Of course it depends what you mean by "current levels of safety" = one problem is that the European NCAP test "star" ratings weren't around when the 9000 was produced. But it's interesting to look at the report produced by Folksam, the Swedish insurers, at the link below.

The 9000 gets a "green blob" rating as being at least 20% safer than the average car. The 9-5 gets a "green blob plus" rating as at least 30% safer than the average car. The early 9-3 gets the same, and the current 9-3 gets 5 NCAP stars. There is no Volvo in the "Executive" section with better than a green blob, right up to 2006. And there are plenty of

NCAP rates frontal and side impact protection. When the 9000 was designed it received stronger door protection than, say, the Fiat Croma and I believe this protection was increased with the CS redesign. Accordingly, the Croma only gets a yellow blob, like the Mercedes C-class up to 2000, and the E-class up to 2002. The BMW 5-series up to 1996 gets a red one - no green-blob 5-series until the 9000 was in its last year of production.

In some respectss we are probably comparing apples with oranges but the Folksam ratings make it clear that the 9000 was well ahead of its time, but safety has moved on and the new Jetta has a five-star rating plus electronic stability programs which presumably mean it's rated higher.

One thing I think adds safety to the 9000 is the glass area - more modern designs have thicker A, B and C pillars and these make it harder to see out though I guess they increase passive safety at the expense of active safety - so you are more likely to hit something you can't see, but also more likely to survive when you do.

• 9000 safety....not up to current level of safety?, danah, Mon, 31 Mar 2008 06:43:41
  • Re: 9000 safety....not up to current level of safety?, tz, Tue, 1 Apr 2008 11:54:45
  • Re: 9000 safety....not up to current level of safety?, PGAero , Tue, 1 Apr 2008 06:45:18
  • Re: 9000 safety....not up to current level of safety?, S-Works, Tue, 1 Apr 2008 04:57:32
  • Don't forget the Moose Impact test for the 9000, Diamond Dave, Mon, 31 Mar 2008 12:15:41
    • mid-July I will be heading for Le Mans in an AC Ace >, Bill Davies, Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:54:52
  • Has anyone seen vdo clip Volvo 940 vs. Renault Megane ?, Pat98, Mon, 31 Mar 2008 08:33:06
    • Yeah, I'm with Pat98, PGAero , Tue, 1 Apr 2008 10:47:37
    • They removed the engine from the 940, AdamB , Tue, 1 Apr 2008 08:40:57
      • No engine? Prove it., onewhippedpuppy, Tue, 1 Apr 2008 11:00:02
        • No crumple zones? Seems you're the confused one, Marty, Tue, 1 Apr 2008 17:59:29
          • Exaggeration, onewhippedpuppy, Wed, 2 Apr 2008 04:47:54
        • It's very clear in the clip I've seen, AdamB , Tue, 1 Apr 2008 13:11:04
  • Re: 9000 safety....not up to current level of safety?, Still Saabnutt, Mon, 31 Mar 2008 07:19:18
    • Stability is another factor >, Bill Davies, Mon, 31 Mar 2008 08:03:04
  • Folksam report 2007 >, Bill Davies, Mon, 31 Mar 2008 07:15:55 <-- Viewing This Message
    • Re: Folksam report 2007 >, jdlincoln , Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:14:23
    • I forgot to add the link >, Bill Davies, Mon, 31 Mar 2008 07:16:42
      • Great data, Bill. I've been wondering about this, Noel, Mon, 31 Mar 2008 07:46:16

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