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Volvo XC70 Safety Issues
I'm currently considering a new vehicle purchase, and am looking at the Volvo XC70 and XC90. My primary criteria is safety (vehicle reliability, etc., is also important). Any thoughts on the safety differences between the XC90 and the XC70? I realize the XC90 is a larger vehicle, making it 'safer.'
(I'm also considering the Honda CRV).
Thanks
(I'm also considering the Honda CRV).
Thanks
0
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
That is like choosing between a safe and a beer can.
Both Volvo's are strong, the XC90 is built alot stronger though.
It makes extensive use of Boron steel in the roll cage area(B pillar and roll bar. It is also almost 1,000 lbs heavier than the XC70.
Both vehicles have a full complement of airbags, as well as the anti whiplash seats and 3 roll bars in the roof.
Since the XC70's center of gravity is lower, it doesn't need to XC90's Roll Stability Control which helps to prevent vehicle rollovers. XC70 also gets a little better gas mileage. XC90 has more space for passengers and cargo.
That is like choosing between a safe and a beer can.
I think that's a stretch...Perhaps a Tin Can and an Aluminum can.
What can a CRV take?
Actually, I'm kind of surprised to see the two mentioned in the same sentence. They are completely different price class vehicles.
BTW, I now drive a Ford Freestyle, based on the C70/90 platform. I don't know the roof crush statistics, though.
Regarding CR-V safety: The 2007 Honda CR-V will incorporate Honda's Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) safety structure, enhancing occupant protection and making it more crash compatible with vehicles of different sizes.
New Odyssey and Civic owners already benefit from ACE, not to mention the Japanese electronics that may prove to be far safer than Volvo's.
http://corporate.honda.com/safety
Sorry to hear of your relative's accident.
It is rather more likely that the computers decided that the particular side crash would not benefit from airbag deployment.
Sorry to hear of your relative's accident.
It is rather more likely that the computers decided that the particular side crash would not benefit from airbag deployment.
The ACE is similar to several other manufacturors, including Volvo. They build the vehicles to collapse on impact, absorbing energy into the body structure instead of the occupant bodies. From the description of the XC70:
"The front and rear crumple zones help to dissipate and distribute incoming collision forces to help reduce the physical strain on the car's occupants. The vehicle's structure keeps the passenger compartment intact, including the roof pillars and transverse roof profiles, since they absorb a great deal of the forces if the vehicle starts to roll. They form an interactive web of steel profiles, of which the most crucial parts are made of high-strength boron steel. In a side collision, the side-impact protection system helps distribute the crash forces across a large part of the car's body so as to help protection system helps distribute the crash forces across a large part of the car's body so as to help minimize the strain on the occupants."
Japanese are never first w/ safety innovations.
http://www.safercars.gov/NCAP/Cars/3604.html
In this case, the side bag deployed, but it didn't provide any protection to the head.
Door took the brunt of the hit, no wonder the side bag was ineffective. I don't know whether the testers screwed up or what.
Besides, wake up and smell the coffee, all you are buying is a glorified Ford. Might as well save $10,000 and buy a Ford.
This unfortunately enforces my suspicion that the Swedes build inferior electronics, as my sister certainly WOULD HAVE benefited from the side airbags. Her Volvo's "computers" obviously decided wrong.
kiiwii, your impression of my sisters accident is a bit off.
Just to clarify for everyone:
The side airbags in my sister's Volvo failed to deploy when a car struck its side, crunching its doors, bending its frame, totalling both cars, and giving my sister a major concussion when her head banged into the interior side panel instead of an airbag.
I'm not implying all Volvo's are unsafe. I suppose I have just lost faith.
LONG before there even was a Honda corp.
Please don't say anything if you don't know anything.
BTW, when I had the crash, my 960 was about 4-5 years old. I assume all the sensors and air bag chemical should still be in good working condition.
If the hood-grill took the brunt of the impact the airbags don't go off.
Likewise if the other car slid under yours.
If the bumper was pushed back into the body then the bags should have gone off.
LONG before there even was a Honda corp.
Please don't say anything if you don't know anything.
From the Honda corporate website:
"Honda Motor Co. was established by Soichiro Honda in 1946"
Maybe someone should follow their own advice
"Honda Motor Co. was established by Soichiro Honda in 1946" "
Yeah, but when did they start builting cars - 1960's, as I recall...
I seriously doubt that Volvo built the electronics. The most likely came from Japan or Taiwan.
You are making an assumption - that the airbags should have deployed. If you think the did not go off correctly, file a lawsuit and get some professional opinions from qualified engineers who looked at the car and the crash.
Or, it is possible they should have deployed and didn't. It is difficult to second guess the safety folks in their algorithms as to when the side airbags are needed and when they would hinder safety.
Perhaps the original post was alluding to Honda not building cars in the 1940's but that's not what they said.
The Honda (Motor) Company was mentioned and that's what I responded to.
Honda started out building scooters and motor cycles.
