Volvo XC90 and XC90 Recharge Receive Top Safety Honors for 2023: What You Need to Know
September 18 2023,
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has awarded the 2023 Volvo XC90 and its plug-in hybrid variant, the XC90 Recharge, with its highest safety designation—TOP SAFETY PICK+. This comes as the IIHS has implemented more rigorous standards for its safety evaluations, underscoring the vehicles' strong performance under increased scrutiny.
Enhanced Safety Criteria
The IIHS has recently strengthened the requirements for both its TOP SAFETY PICK and TOP SAFETY PICK+ designations. The newly imposed criteria focus on improved side crash protection, better pedestrian crash avoidance technologies, and the phasing out of substandard headlight options.
One of the most notable changes in the criteria is the revamped IIHS side crash test, which now involves 82% more energy compared to the previous version. Under the new criteria, vehicles must secure an "acceptable" or "good" rating to qualify for the TOP SAFETY PICK designation. To earn the more prestigious TOP SAFETY PICK+ award, a vehicle must achieve a "good" rating.
Safety-Centric Design
Volvo Cars has a longstanding commitment to safety, aiming to ensure that no one should be seriously injured or killed in a new Volvo vehicle. According to Åsa Haglund, the head of Volvo Cars Safety Centre, the Volvo XC90 continues to set benchmarks for safety, affirming its place as one of the safest vehicles on the market.
Both Variants Score Highly
Both the mild hybrid (XC90) and the plug-in hybrid (XC90 Recharge) versions have received the TOP SAFETY PICK+ awards. Beyond its safety accolades, the XC90 Recharge also offers the advantage of up to 35 miles of all-electric driving when in "Pure" mode. This aligns with Volvo’s broader sustainability goals, which include plans to transition to selling only fully electric vehicles by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2040.
The 2023 Volvo XC90 and XC90 Recharge earning the IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+ designation is noteworthy, especially considering the recently tightened criteria for such recognition. The award speaks to Volvo's long-standing commitment to safety, reaffirming that both the XC90 and XC90 Recharge are among the safest vehicles you can drive today. These accolades are particularly relevant for consumers who prioritize safety alongside sustainability, as Volvo continues to focus on both in its future plans.
