A New Industry Benchmark
When the 2021 XC40 Recharge pure electric crossover earned a Top Safety Pick Plus (TSP+) designation for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) this past April, it capped a high-bar-setting model year for Volvo Cars, as the automaker became the only brand to achieve the institute's highest rating across its entire product range. In addition, the XC40 Recharge was the first fully electric SUV to achieve a TSP+ rating, adding to Volvo's record for most single-year TSP+ awards earned by any brand since the Plus designation was introduced in 2013.
A Historic Safety Reputation
The IIHS awards the TSP+ rating only to vehicles that deliver the highest degree of safety, an area in which Volvo boasts extensive and renowned experience. Volvo's safety reputation has been one of the brand's defining characteristics since 1927 when the Swedish car manufacturer included safety among its core values.
In the 1950s, Volvo marked perhaps the most significant milestone in automotive safety history, when Swedish inventor Nils Bohlin developed the modern three-point seatbelt. Volvo received a patent for the design but, immediately recognizing its life-saving implications, quickly returned to the public domain so that all automakers could implement the feature. Of course, the three-point seatbelt is now a legal requirement and has greatly reduced the severity of collision-related injuries around the world.
Today, Volvo's dedication to safety is stronger than ever, evidenced in its "safety cage" chassis construction and the inclusion of IntelliSafe driver aids as standard equipment. No matter which Volvo trim level you select for your Washington DC drives, you'll get advanced driver-assistance technologies like:
- Volvo City Safety (forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking)
- Blind Spot Information System
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert
- Lane Keeping Aid
- Road Sign Information
- Automatic high beams
Test-drive the latest Volvo models near Hyattsville and Silver Spring
Reach out to Volvo Cars of Bethesda to learn more about the latest Volvo models and their available trims, options, and special financing offers. And if you'd like to explore the premium accommodations, craftsmanship, and advanced safety technologies for yourself, we welcome you to schedule an in-person or at-home test drive with us via Ourisman to Go. We'll be happy to give you a tour.