The Volvo Xc60 2019 stands out in the competitive SUV market, particularly when it comes to safety. As a prospective buyer or current owner, understanding the safety ratings of your vehicle is crucial. This article provides an in-depth look at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash test results for the 2019 Volvo XC60, offering a comprehensive overview of its safety performance.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Driver-Side
The small overlap front crash test simulates a collision where only a small portion of the vehicle’s front end, on the driver’s side, impacts a barrier. This is a challenging test that evaluates how well the vehicle structure protects the driver in a severe frontal crash.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | Good |
| Structure and safety cage | Good |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good |
| Chest | Good |
| Hip/thigh | Good |
| Lower leg/foot | Good |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | Good |
The 2019 Volvo XC60 achieved a “Good” rating in the driver-side small overlap front test, the highest rating possible. This indicates excellent protection for the driver in this type of collision. The structure and safety cage held up well, and injury measures for all body regions were rated “Good,” demonstrating robust occupant protection.
Technical measurements from the test further illustrate the XC60’s performance:
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTN1711 |
| Lower occupant compartment | |
| Lower hinge pillar max (cm) | 3 |
| Footrest (cm) | 3 |
| Left toepan (cm) | 2 |
| Brake pedal (cm) | 4 |
| Parking brake (cm) | |
| Rocker panel lateral average (cm) | 1 |
| Upper occupant compartment | |
| Steering column | 0 |
| Upper hinge pillar max (cm) | 3 |
| Upper dash (cm) | 3 |
| Lower instrument panel (cm) | 3 |
Driver injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTN1711 |
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 71 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.7 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 17 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.23 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 22 |
| Femur (kN) | |
| Left | 1.1 |
| Right | 0.6 |
| Knee displacement (mm) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 1 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index | |
| Left | 0.24 |
| Right | 0.29 |
| Tibia axial force (kN) | |
| Left | 2.3 |
| Right | 0.1 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 54 |
| Right | 19 |
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Passenger-Side
Similar to the driver-side test, the passenger-side small overlap front test assesses safety performance when the front passenger side of the vehicle impacts a barrier.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | Good |
| Structure and safety cage | Good |
| Passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good |
| Chest | Good |
| Hip/thigh | Good |
| Lower leg/foot | Good |
| Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics | Good |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good |
| Chest | Good |
| Hip/thigh | Good |
| Lower leg/foot | Good |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | Good |
Again, the Volvo XC60 2019 earned a “Good” rating on the passenger side, mirroring its driver-side performance. This consistent “Good” rating across both sides in the small overlap front test highlights the vehicle’s strong structural integrity and comprehensive occupant protection.
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTP1902 |
| Lower occupant compartment | |
| Lower hinge pillar max (cm) | 6 |
| Footrest (cm) | 5 |
| Right toepan (cm) | 5 |
| Center toepan (cm) | 3 |
| Rocker panel lateral average (cm) | 4 |
| Upper occupant compartment | |
| Center dash (cm) | 3 |
| Upper hinge pillar max (cm) | 4 |
| Upper dash (cm) | 3 |
| Right lower dash (cm) | 4 |
Passenger injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTP1902 |
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 52 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.8 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 19 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.26 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 21 |
| Femur (kN) | |
| Left | 0.1 |
| Right | 0.2 |
| Knee displacement (mm) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 1 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index | |
| Left | 0.67 |
| Right | 0.74 |
| Tibia axial force (kN) | |
| Left | 1.0 |
| Right | 1.2 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 29 |
| Right | 22 |
Driver injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTP1902 |
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 73 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 1.0 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 15 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.18 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 26 |
| Femur (kN) | |
| Left | 0.6 |
| Right | 0.6 |
| Knee displacement (mm) | |
| Left | 1 |
| Right | 2 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index | |
| Left | 0.43 |
| Right | 0.26 |
| Tibia axial force (kN) | |
| Left | 0.1 |
| Right | 0.4 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 31 |
| Right | 24 |
Moderate Overlap Front Crash Test: Original Test
The moderate overlap front test involves a larger portion of the vehicle’s front end impacting a deformable barrier. This test is designed to replicate a common type of frontal collision.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | Good |
| Structure and safety cage | Good |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good |
| Chest | Good |
| Leg/foot, left | Good |
| Leg/foot, right | Good |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | Good |
The 2019 Volvo XC60 once again received a “Good” rating in the moderate overlap front test. All injury measures were rated “Good,” and the vehicle maintained its structural integrity, providing excellent protection in a frontal impact.
