Volvo S40 Crash Test by EURO SID

Volvo S40
EURO NCAP FRONT & SIDE IMPACT RATING

The S40 was awarded four stars for protection in frontal- and side-impacts, the only one of 13 family cars tested to achieve this result. The S40 performed well in the frontal-impact test and no major failings were detected. However, a reduced level of footwell intrusion would be beneficial.

The car tested was fitted with a driver airbag and side-impact protection airbags mounted in the front seats all of which are standard equipment throughout Europe. The side airbags move with the seat and should be effective in any seating position.

Frontal impact
Structure
The driver's screen pillar was displaced rearwards by only 48mm (1.9in) and the passenger compartment remained stable. The driver's door required moderate force to open it by hand and the passenger's door operated normally. The steering wheel was pushed rearwards by 59mm (2.3in) and downwards by 15mm (0.6in). There was moderate footwell intrusion, with the brake pedal being pushed rearwards by 164mm (6.5in).

Driver
Protection of the head and neck was good, and head contact on the airbag was stable. Protection for the chest was marginal.The driver's left knee struck the column cladding and then the facia panel, but protection for the knee, thigh and pelvis remained good. The right knee also hit the facia, but protection of the knee, thigh and pelvis was still considered good, though there was some risk of injury to both lower legs, and footwell intrusion resulted in a marginal' rating for feet and ankle protection.

Front passenger
Protection for the head, neck, and both legs was good, though forces transmitted via the seat belt to the chest presented some risk of injury. The results for the passenger were not modified on the basis of structural damage to the car.

Side impact
Protection of the driver's head rated as good. The seat-mounted airbag deployed effectively and protection for the chest, abdomen and pelvis was rated as adequate'.

	Volvo S40 saloon has standard-fit driver airbag and side-impact airbags in seats
	Airbag protected driver's head and neck well; some footwell intrusion, though

VOLVO S40 FACT FILE
Model Body Car tested Build date	Volvo S40 1.8 Four-door saloon 1997 model year November 1996
Model history Introduced in September 1995. The 1997 model-year S40 saloon features anti-lock brakes, SIPS (side-impact protection system), driver airbag, seat-mounted side-impact airbags, height-adjustable front seat belts with pre-tensioners and a three-point centre rear seat belt as standard equipment. A passenger airbag is an option and was not fitted.