13 Safest Cars for 2007

[SYS]

by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety is out:

http://money.cnn.com/popups/2006/autos/iihs/index.html

The only Volvo line that made the list is XC90. (But then it also made the latest list in the Consumer Reports survey as one of the "least reliable." http://money.cnn.com/popups/2006/aut...ble/index.html

The report clearly states that, to be included in the "safest" list by IIHS, the stability control system is a "must." My guess for the reason that XC70 isn't among the list is because this safety feature is optional rather than standardized like its cousin, XC90.

One thing for sure is that other car makers have made great strides in "safety" -- Volvo no longer sits atop on this reputation. Great for all consumers and drivers.

[DucVDuc]

The XC70 is also now a relatively old design and, as you say, what was considered a very safe design 7 years ago is probably just adequate now.

[gary]

The report clearly states that, to be included in the "safest" list by IIHS, the stability control system is a "must." My guess for the reason that XC70 isn't among the list is because this safety feature is optional rather than standardized like its cousin, XC90.

DSTC is now a standard feature effective with the 2007 XC70 model year, at least for cars destined for the North American market.

[SYS]

DSTC is now a standard feature effective with the 2007 XC70 model year, at least for cars destined for the North American market.

I didn't know that. That's a good news!!

[SYS]

Here's Volvo's response to these tests, "‘Real World’ Safety Research vs. One Crash Test":

http://new.volvocars.com/enewsletter/06/winter/p01.html

[tgwillard]

I understand that DSTC, Volvo's name for their electronic stability control helps control lateral movement of the vehicle in certain situations. My wife's S80 FWD has traction control and you can turn it off as you can the DSTC if I read the Volvo brochure correctly. Of course my XC70 has AWD and it is active all the time.

All of the above leads to this question. Would a V70 with FWD and DSTC perform better that an XC70 without DSTC? If you add winter tires to the V70 how would it compare to an XC70 with all season tires?

And finally what are the circumstances in which you would wish to turn off DSTC?

[littlewaywelt]

I understand that DSTC, Volvo's name for their electronic stability control helps control lateral movement of the vehicle in certain situations. My wife's S80 FWD has traction control and you can turn it off as you can the DSTC if I read the Volvo brochure correctly. Of course my XC70 has AWD and it is active all the time.

All of the above leads to this question. Would a V70 with FWD and DSTC perform better that an XC70 without DSTC? If you add winter tires to the V70 how would it compare to an XC70 with all season tires?

And finally what are the circumstances in which you would wish to turn off DSTC?

You can only turn DSTC off on the Rs. The button turns off spin control on DSTC which allows your wheels to spin going forwards which is advantageous in deep snow. All yaw control elements and brake assist are still in effect.

[Tom H]

Here's Volvo's response to these tests, "‘Real World’ Safety Research vs. One Crash Test":

http://new.volvocars.com/enewsletter/06/winter/p01.html

I thought Volvo's response was superb! I wonder how many other manufacturers look at safety as deeply as Volvo has over the past 20 years. Now...about that reliability thing?

[Jack]

All of the above leads to this question. Would a V70 with FWD and DSTC perform better that an XC70 without DSTC? If you add winter tires to the V70 how would it compare to an XC70 with all season tires?

And finally what are the circumstances in which you would wish to turn off DSTC?

I'm not an expert, heck I don't even play one on TV but my guess is that for the careful, experienced driver AWD w/o DSTC will be better in snow and ice than FWD w/DSTC. As I understand DSTC's primary assist (over standard STC) is yaw controll, i.e. if the car isn't going where you tell it to with the steering wheel it will do what it can to help by selective braking. The net is to add some control in bad conditions but it does nothing to add traction. Neither DSTC or AWD adds to traction like good snow tires, and nothing stops a car in the snow like good snow tires.

[SYS]

I thought Volvo's response was superb! I wonder how many other manufacturers look at safety as deeply as Volvo has over the past 20 years. Now...about that reliability thing?

I agree, but I couldn't help chuckling when I read the Volvo's "real life crash test" on one side of their latest newsletter column and in another column of the same page praising and really milking the fact that XC90 made the list of the lastest IHS's 13 Safest Cars. Of course the newsletter completely forgot to mention the fact that XC90 ALSO made the latest list of the most UNRELIABLE cars.

From the marketing standpoint, methinks Volvo would be better off continuing to tout the "real life crash test" and STAY AWAY from trying to take any advantage of whatever the IHS and other independent test findings.