Volvo S60 takes home Top Safety Pick Award

Volvo can stick another feather in its safety cap. The 2012 S60 has officially been awarded an IIHS Top Safety Pick judgment by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. That means the sedan managed to net top ratings in all IIHS crash tests, including front, side, rollover and rear evaluations. Vehicles awarded the Top Safety Pick designation must also come standard with electronic stability control.

The previous generation of the S60 earned good ratings in the Institute's front and rear evaluations, but for 2005-09 it was rated acceptable in the side impact test. The previous model wasn't evaluated for roof strength in rollover crashes. The new model improves to good in the side impact test, and earns a good rating in the roof strength test. The roof of the S60 withstood a force equal to 4.95 times the car's weight. By comparison, the current federal standard is 1.5 times weight. Institute research demonstrates that occupants of vehicles with strong roofs are much less likely to sustain serious injuries in rollover crashes.

In addition to good crash test ratings, winners must have ESC, an important crash-avoidance feature, which is standard on the S60. Definitely a bonus for Volvo when the car makes its Indian entry.