"Volvo looks to safety to set XC90 apart from the pack"

Volvo looks to safety to set XC90 apart from the pack
Volvo looks to safety, its core strength, in trying to set apart the
XC90 midsize SUV from the competition.
at http://www.washtimes.com/autoweekend/20061207-012602-1764r.htm

 

Obviously a very intelligent report....

I do disagree with one item in it, however. We own an '05 XC90V8, and have
also driven about 700 mi in an '07 XC90 3.2 ltr 6 cylinder, and found that
we got better highway gas mileage in the '05 V8 than in the '07 3.2 ltr.
Also, most of the features listed for the V8 model aren't new in '07 --- we
have most of them included on our '05 (except the blind-spot detector ---
I'd like that because visibility is a little tough in that car --- and the
outboard mirror turn signals). I also think the '07 V8 has headlamps that
turn as you turn the steering wheel, which is a nice feature.

 

Odd that the IIHS ratings of the Honda Pilot are as good as those for
the XC90.

Odder still that the NHTSA Frontal Crash tests for the Pilot are 5 stars
for both driver and passenger:

http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/safety.aspx?year=2007&make=Honda&model=Pilot

The same tests for the XC90 are five star for the driver, but only four
stars for the passenger:

http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/safety.aspx?year=2007&make=Volvo&model=XC90

Volvo no longer stands head and shoulders above the rest of the
competition for vehicle safety. The Honda Pilot is $10k less expensive
than the XC90 and thus doesn't come with extra status points attached,
but status points are hardly a safety feature .

John

 

My question would be which specific safety features offered by Volvo
exceed those offered by comparably priced and sized SUV's from other
companies.