They did not construct their first car until the early 60's.
Volvo built their first car in 1927.
By the 40's Volvo already have cars with full safety cages and laminated windshields.
In the 1950's Volvo patented the 3 point seat belt
In the 60's(when Honda started building cars) Volvo's had 4 wheel disc brakes standard,w/ a dual split triangular braking system, padded dashes, crumple zones, safety locks on the doors, inertia reel safety belts and front head restraints.
Plus, they also invented and tested the rear facing child seat.
Volvo is one of 2 car companies in the world(Mercedes is the other) that maintain their own in house accident investigation team. ANY accident involving a Volvo of any type within 100 miles of Gothenburg is investigated by the team.
I could go on and on, but y'all would probably get bored
As this is a Volvo vs. Volvo discussion I won't bother to go in to detail about Honda and their state of the art crash test facility, it's vehicles that consistently earn high marks for safety, the fact that Honda will be the first automaker in the US to have standard head protection in every SUV it sells here, the fact that every car in the Indy 500 is a Honda, etc. I could go on as well
If you believe they do I have some beachfront property in AZ for you to buy.
Just a little fact checking on your part would bear this out but ignorance must be bliss I guess.
BTW, Volvo already has head protection standard for all occupants on their SUV. It took 2 yrs after the XC90 came out for the MDX to get a 3rd row curtain.
Volvo's head restraints are the only ones to get an across the board best rating.
Volvo's crash facility in Sweden is world famous, it allows an unprecedented array of crash testing scenarios to be carried out. The entire building sits on a moveable track that allows high speed collisions at ANY angle you choose.
Indy 500? Man that race isn't what it used to be.
Its the only series Honda can compete in.
And every car in Champ is Ford powered and Honda still can't put a car on the F1 winners podium - seems to be Europeans doing this.
If Ford=Volvo how come my Freestyle seats aren't as comfy as my Volvo seats?
http://corporate.honda.com/safety/foreveryone.aspx
And to the other poster, yes Ford = Jaguar. Just look at the X-Type.
Got to run....Enjoy your Volvo but be careful as I just saw this:
Published May 21, 2006
Volvo is recalling about 108,000 2003-06 XC90 sport-utility vehicles because of problems with ball joints in the front suspension area that could make it difficult to steer the vehicle when parking. In low-speed parking situations, the ball joints may become loose and make it difficult for drivers to maneuver. This could increase the risk of a crash.
Just one model out of all those brands - not bad, considering state of Jaguar when Ford bought it.
I've seen too many Honda's crash to take what you say seriously.
I've seen alot of Volvo's crash and I know from first hand experience just how rugged they truly are.
Safety is more than just some platitudes on a website my friend. How many safety patents does Honda have?
How many of their safety innovations have the other comapnies copied? Zero.
Why are some safety devices OPTIONAL on their products?
I don't know the exact number but there's one for the new Civic:
"2006 Civic Highlights:
• Four completely-redesigned models include the Civic Si Coupe, an ultra-efficient Civic Hybrid sedan, and well-equipped and technologically-advanced Civic Sedan and Civic Coupe
• Advanced safety systems include Honda-exclusive Advanced Compatibility Engineering(TM) (ACE)(TM) Body Structure for vehicle-to-vehicle crash compatibility and collision energy management, and a long list of standard safety equipment including side curtain airbags, driver's and front passenger's side airbags, and anti-lock braking"
Some safety features may be optional but not a bad list of standard safety features for a $16K vehicle. You'll spend a lot more on your Vord for the same safety features.
I tell you what. You get your Honda, I'll get a Volvo we'll hit each other head on 50 mph and see who does better.
I'd rather see it done at a test facility . And assuming the vehicles are comparable in weight I have no doubts about how the Honda will perform.
Umm, sorry. Volvo's have done this for decades.
Some safety features may be optional but not a bad list of standard safety features for a $16K vehicle. You'll spend a lot more on your Vord for the same safety features.
Well, an Accord and an S40 are nearly the same price. No anti-whiplash seats in the Accord. No high strength steel re-inforced safety cage in the Honda. No rear seat belt pretensioners, no Electronic Brake Assist. I could go on and on.
I'd rather see it done at a test facility . And assuming the vehicles are comparable in weight I have no doubts about how the Honda will perform.
Well, thats the great thing about Volvo's. They will do well no matter what size car hits them. Volvo's routinely get hit by bigger heavier cars. What are you going to do, run around in a Civic going ok only Corollas and Saturns can hit me?
What if you get hit by a truck?
So where's the patent infringement lawsuit. I don't know too many companies who let the competition use their patents.
Obviously Honda patented their own safety system. You asked how many patents Honda has related to safety and I provided an example. Sorry to tell you but Volvo doesn't have exculsive rights to safety innovations.
Well, an Accord and an S40 are nearly the same price.
