The Volvo S60, redesigned in 2019, has consistently demonstrated a commitment to safety, a hallmark of the Volvo brand. This commitment extends to the 2021 Volvo S60 model, which shares the safety ratings applicable to the 2019-2025 models. This article delves into the passenger-side small overlap frontal crash test results for the Volvo S60, providing a detailed breakdown of its performance and what it means for occupant safety. The rating is based on tests conducted on a 2019 Volvo S60 T6 Inscription 4-door 4wd, and the findings are relevant to the 2021 Volvo S60 and other models within the specified range.
Understanding the IIHS Passenger-Side Small Overlap Frontal Test
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) passenger-side small overlap frontal test simulates a collision where the front corner of the vehicle impacts another vehicle or a narrow object like a tree or pole. This test is particularly challenging because it bypasses the main energy-absorbing structures of the vehicle’s front, putting more stress on the occupant compartment. A good rating in this test indicates that a vehicle provides robust protection in this type of severe frontal crash.
Excellent “Good” Rating for the 2021 Volvo S60
The Volvo S60 achieved a “Good” overall rating in the passenger-side small overlap frontal test. This is the highest possible rating awarded by the IIHS and signifies excellent performance in protecting occupants in this demanding crash scenario. The evaluation encompasses various aspects of vehicle safety, which are summarized in the table below:
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Hip/thigh | G |
| Lower leg/foot | G |
| Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Hip/thigh | G |
| Lower leg/foot | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
As shown, the 2021 Volvo S60 earned a “Good” rating across all individual categories, for both passenger and driver. This includes structural integrity, occupant restraints, and injury measures for different body regions.
Detailed Look at Structural Performance and Injury Measures
The “Structure and safety cage” evaluation is crucial as it assesses how well the vehicle’s structure holds up during the crash, maintaining survival space for occupants. The “Good” rating here means the 2021 Volvo S60’s structure effectively resisted intrusion, minimizing the risk of injury from structural deformation.
The evaluation also includes detailed measurements of occupant compartment intrusion and injury measures recorded on crash test dummies. These technical measurements provide a deeper understanding of the vehicle’s performance.
Technical Measurements: Occupant Compartment Intrusion (Passenger Side)
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTP1905 |
| Lower occupant compartment | |
| Lower hinge pillar max (cm) | 7 |
| Footrest (cm) | 10 |
| Right toepan (cm) | 4 |
| Center toepan (cm) | 3 |
| Rocker panel lateral average (cm) | 2 |
| Upper occupant compartment | |
| Center dash (cm) | 2 |
| Upper hinge pillar max (cm) | 2 |
| Upper dash (cm) | 3 |
| Right lower dash (cm) | 3 |
These intrusion measurements, recorded in centimeters, indicate the extent to which the vehicle structure deformed and intruded into the occupant compartment during the crash. Lower numbers generally indicate better structural performance.
Passenger and Driver Injury Measures
The test also measures potential injuries to different body regions using sensors on the crash test dummies. Key metrics include Head Injury Criterion (HIC), neck tension, chest compression, femur load, tibia index, and foot acceleration. Lower values in these measurements generally indicate a lower risk of injury.
Passenger Injury Measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTP1905 |
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 58 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.9 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 21 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.23 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 19 |
| Femur (kN) | |
| Left | 0.2 |
| Right | 0.2 |
| Knee displacement (mm) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 1 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index | |
| Left | 0.46 |
| Right | 0.61 |
| Tibia axial force (kN) | |
| Left | 1.0 |
| Right | 1.0 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 17 |
| Right | 21 |
Driver Injury Measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTP1905 |
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 65 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.8 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 11 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.14 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 25 |
| Femur (kN) | |
| Left | 0.5 |
| Right | 0.6 |
| Knee displacement (mm) | |
| Left | 1 |
| Right | 1 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index | |
| Left | 0.34 |
| Right | 0.30 |
| Tibia axial force (kN) | |
| Left | 0.2 |
| Right | 0.8 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 45 |
| Right | 32 |
These detailed injury measures for both passenger and driver sides further reinforce the “Good” ratings, indicating a low risk of significant injuries in a passenger-side small overlap frontal crash for the 2021 Volvo S60.
Conclusion: 2021 Volvo S60 – A Safe Choice
The “Good” rating in the IIHS passenger-side small overlap frontal test for the 2021 Volvo S60 underscores Volvo’s dedication to producing safe vehicles. The consistent “Good” ratings across all evaluation metrics and low injury measures demonstrate the robust safety engineering of the 2021 Volvo S60, making it a strong choice for safety-conscious car buyers. This analysis of the crash test data affirms that the 2021 Volvo S60 is designed to protect its occupants effectively in challenging frontal crash scenarios.
