Which is safer, Tesla or Volvo?

Both Tesla and Volvo are top-notch in terms of safety, but Volvo rates slightly better than Tesla.

Volvo has always been a standard for safety in the car industry. It has made its name in the market for safety and reliability. Volvo started making cars just to ensure the best safety features for its customers.  However, Tesla has also proven to make extremely safe cars with top-notch safety features.

Car safety is essentially defined by how proficient a vehicle would prove to be in the event of an accident. Car safety is constantly is a top concern for many individuals, so modern cars include numerous advanced safety measures, including both active and passive safety features.

Tesla safety ratings

Tesla is mainly famous for its electric cars and Elon Musk, but the safety features are also top notch. Tesla cars have been regularly ranked by the IIHS as top safe cars, and several Tesla cars have also been rated with 5 stars by the NHTSA. NHTSA rankings are based on crash tests on each side of the car.

The Tesla Model Y has always been a very safe car. It has successfully aced all the tests by the NHTSA, which gave it 5 stars.  The Model Y is often considered the safest Tesla car. In 2021, the Tesla Model 3 was also picked by the IIHS in the Top Safety Pick+ category.

Tesla safety features

Tesla makes its car with safety as a top priority, designing the cars in order to minimize the risk of accidents and crashes. The battery pack is positioned at the base of the car, which gives them high protection against roll overs. Tesla cars also have a patented side sill structure that protects passengers in case of any side collision.

The structural integrity is also excellent in Tesla cars. As Tesla makes only electric cars, they don’t have any engines in the front or back. This allows them to place an extra space at the front and back of the cars, which reduces the passenger’s injury risks. Last, but not the least, all Tesla vehicles come with pretty good airbags with side airbags curtains.

Volvo safety ratings

The Swedish company Volvo has always been a top name for safe cars. They have been working on safety features since their beginning.

Many non-profit car safety organizations have constantly ranked Volvos very well and given them five stars. For example, the NHTSA recently ranked the XC90 with full stars. And the IIHS ranked Volvo’s entire lineup as a Top Safety Pick+. The XC90 is considered as of the safest car ever built.

Volvo produces a small lineup of cars; however, they ensure that all of them are best in terms of safety features. Volvo has literally centered its marketing campaign on car safety features and how important car safety is.

Volvo safety features

Volvo’s reputation in the safety segment didn’t happen in just one day. They have worked hard to provide the best ever safety features and even invented some safety features from scratch. Original Volvo safety features include the booster seat, pedestrian detection, three-point seatbelt, and a rear-facing child seat.

In addition to these features, Volvo has all other standard safety features which usually come in most luxury vehicles. Volvo, however, brings them to the next level. Safety features available in all Volvo models include inflatable curtains, roll stability control, whiplash protection, electronic stability control, driver alert control, and lane-keeping aid.

Volvo vs. Tesla: Both are very safe, but Volvo is safer

Tesla had an average USN Safety Score of 9.80/10. This definitely makes Tesla one of the safest car manufacturers. However, Volvo, being the safest and most reliable company, scored a higher 9.90 out of 10 in their USN Safety Score. Other safety-rank organizations, like the IIHS, Euro NCAP, ANCAP and NHTSA, all rank Volvo slightly higher than Tesla.

In the end, both brands are excellent in terms of ensuring safety to their customers. Volvo has a slight advantage over Tesla because of its long history in safety measurements. Volvo has been making the safest cars for decades. However, Tesla is still new on the block and just started producing cars in 2008. So, Tesla may surpass Volvo one day in the future, but for now, Volvo is ahead in safety.

FAQ

Are electric vehicles safe cars?

People have their concerns over the short-circuiting of the batteries in electric vehicles. In EVs, Lithium-ion batteries are used, which can be short-circuited if the battery is damaged. Nevertheless, the chances are pretty slim. They are comparatively safer than gasoline-based engines.

Another issue regarding electric cars is their mileage range. People fear that their car battery could drain when they’re away from home and leave them stranded. However, even the cheapest electric car, the Nissan Leaf, ranges around 150 miles battery which is adequate for city use. Simply plan ahead to avoid your battery running out.

Can we add safety features to our cars?

It is possible to add additional safety features to old cars. Safety equipment is available as aftermarket products that can be added to your car. Some of these add-on features are even cheaper than the built-in safety options.

What are some car safety measuring organizations?

There are multiple non-profit car safety measurement organizations, including:

• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) – USA
• Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) – USA
• Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents – UK
• Association for Safe International Road Travel

What are the safety testing methods?

Several non-profit organizations conduct car safety test for every car model. Cars receive ratings based on their safety and crash prevention features. These features are processed through rigorous testing phases. Cars are tested with frontal, side and back collision test scenarios.

The cars safety features are then judged according to their performance in the tests. The most famous organizations in these regards are the IIHS and NHTSA

What are active and passive safety features?

Active safety features

The active features are those which prevent a car crash before it happens. These features have been added to maximize the driver and passenger safety. These features include:

• Better driver seat adjustment
  • Vehicle center of gravity
  • Vehicle balance and handling
  • Vehicle weight
  • Better tire grip

Some safety equipment is also termed as active safety features:

• Anti-lock braking system
  • Electronic stability control
  • Collision warning
  • Rear parking sensors

Passive safety features

These are the features that protect the passengers in case of an accident. These features can save lives and include things like:

• Airbags
• Seatbelts
• Laminated glass
• Electronic pedestrian protection system