Volvo S90, V90 get five-star Euro NCAP safety rating

The Volvo S90 sedan and V90 estate join its other 90 Series sibling, the XC90, in obtaining a five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP, with both models being the first cars tested against Euro NCAP’s 2017 test regime.

The S90 and V90 (only the former was tested) both scored 95% in the Adult Occupant Protection test, 80% in the Child Occupant Protection test and 76% in the Pedestrian Protection test, with the latter being helped by an active bonnet safety system.

Like the XC90, both models also come equipped as standard with Volvo’s City Safety suite, which works day and night identifying potential hazards such as vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists or even large animals.

Should the car detect that driver isn’t braking or steering to avoid such hazards, it will first warn the driver via a light warning or audible cues, while pre-empting the brakes. If needed, the car will brake automatically to avoid a collision up to a certain speed, or mitigate it at higher speeds.

The safety assessment programme’s test of autonomous emergency braking (AEB) systems include the Car-to-Car rear-end tests (AEB City and AEB Interurban), as well as AEB Pedestrian tests (introduced in 2016).

The AEB Pedestrian tests involves three scenarios: an adult runs into the road from the driver side of the vehicle; an adult walks into the road from the passenger side of the vehicle (two tests are carried out for this scenario); and a child runs from between two parked cars into the road from the passenger side of the vehicle.

Both the S90 and V90 managed to excel in the tests, being the first sedan and estate to score a full six points, according to Euro NCAP. Additionally, the models surpass the best overall score of any model tested last year, and now make Euro NCAP’s top three best performing cars ever, all Volvos (including the XC90).

“Volvo has invested in safety, has made key technologies standard across the model range and the results speak for themselves: a very impressive five-star rating,” said Michiel van Ratingen secretary general of Euro NCAP.

“We work hard to ensure that our cars fulfil all safety requirements and pass all testing procedures that the ratings agencies develop. Our main focus is, and always has been, real-life safety. Autonomous emergency braking systems, such as our City Safety offer also represent a clear step forwards on our journey toward fully autonomous cars, which we see as a key element to reduce traffic fatalities and injuries,” said Malin Ekholm, director of the Volvo Car Safety Centre at Volvo Cars Group.

GALLERY: Volvo S90 and V90

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