crash test dummies?

We've used female crash test dummies since 1995, starting with the HIII 5th percentile female dummy for frontal impact tests. In 2001, we included a small-sized side impact dummy, SIDS2, and we introduced a virtual model of a pregnant woman in the early 2000s. More recently, we use Human Body Models, which are human virtual replicates that we can scale and shape to resemble females of different size and shape.

How do you ensure the privacy of people involved in the crashes?

We believe that safety learnings should be shared, but privacy must always be protected. That’s why we never share our crash database - only the life-saving insights we’ve gained from it. No identifiable information about those involved is ever disclosed. We use this data for safety research only, in full compliance with privacy laws, including GDPR.

† Starting Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) includes destination fee of $1,295 (EX90, EX30, EX40, C40 Recharge, XC90, XC90 plug-in hybrid, XC60, XC60 plug-in hybrid, and XC40) or $1,195 (V90 Cross Country, V60 Cross Country, S90, S90 plug-in hybrid, S60, and S60 plug-in hybrid). Images may reflect a more expensive trim level with optional equipment and accessories. Taxes, title, registration, license, insurance, maintenance, and other retailer fees are excluded from starting MSRP. Retailer sets actual price. See authorized Volvo Cars retailer for details.

*Volvo Cars’ safety features complement safe driving practices and are not intended to enable or encourage distracted, aggressive or otherwise unsafe or illegal driving. Ultimately, the driver is responsible for the safe operation of the vehicle at all times. Described features may be optional and availability may vary from one country to another.

**Scenes portraying the car’s sensing technology are illustrative only and do not depict actual footage or true to life visuals of the car’s Safe Space Technology which includes an internal and external sensor set. Lights shown are not to US specification. Safety features support safe driving and are not intended to encourage distracted, unsafe or illegal driving. The driver is responsible for safe operation of the car at all times.

European specifications may be shown. Certain images and videos may show models not available in the US market. Features depicted may not be standard or available for all markets, equipment levels and powertrain options.