And The Accord is a darn safe vehicle. Look at all these features and you know what else? The Accord received a 5 star rating from the NHTSA for driver's side impact and the S40 only received a 4 star rating. So which is safer?
http://automobiles.honda.com/models/safety_overview.asp?ModelName=Accord+Sedan
Volvo's routinely get hit by bigger heavier cars.
Really, maybe Ford can give free driving lessons when they sell a Volvo.
IF the Accord is so safe, why do they not have more complete systems?
The answer is because Hondas are engineered to pass gov't tests and not for the real world.
Insurance companies recognize this because Volvo's are routinely cheaper to insure than Hond'a, even when they cost quite a bit more.
If you honestly belive that a tin can Honda is as safe as a Volvo, I feel sorry for you and I sincerely hope you never have to find out otherwise.
That Honda Civic feature is not a patent, it is a Trade Mark (TM). It means no one else can use their name for the safety system, not they have patented the system.
I've linked you to several sites that show how safe Honda vehicles are. You use the term "tin can" to describe a Honda vehicle. It's obvious you don't want to understand that Honda vehicles are SAFE. I feel sorry for people who refuse to believe facts.
Not that it matters, but I did find out how safe Honda vehicles are, that's why I'm able to write this.
Having owned Hondas and now a Ford Freestyle (based on the Volvo platform), I can say that Hondas do "feel" lighter when they drive, but that does not affect their safety system.
Fords and Volvos are engineered to ride "heavier", and their doors & etc are thicker and give an appearance of greater strength and safety.
In my opinion, the two cars are pretty much equally safe.
I've seen too many Honda's crash to take what you say seriously.
I've seen alot of Volvo's crash and I know from first hand experience just how rugged they truly are.
Safety is more than just some platitudes on a website my friend. How many safety patents does Honda have?
How many of their safety innovations have the other comapnies copied? Zero.
Why are some safety devices OPTIONAL on their products?
Hondas are designed to sacrifice themselves to protect the occupants. Just because a Volvo looks better after a crash, it simply means that more of the impact force has been transferred to the occupants.
I would rather be in a car that is designed to sacrifice itself for my safety, than one that looks good after a a crash.
As to optional safety equipment, all new Hondas come with front and side airbags standard, as well as steel reinfoced occupant cage, and many models come with standard Vehicle stability control, and a whole bunch of them don't cost more than $20K, with majority under $25K. Show me a Volvo with all that under $20K.
BTW, Volvo's don't look good after a crash except in one area, the passenger cage.
Funny, I just had an argument with a co-worker of mine, who vowed to get his son "the biggest "boat" there is", because they are safer in a crash. And he compared how if a 70s car with a ton of steel crashed with my CRV it would drive away, and the CRV with be smashed. I kindly corrected him that it was true, but the driver of the "boat" would not be the one driving it due to multiple injuries.
No amount of crumple zones, etc., explanation was able to convince him...
Also, as mentioned above, the Volvo and the CR-V are not quite good basis for comparison - apples and oranges anyone?
BTW, Volvo's don't look good after a crash except in one area, the passenger cage.
Cheapest Volvo S40 is $21,328 $1328 over the target.
Honda Civic LX (not the cheapest) is $16,960 $3040 UNDER the target.
Cheapest Honda Civic, DX, is $15,010 $10 shy of $5000 UNDER the target.
Honda Fit $13,850 -- $15,170 Still under the target.
All of those come with reinrofced steel occupant cages and dual front and side airbags.
And I bought my 2002 Civic Si for $14,500 brand new. Still cheaper. And it came with roll cage under the skin.
Roll cage is what is used in race cars, I would think that is was better at protecting the occupants, or they would not have been using in race cars.
Body Highlights:
Lightweight unibody construction
36% of body uses high-tensile strength steel
5-star NHTSA front impact rating
IIHS "Good" ratings in offset frontal and side impact tests
The Honda Civic (below) was also designed from the outset to define a new standard for torsional and bending rigidity in the compact segment. The new Global Compact Platform implements advanced body construction technologies for enhanced safety, better rigidity, improved ride comfort and a quieter cabin. Advanced new structural engineering and manufacturing methods utilizing 50 percent high-strength steel, of which 38 percent is high-grade (590MPa), results in a torsional rigidity increase of 36 percent, even as the wheelbase and width have grown. The body structure, including the important mid-floor cross members and floor gussets, are also made of high-grade high-strength steel.
Honda's give all this PLUS a car that's reliable and not-at-all related to the Ford Motor company...
What could be a safer bet than that?
What could be a safer bet than that?"
I Honda had a vehicle that could duplicate what my Freestyle has, I would be driving a Honda. However, they don't have such a vehicle.
It is both features and safety that are important to me. Freestyle is 5 stars for everything but rollover (4 stars).
Take a deep breath and relax, nobody is taking away your highly irrelevant sales pitch on Volvo innovation history. Just do not make mildly moronic statements about other respectable engineering achievements.
What about Pilot? - other than third seat space it is a direct competitor.