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTF1715 |
| Footwell intrusion | |
| Footrest (cm) | 2 |
| Left (cm) | 2 |
| Center (cm) | 2 |
| Right (cm) | 3 |
| Brake pedal (cm) | 0 |
| Instrument panel rearward movement | |
| Left (cm) | 1 |
| Right (cm) | 1 |
| Steering column movement | |
| Upward (cm) | -2 |
| Rearward (cm) | 0 |
| A-pillar rearward movement (cm) | 0 |
Driver injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTF1715 |
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 160 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 1.0 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 25 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.23 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 27 |
| Legs | |
| Femur force – left (kN) | 1.4 |
| Femur force – right (kN) | 1.0 |
| Knee displacement – left (mm) | 0 |
| Knee displacement – right (mm) | 2 |
| Maximum tibia index – left | 0.42 |
| Maximum tibia index – right | 0.42 |
| Tibia axial force – left (kN) | 2.9 |
| Tibia axial force – right (kN) | 1.7 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 39 |
| Right | 83 |
Side Impact Crash Tests
Side impact crashes are another significant concern. The IIHS conducts two side impact tests: the original side test and an updated, more stringent side test.
Side: Original Test
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | Good |
| Structure and safety cage | Good |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good |
| Torso | Good |
| Pelvis/leg | Good |
| Driver head protection | Good |
| Rear passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good |
| Torso | Good |
| Pelvis/leg | Good |
| Rear passenger head protection | Good |
In the original side impact test, the Volvo XC60 2019 achieved a “Good” rating across all categories for both driver and rear passenger. This demonstrates excellent side impact protection based on older testing standards.
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| Test ID | VTS1713 |
|---|---|
| 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
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTS1713 |
| Head HIC-15 | 137 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 1.0 |
| Compression (kN) | -0.3 |
| Shoulder | |
| Lateral deflection (mm) | 32 |
| Lateral force (kN) | 1.6 |
| Torso | |
| Maximum deflection (mm) | 38 |
| Average deflection (mm) | 34 |
| Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 4.05 |
| Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.73 |
| Pelvis | |
| Iliac force (kN) | 0.8 |
| Acetabulum force (kN) | 1.0 |
| Combined force (kN) | 1.8 |
| Left femur | |
| L-M force (kN) | 0.2 |
| L-M moment (Nm) | 62 |
| A-P moment (Nm) | -36 |
Passenger injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTS1713 |
| Head HIC-15 | 199 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.4 |
| Compression (kN) | -0.3 |
| Shoulder | |
| Lateral deflection (mm) | 20 |
| Lateral force (kN) | 1.1 |
| Torso | |
| Maximum deflection (mm) | 19 |
| Average deflection (mm) | 15 |
| Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 2.18 |
| Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.15 |
| Pelvis | |
| Iliac force (kN) | 0.7 |
| Acetabulum force (kN) | 1.9 |
| Combined force (kN) | 2.5 |
| Left femur | |
| L-M force (kN) | 0.3 |
| L-M moment (Nm) | 74 |
| A-P moment (Nm) | 21 |
Side: Updated Test
The updated side test is more challenging, using a heavier barrier and higher impact speed to better simulate modern side-impact scenarios.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | Acceptable |
| Structure and safety cage | Good |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good |
| Torso | Acceptable |
| Pelvis | Marginal |
| Driver head protection | Good |
| Rear passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good |
| Torso | Good |
| Pelvis | Marginal |
| Rear passenger head protection | Good |
The 2019 Volvo XC60 received an “Acceptable” overall rating in the updated side test. While the structure and head protection remained “Good,” torso injury measures for the driver were “Acceptable,” and pelvis injury measures for both driver and rear passenger were “Marginal.” This indicates that while still providing good protection, there’s room for improvement in side impact safety, especially in pelvic protection, under stricter testing conditions.
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | CES2306 |
| B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver’s seat (cm) | -19.0 |
| Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline. |
Driver injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | CES2306 |
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 106 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.9 |
| Compression (kN) | 0.2 |
| Shoulder | |
| Lateral deflection (mm) | 15 |
| Lateral force (kN) | 0.4 |
| Torso | |
| Maximum deflection (mm) | 36 |
| Average deflection (mm) | 32 |
| Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 3.51 |
| Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.68 |
| Pelvis | |
| Combined force (kN) | 5.4 |
Passenger injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | CES2306 |
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 195 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.4 |
| Compression (kN) | 0.4 |
| Shoulder | |
| Lateral deflection (mm) | 31 |
| Lateral force (kN) | 1.6 |
| Torso | |
| Maximum deflection (mm) | 32 |
| Average deflection (mm) | 28 |
| Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 3.60 |
| Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.62 |
| Pelvis | |
| Combined force (kN) | 5.9 |
Greasepaint on the driver dummy shows effective head protection by the side airbags, preventing contact with hard structures during the crash.
