2009 Volvo V70 Safety Review

July 9, 2009

SAFETY | 9 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

essentially designed to save drivers from themselves
Edmunds

more high-strength steel and improved side-impact reinforcement
Motor Trend

Volvo's hallmark has been and remains safety
Cars.com

The 2009 Volvo V70 hasn’t been crash-tested, but it shares the strong body and extensive safety features of the Volvo S80. Says Car and Driver, the S80 platform “means the same crash structure and the same safety equipment: front, side, and curtain airbags; anti-whiplash headrests; and panic brake assist.” Also standard are traction and stability control.

Kelley Blue Book touts the V70’s “powerful four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes” that “incorporate both Electronic Brake Assistance and anti-fade compensation circuitry.” Cars.com notes “the sides of the vehicle have been made stronger with high-tensile steel to help better withstand impact.”

Optional safety features include BLIS (blind-spot warning system), vehicle distance alert, and lane-departure warning system. And finally, there is the optional Personal Car Communicator included with keyless entry, which saves drivers from vehicular intruders by alerting them of a heartbeat pumping in their parked car. Of the optional safety features, Edmunds feels they “are essentially designed to save drivers from themselves.”

With the advent of this V70, Volvo is now worried about even the pedestrians; Road & Track points out the inclusion of “a soft structure ahead of the front bumper” to help reduce leg injuries. Motor Trend contends that “the biggest innovation” is the pair of integrated second-row child safety seats “designed to keep children in a booster seat for as long as possible.”

Conclusion

The 2009 Volvo V70 is loaded with safety features both active and passive, though crash-test scores aren’t available.

SAFETY | 9 out of 10Expert Quotes:essentially designed to save drivers from themselvesEdmundsmore high-strength steel and improved side-impact reinforcementMotor TrendVolvo's hallmark has been and remains safetyCars.com The 2009 Volvo V70 hasn’t been crash-tested, but it shares the strong body and extensive safety features of the Volvo S80. Says Car and Driver, the S80 platform “means the same crash structure and the same safety equipment: front, side, and curtain airbags; anti-whiplash headrests; and panic brake assist.” Also standard are traction and stability control. Kelley Blue Book touts the V70’s “powerful four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes” that “incorporate both Electronic Brake Assistance and anti-fade compensation circuitry.” Cars.com notes “the sides of the vehicle have been made stronger with high-tensile steel to help better withstand impact.” Optional safety features include BLIS (blind-spot warning system), vehicle distance alert, and lane-departure warning system. And finally, there is the optional Personal Car Communicator included with keyless entry, which saves drivers from vehicular intruders by alerting them of a heartbeat pumping in their parked car. Of the optional safety features, Edmunds feels they “are essentially designed to save drivers from themselves.” With the advent of this V70, Volvo is now worried about even the pedestrians; Road & Track points out the inclusion of “a soft structure ahead of the front bumper” to help reduce leg injuries. Motor Trend contends that “the biggest innovation” is the pair of integrated second-row child safety seats “designed to keep children in a booster seat for as long as possible.” ConclusionThe 2009 Volvo V70 is loaded with safety features both active and passive, though crash-test scores aren’t available. 2009 VOLVO V70 STYLING | [8 out of 10] Motor Trend: “imbued with more of everything the Volvo faithful appreciate” Car and Driver: “its character has been ironed out in the form of smoother, rounded sheetmetal.” Cars.com: “simple, clutter-free dashboard” Edmunds:  “unmistakable ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

Almost all of the V70’s rivals come from Europe, and nearly all offer performance that’s livelier than that of the 2009 Volvo V70. The V70’s interior is the real differentiator versus its rivals; its look and feel is refreshingly different, and the backseat design is easier to fold down than in most other wagons. At the far end of the comparison is the larger Mercedes E-Class, which as a wagon only comes in all-wheel-drive E350 4Matic form or as the high-performance E63 AMG. Both models are considerably more expensive than the V70 without being much roomier inside. The Passat is substantially more affordable than the V70, and very fuel efficient when equipped with the standard 2.0T engine, while the A6 Avant and 9-5 SportCombi both have a sportier feel behind the wheel than the V70 without being much worse in ride comfort.

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See the Volvo V70 in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998

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