Top Safety Pick +Top Safety Pick criteria

2021 Volvo XC90

midsize luxury SUV / 4-door SUV

2021 Volvo XC90 4-door SUV
2020 Volvo XC90 shown

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
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 2016-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2016 Volvo XC90 T6 Momentum Plus 4-door 4wd

The Volvo XC90 was redesigned for the 2016 model year after a one-year absence from the market and a plug-in hybrid electric variant was introduced. Beginning with 2021 models the plug-in hybrid electric variant became known as the Volvo XC90 Recharge but has since reverted back to its previous name of plug-in hybrid for the 2025 model year.

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 loose object in the upper right is a small plastic trim part that dislodged during the impact.)

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 CEN1543
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 4
Footrest (cm) 2
Left toepan (cm) 2
Brake pedal (cm) 4
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 2
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 0
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 4
Upper dash (cm) 2
Lower instrument panel (cm) 2

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEN1543
Head
HIC-15 37
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.5
Extension bending moment (Nm) 14
Maximum Nij 0.14
Chest maximum compression (mm) 16
Femur (kN)
Left 0.4
Right 0.7
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.24
Right 0.41
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.1
Right 0.2
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 27
Right 16

About the small overlap front test

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2016-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2018 Volvo XC90 T6 Momentum 4-door 4wd

The Volvo XC90 was redesigned for the 2016 model year after a one-year absence from the market and a plug-in hybrid electric variant was introduced. Beginning with 2021 models the plug-in hybrid electric variant became known as the Volvo XC90 Recharge but has since reverted back to its previous name of plug-in hybrid for the 2025 model year. Passenger-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test 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
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 VTP1917
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 8
Footrest (cm) 5
Right toepan (cm) 4
Center toepan (cm) 3
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 4
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm) 3
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 6
Upper dash (cm) 5
Right lower dash (cm) 4

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTP1917
Head
HIC-15 55
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.9
Extension bending moment (Nm) 19
Maximum Nij 0.21
Chest maximum compression (mm) 17
Femur (kN)
Left 0.2
Right 0.3
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 0
Right 0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.41
Right 0.74
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 0.6
Right 0.7
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 27
Right 23

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTP1917
Head
HIC-15 54
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.8
Extension bending moment (Nm) 12
Maximum Nij 0.17
Chest maximum compression (mm) 28
Femur (kN)
Left 0.4
Right 0.7
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 2
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.37
Right 0.21
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 0.1
Right 0.5
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 26
Right 29

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2016-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2016 Volvo XC90 T6 Momentum 4-door 4wd

The Volvo XC90 was redesigned for the 2016 model year after a one-year absence from the market and a plug-in hybrid electric variant was introduced. Beginning with 2021 models the plug-in hybrid electric variant became known as the Volvo XC90 Recharge but has since reverted back to its previous name of plug-in hybrid for the 2025 model year. 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 VTF1507
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 1
Left (cm) 2
Center (cm) 2
Right (cm) 3
Brake pedal (cm) 3
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 0
Right (cm) 0
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) -2
Rearward (cm) -6
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 1

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTF1507
Head
HIC-15 174
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.9
Extension bending moment (Nm) 6
Maximum Nij 0.25
Chest maximum compression (mm) 31
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 1.0
Femur force - right (kN) 1.8
Knee displacement - left (mm) 2
Knee displacement - right (mm) 5
Maximum tibia index - left 0.41
Maximum tibia index - right 0.39
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 1.9
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 3.1
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 39
Right 76

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2016-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2016 Volvo XC90 T6 Momentum 4-door 4wd

The Volvo XC90 was redesigned for the 2016 model year after a one-year absence from the market and a plug-in hybrid electric variant was introduced. Beginning with 2021 models the plug-in hybrid electric variant became known as the Volvo XC90 Recharge. Side ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Volvo.

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
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTS1507
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -26.0
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTS1507
Head HIC-15 233
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.1
Compression (kN) 0.2
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 27
Lateral force (kN) 1.3
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 39
Average deflection (mm) 36
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.73
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.60
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 1.5
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.4
Combined force (kN) 2.7
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.6
L-M moment (Nm) 62
A-P moment (Nm) 16

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTS1507
Head HIC-15 82
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.4
Compression (kN) 0.3
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 29
Lateral force (kN) 1.5
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 20
Average deflection (mm) 13
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.74
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.19
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 1.3
Acetabulum force (kN) 2.1
Combined force (kN) 3.2
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.5
L-M moment (Nm) 54
A-P moment (Nm) -36

About the original side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2016-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2016 Volvo XC90 T6 Momentum 4-door 4wd

Overall evaluation
Curb weight4,516 lbs
Peak force23,396 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio5.18

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) 34
Distance below top of head (mm) -2
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g) 11.2
Head contact time (ms) 54
Force rating 1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N) 0
Max neck tension (N) 378

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

Headlights

Trim level(s)

  • All trims
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 right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was good on the sharp right curve, fair on the gradual right curve and inadequate on both left curves.

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 on the gradual right and gradual left curves and fair on the sharp right and sharp left curves.

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 2018-25 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 84.3 m None
Straightaway left edge 44.4 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 58.5 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 45.7 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 56.1 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 44.5 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 152.2 m
Straightaway left edge 129.4 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 82.9 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 79.6 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 63.8 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 59.8 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

System details

  • Standard Collision Warning with Full Auto Brake

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2016-22 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 Collision Warning with Full Auto Brake

Overall evaluation

This rating applies to all 2020-22 models

Advanced
Advanced

Crossing child

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • 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, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Parallel adult

  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 37 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 23 mph. A warning was issued 1.1 seconds before impact.

About the pedestrian front crash prevention test

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2016-24 models

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimT6 Momentum
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 Momentum
Seat type leather
1 2 3 6 4
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
too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
2
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
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
too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
Technical measurements for this test

Seat position 21

3

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 37
Clearance angle (degrees) 66
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 33
Clearance angle (degrees) 65
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
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 Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 No
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 No
Depth (cm) 4-6
Force (lbs) 37
Clearance angle (degrees) 58
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 37
Clearance angle (degrees) 64
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
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