The 2013 S60 continues Volvo’s tradition of cutting edge safety technology
Volvo has established quite the reputation for building extremely safe vehicles, earning a loyal customer base and industry accolades in the process. Unsurprisingly the 2013 Volvo S60 is no different, exhibiting some of the most advanced safety tech on the market and earning the Swedish automaker yet another top five-star rating from the NHTSA, and the IIHS Top Safety Pick with a “good” rating in all categories across the board.
In addition to standard safety features like anti-lock disc brakes, front-seat side airbags, side-curtain airbags, and a Dynamic Stability and Traction Control system (DSTC) – which essentially regulates power to the drive wheels and can cut engine power or break individual wheels to help reduce skidding and maintain optimal control of the vehicle while cornering – a major highlight of the S60’s safety tech is its City Safety feature.
Acting more as a driver support system, City Safety helps drivers avoid low speed collisions. While driving at speeds of less than 30 mph, but more than 2 mph, City Safety, which is a standard feature on the 2013 S60, will apply brakes to the vehicle automatically in an attempt to avoid or mitigate an impending collision. Ultimately, no matter the tech, the onus of driver safety is planted squarely on the shoulders of the driver, but it’s certainly nice having City Safety to help in situations where distractions can get the better of you. No doubt it’s one of the cooler safety tech features on the market, and one that separates Volvo from the vast majority of automakers.
Another impressive, but optional, safety tech feature is Volvo’s Pedestrian detection system. Pedestrian detection operates similarly to City Safety, working automatically to apply the vehicle’s brakes should a pedestrian cross into its path. Unlike City Safety though, an audio visual cue is projected from the dash onto the the windshield’s Heads Up Display (HUD) that flashes red. If no action is taken by the driver, and the vehicle is travelling at speeds less than 22 mph, full braking force is applied. The system works in conjunction with both radar sensors and a digital camera located behind the rearview mirror to monitor what exactly is in front of the vehicle. It’s able to detect standing and moving pedestrians that are at least 31 inches in height, but is limited to a 60 degree field of vision and does not work at night. Bummer.
Other safety tech options include an active lane departure system that beeps when the car switches lanes without an indicated turn-signal; a rearview camera system that shows trajectory and distance; parking sensors to help maneuver tight spaces; and adaptive cruise control. The latter allows the driver to select a desired distance and cruising speed that will automatically adjust and follow approaching vehicles at a safe distance. Perhaps even more useful than its dynamic follow features is the fact that the active cruise control can bring the S60 to a complete stop altogether should traffic halt.
Courtesy of Digital Trends
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