Top Safety Pick +Top Safety Pick criteria

2021 Volvo V90

large luxury car / 4-door wagon

Award applies only to vehicles built after September 2020

2021 Volvo V90 4-door wagon
Photo courtesy of Volvo Car USA

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Small overlap front: driver-side
Small overlap front: passenger-side
Moderate overlap front: original test
Side: original test
Roof strength
Head restraints & seats

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Headlights (varies by trim/option)
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Standard system
Superior
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)
Standard system
Advanced

Seat belts & child restraints

LATCH ease of use

Other available safety features

  • Standard blind spot detection
  • Standard lane departure warning & prevention

Key

  • G
    Good
  • A
    Acceptable
  • M
    Marginal
  • P
    Poor
  • Superior
  • Advanced
  • Basic

Some ratings use a scale of Poor to Good. Others range from Basic to Superior.

Small overlap front: driver-side

Rating applies to 2021 models

Tested vehicle: 2017 Volvo S90 T6 Inscription 4-door 4wd

The Volvo S90 was introduced in the 2017 model year as a replacement for the Volvo S80. These ratings also apply to two wagons, the Volvo V90 and V90 Cross Country, and the Volvo S90 Recharge, a plug-in hybrid variant of the S90 sedan.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Action shot taken during the small overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the door frame, steering wheel, and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained very well.

The frontal and side curtain airbags worked well together to keep the head from coming close to any stiff structure or outside objects that could cause injury.

The driver's space was maintained well, and risk of injuries to the dummy's legs and feet was low.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CEN1633
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 2
Footrest (cm) 2
Left toepan (cm) 2
Brake pedal (cm) 4
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 0
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 0
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 1
Upper dash (cm) 1
Lower instrument panel (cm) 1

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEN1633
Head
HIC-15 76
Peak gs at hard contact not meas.
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.4
Extension bending moment (Nm) 13
Maximum Nij 0.12
Chest maximum compression (mm) 16
Femur (kN)
Left 0.9
Right 0.7
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 0
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.52
Right 0.44
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 2.9
Right 0.6
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 40
Right 26

About the small overlap front test

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2021 models

Tested vehicle: 2018 Volvo S90 4-door 2wd

The Volvo S90 was introduced in the 2017 model year as a replacement for the Volvo S80. Beginning with the 2018 model year, a longer-wheelbase variant replaced the short-wheelbase version. These ratings also apply to two wagons, the Volvo V90 and V90 Cross Country, and the Volvo S90 Recharge, a plug-in hybrid variant of the S90 sedan. Passenger-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2018 S90 conducted by Volvo.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics
The dummy’s head contacted the right side of the frontal airbag but began to move into the gap between the frontal and side curtain airbags, leaving the head vulnerable to contact with forward structure. The inflated side curtain airbag has sufficient forward coverage to protect the head from contact with side structure and outside objects. The side torso airbag also deployed.
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side

Test ID VTP1914
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 1
Footrest (cm) 1
Right toepan (cm) 1
Center toepan (cm) 2
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 0
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm) 1
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 1
Upper dash (cm) 1
Right lower dash (cm) 1

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTP1914
Head
HIC-15 79
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.8
Extension bending moment (Nm) 17
Maximum Nij 0.29
Chest maximum compression (mm) 21
Femur (kN)
Left 0.3
Right 0.5
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 0
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.40
Right 0.52
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 2.2
Right 2.1
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 46
Right 31

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTP1914
Head
HIC-15 46
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.9
Extension bending moment (Nm) 14
Maximum Nij 0.17
Chest maximum compression (mm) 22
Femur (kN)
Left 0.8
Right 1.4
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 2
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.26
Right 0.28
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 0.6
Right 1.5
Foot acceleration (g)
Left no data
Right no data

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2021 models

Tested vehicle: 2017 Volvo S90 T6 4-door 4wd

The Volvo S90 was introduced in the 2017 model year as a replacement for the Volvo S80. These ratings also apply to two wagons, the Volvo V90 and V90 Cross Country, and the Volvo S90 Recharge, a plug-in hybrid variant of the S90 sedan. Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Volvo.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Leg/foot, left
Leg/foot, right
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTF1625
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 1
Left (cm) 1
Center (cm) 1
Right (cm) 1
Brake pedal (cm) 3
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 0
Right (cm) 0
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) -1
Rearward (cm) -6
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 0

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTF1625
Head
HIC-15 114
Peak gs at hard contact 30
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.0
Extension bending moment (Nm) 9
Maximum Nij 0.22
Chest maximum compression (mm) 27
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 1.3
Femur force - right (kN) 0.6
Knee displacement - left (mm) 0
Knee displacement - right (mm) 1
Maximum tibia index - left 0.51
Maximum tibia index - right 0.35
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 3.7
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 1.9
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 73
Right 51

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2021 models

Tested vehicle: 2018 Volvo S90 T5 Momentum 4-door 2wd

The Volvo S90 was introduced in the 2017 model year as a replacement for the Volvo S80. Beginning with the 2018 model year, a longer-wheelbase variant replaced the short-wheelbase version that was tested during the 2017 model year. Two side tests of a 2018 Volvo S90 were conducted, one by the Institute and the other by Volvo. Ratings are based on both tests and apply to two wagons, the Volvo V90 and V90 Cross Country, and the Volvo S90 Recharge, a plug-in hybrid variant of the S90 sedan.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Rear passenger head protection

View of the vehicle and barrier just after the Institute's crash test.

