Top Safety PickTop Safety Pick criteria
2025 Volvo XC90 Plug-In Hybrid
midsize luxury SUV / 4-door SUV
Award applies only to vehicles built before December 2024 (not 2025.5)
Plug-in hybrid
Small overlap front
The small overlap front evaluation consists of a driver-side and a passenger-side component. If the results of the two evaluations differ, then the combined small overlap rating is equal to the lower rating.
Driver-side
- Rating applies to 2016-25 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. Initially known as the Volvo XC90 Plug-In Hybrid, it became the Volvo XC90 Recharge from model years 2021-2024. For the 2025 model year, it has reverted to the original name. These ratings also apply to the all-new 2025.5 XC90.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall driver-side 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
Passenger-side
- Rating applies to 2016-25 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. Initially known as the Volvo XC90 Plug-In Hybrid, it became the Volvo XC90 Recharge from model years 2021-2024. For the 2025 model year, it has reverted to the original name. These ratings also apply to the all-new 2025.5 XC90. Passenger-side small overlap front ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2018 XC90 conducted by Volvo.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall passenger-side 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
Moderate overlap front: original test
Rating applies to 2016-25 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. These ratings also apply to the all-new 2025.5 XC90.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| 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
Moderate overlap front: updated test
Rating applies to 2025 models built before December 2024
Tested vehicle: 2024 Volvo XC90 Recharge Core 4-door 4wd
The Volvo XC90 Recharge, a plug-in hybrid variant of the XC90 was introduced in the 2016 model year. These ratings do not apply to the IC variant of the XC90 or to the all-new 2025.5 XC90.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | |
| Structure and safety cage | |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | |
| Chest | |
| Thigh/hip | |
| Leg/foot | |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | |
| Rear passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | |
| Chest | |
| Thigh | |
| Rear passenger restraints and dummy kinematics | |
View of the vehicle after the crash showing the airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.
The rear passenger dummy's head remained a safe distance from the front seatback.
Rear passenger dummy injury values indicate a low risk of injury to the head or neck and a moderate risk of injury to the chest. During the crash, the shoulder belt remained in an ideal position on the dummy’s chest.
The rear passenger dummy's lap belt remained in the ideal position on the pelvis.
Technical measurements for this test
Side: updated test
Rating applies to 2025 models
Tested vehicle: 2023 Volvo XC90 B5 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. Initially known as the Volvo XC90 Plug-In Hybrid, it became the Volvo XC90 Recharge from model years 2021-2024. For the 2025 model year, it has reverted to the original name. These ratings also apply to the all-new 2025.5 XC90.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | |
| Structure and safety cage | |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | |
| Torso | |
| Pelvis | |
| Driver head protection | |
| Rear passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | |
| Torso | |
| Pelvis | |
| Rear passenger head protection | |
View of the vehicle just after the crash test.
View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.
Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side curtain airbag.
Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy’s head was protected by the side airbag.
Technical measurements for this test
Headlights
Trim level(s)
- All trims; built before December 2024
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-beam headlight type | LED reflector |
| High-beam headlight type | LED reflector |
| Curve-adaptive? | Yes |
| High-beam assist? | Yes |
|
Overall rating | |
| Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination: | |
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
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle 2.0
Front crash prevention: pedestrian
Seat belt reminders
Rating applies to 2025 models
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | |
| Front row | |
| Unbelted occupant alert (audible & visual) | |
| Initiation time | |
| Duration | Long enough (90+ seconds) |
| Volume | |
| Audio frequency | |
| Second row | |
| Startup status alert (visual) | |
| Initiation time | |
| Duration at least 60 seconds | |
| Belt disengaged alert (audible & visual) | |
| Initiation time | |
| Duration at least 30 seconds | |
| Volume | |
| Audio frequency | |
Technical measurements for this test