Similarly, greasepaint on the rear passenger dummy indicates the side airbag effectively protected the head in the updated side crash test.
Roof Strength Test
The roof strength test evaluates the vehicle’s structural resistance to rollover crashes by measuring how much force the roof can withstand before collapsing.
| Overall evaluation | Good |
|---|---|
| Curb weight | 4,232 lbs |
| Peak force | 21,903 lbs |
| Strength-to-weight ratio | 5.18 |
The Volvo XC60 2019 achieved a “Good” rating in roof strength, with a strong strength-to-weight ratio, indicating excellent protection in rollover scenarios.
Head Restraints & Seats
Whiplash protection in rear-end collisions is assessed through head restraint and seat evaluations.
| Overall evaluation | Good |
|---|---|
| Dynamic rating | Good |
| Seat/head restraint geometry | Good |
The 2019 Volvo XC60’s head restraints and seats earned a “Good” rating for whiplash protection, both dynamically and geometrically, signifying effective design to minimize neck injuries in rear impacts.
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 |
Headlights
Headlight performance is crucial for nighttime safety. The IIHS evaluates headlight effectiveness in providing visibility without causing excessive glare. The 2019 Volvo XC60 has two different headlight variations tested.
Trim level(s): Momentum, R-Design, Inscription, Excellence (with Advanced package)
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-beam headlight type | LED reflector |
| High-beam headlight type | LED reflector |
| Curve-adaptive? | Yes |
| High-beam assist? | Yes |
| Overall rating | Acceptable |
These headlights received an “Acceptable” overall rating. While offering curve-adaptive features and high-beam assist, low beam visibility was rated as fair to inadequate in certain scenarios, and some glare was noted.
Low beams On the straightaway, visibility was fair on the left and inadequate on the right. On curves, visibility ranged from good to inadequate.
High beams Visibility was generally fair to good, with high-beam assist compensating for low beam limitations.
Trim level(s): Momentum, Inscription, R-Design (Standard)
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-beam headlight type | LED reflector |
| High-beam headlight type | LED reflector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| High-beam assist? | Yes |
| Overall rating | Marginal |
The standard headlights for the 2019 Volvo XC60 received a “Marginal” rating. Without curve-adaptive features, low beam visibility was inadequate in several scenarios, although high-beam assist provided some compensation.
Low beams Visibility was fair to inadequate on straightaways and curves.
High beams Visibility was fair to good on straightaways but inadequate on curves.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle
Front crash prevention systems help avoid or mitigate frontal collisions. The IIHS tests vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention systems at 12 mph and 25 mph.
| Overall evaluation | Superior |
|---|---|
| System details | Standard City Safety |
The 2019 Volvo XC60 with standard City Safety system achieved a “Superior” rating in vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention. It successfully avoided collisions in both 12 mph and 25 mph tests and meets forward collision warning requirements, demonstrating excellent performance in preventing frontal crashes.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
Ease of use for child seat anchors (LATCH) is important for parents. The IIHS evaluates the LATCH system’s usability.
| Overall evaluation | Acceptable |
|---|---|
| Vehicle trim | T5 Inscription |
| Seat type | leather |
The LATCH system in the 2019 Volvo XC60 is rated “Acceptable.” While it has multiple seating positions with LATCH hardware, some anchors are noted as being difficult to maneuver around, slightly impacting ease of use.
Details by seating position
| Position | Rating |
|---|---|
| 1 | |
| Tether anchor | Easy-to-find location, no confusion |
| Lower anchors | Not too deep, not too much force needed, difficult to maneuver around |
| 2 | |
| Tether anchor | Easy-to-find location, no confusion |
| Lower anchors | None available |
| 3 | |
| Tether anchor | Easy-to-find location, no confusion |
| Lower anchors | Not too deep, not too much force needed, difficult to maneuver around |
Conclusion
The 2019 Volvo XC60 demonstrates strong safety performance in IIHS crash tests, particularly in frontal and rollover scenarios. It consistently achieved “Good” ratings in small overlap front and moderate overlap front tests, as well as roof strength and head restraints. While the updated side impact test resulted in an “Acceptable” rating with “Marginal” pelvis protection, and headlight ratings varied from “Acceptable” to “Marginal” depending on trim, the XC60’s “Superior” front crash prevention system and “Acceptable” LATCH system contribute to its overall safety profile.
For English-speaking markets prioritizing safety, the Volvo XC60 2019 remains a compelling choice, offering robust crash protection and advanced safety features. Prospective buyers should consider the headlight options and be aware of the “Acceptable” rating in the updated side impact test when making their decision.