View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment (Institute test car shown).

Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side curtain airbag in the Institute's test.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy’s head was protected by the side airbag.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CES1808 VTS1805
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -19.0 -19.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID CES1808 VTS1805
Head HIC-15 119 175
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.9 0.9
Compression (kN) 0.5 0.3
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 35 35
Lateral force (kN) 1.8 1.5
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 40 41
Average deflection (mm) 37 39
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.81 4.05
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.82 0.78
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 1.4 1.5
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.3 1.5
Combined force (kN) 2.6 2.9
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.5 0.8
L-M moment (Nm) 185 182
A-P moment (Nm) 38 57

Passenger injury measures

Test ID CES1808 VTS1805
Head HIC-15 144 82
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.3 0.4
Compression (kN) 1.1 0.9
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 18 20
Lateral force (kN) 1.0 1.0
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 15 18
Average deflection (mm) 13 13
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 1.63 1.31
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.11 0.07
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.1 0.5
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.6 0.8
Combined force (kN) 1.7 1.3
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.6 0.6
L-M moment (Nm) 99 41
A-P moment (Nm) -28 -29

About the original side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2021 models

Tested vehicle: 2017 Volvo S90 T6 Inscription 4-door 4wd

Rating applies to the S90 short-wheelbase model (tested) and the structurally similar S90 long-wheelbase model.

Overall evaluation
Curb weight4,140 lbs
Peak force21,877 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio5.28

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Power leather seat

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry
Technical measurements for this test
Seat type Power leather seat
Geometry
Backset (mm) 19
Distance below top of head (mm) 10
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g) 10.0
Head contact time (ms) 49
Force rating 1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N) 10
Max neck tension (N) 242

About the head restraint & seat test
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.

Headlights

Ratings are given for 2 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

Trim level(s)

  • All trims; built after September 2020
Low-beam headlight typeLED reflector
High-beam headlight typeLED reflector
Curve-adaptive?Yes
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on the left side of the road and inadequate on the right side. On curves, visibility was good on the sharp right curve, fair on the gradual right and sharp left curves, and inadequate on the gradual left curve.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and fair on the left side. On curves, visibility was good in all 4 tests.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway and all 4 curves.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • All trims
Low-beam headlight type LED reflector
High-beam headlight type LED reflector
Curve-adaptive? Yes
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2021 models built after September 2020
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 72.4 m None
Straightaway left edge 54.0 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 64.0 m None
250m radius left curve, right edge 54.3 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 56.1 m None
150m radius left curve, right edge 53.0 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 144.7 m
Straightaway left edge 141.2 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 85.0 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 86.9 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 72.2 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 71.5 m

Trim level(s)

  • All trims; built before October 2020
Low-beam headlight typeLED reflector
High-beam headlight typeLED reflector
Curve-adaptive?Yes
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit Some glare

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the left side of the road and fair on the right side. On curves, visibility was good on the sharp left and both right curves and fair on the gradual left curve.

The low beams created some glare.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on the gradual right and both left curves and fair on the sharp right curve.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway and all 4 curves.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • All trims
Low-beam headlight type LED reflector
High-beam headlight type LED reflector
Curve-adaptive? Yes
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2021 models built before October 2020
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 90.0 m 34.2%
Straightaway left edge 58.6 m 34.2%
250m radius right curve, right edge 66.5 m None
250m radius left curve, right edge 55.7 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 57.8 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 59.8 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 134.6 m
Straightaway left edge 130.3 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 75.4 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 82.1 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 64.4 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 66.2 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

System details

  • Standard City Safety

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2021 models

Superior
Superior
  • This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

About the original front crash prevention test

Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)

System details

  • standard City Safety

Overall evaluation

This rating applies to all 2021 models

Advanced
Advanced

Crossing child

  • In the 12 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 11 mph.
  • In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 17 mph.

Crossing adult

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 19 mph.

Parallel adult

  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 37 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 30 mph. A warning was issued 1.9 seconds before impact.

About the pedestrian front crash prevention test

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2021 models

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimT6 Inscription
Seat type leather

This vehicle has 2 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.

It has 1 additional seating position with a tether anchor only.

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimT6 Inscription
Seat type leather
1 2 3
GGood
AAcceptable
MMarginal
PPoor
Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated.
thether anchor symbol
Tether anchor
lower anchor symbol
Lower anchors
shared lower achors symbol
Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s)
No hardware available

Details by seating position

1
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
difficult to maneuver around anchors
2
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
none available
3
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
difficult to maneuver around anchors
Technical measurements for this test

Seat position 21

3

Lower anchor A
Open access rated Yes
Depth Visible
Force (lbs) 0
Clearance angle (degrees) 46
Lower anchor B
Open access rated Yes
Depth Visible
Force (lbs) 0
Clearance angle (degrees) 46
Tether anchor
Location Rear deck
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 22

2

Lower anchor A
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location Rear deck
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 23

1

Lower anchor A
Open access rated Yes
Depth Visible
Force (lbs) 0
Clearance angle (degrees) 49
Lower anchor B
Open access rated Yes
Depth Visible
Force (lbs) 0
Clearance angle (degrees) 47
Tether anchor
Location Rear deck
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

About the child seat anchor evaluation