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2007 Volvo XC90 vs. 2007 Mercedes-Benz S550 Safety Comparison

In Automotive
February 17, 2022
2007 Volvo XC90 Vs. 2007 Mercedes-Benz S550 Safety Comparison

In today’s article, we’ll put two of the safest cars from Volvo and Mercedes-Benz into a head-to-head battle. In the blue corner, we have the 2007 Volvo XC90, an IIHS top performer and the Swedish giant’s top SUV. In the red corner, straight from the heart of Germany, stands the 2007 Mercedes-Benz S550, a perfect blend of power and luxury.

Both vehicles have a massive demand in the second-hand market, and if you’re planning to buy one of them, a safety comparison might be a smart thing to do. I’ve done that when purchasing a used car and landed on a Volvo; I know, it’s almost a cliche by now, but its models are the safest on the planet! These guys put so much focus on safety, they even spend a whole page in their Volvo XC90 manual just to explain how to use the seatbelts

However, Mercedes is no slouch either when it comes to safety — the German powerhouse is famous for many industry firsts, such as standardizing the driver’s side airbag in each of its models from 1992 and introducing its now-famous electronic stability program (ESP) in 1995. Still, does the S550 have enough technology to win against its Swedish rival? 

Let’s have a look!

Active Safety Systems and Crash Avoidance

Interestingly, despite being somewhat aging models produced in 2007, both vehicles still came with highly sophisticated safety features. Notably, the 2007 Volvo XC90 was the first vehicle with Roll Stability Control (RSC) to prevent rollovers, a frequent problem with SUVs, jumping into action as soon as it detects a change in the lateral inclination. It then engages the brakes and lowers the engine’s torque to help the vehicle regain traction and stability. However, the safety measures don’t stop there; if everything fails and a overturn cannot be prevented, the occupants are also protected by a robust safety cage, safety belt tensioners, and inflatable curtains.

The 2007 XC90 also packs electronic stability control, traction control, and 4-wheel disc brakes — but that’s only the tip of the iceberg. If you want in-depth specifications and a detailed list of safety features, consult your 2007 Volvo XC90 owners manual (there’s simply too much to list them all here). Lost your owner’s manual or it simply didn’t come with your used XC90? Take a look at eManualOnline — they’ve got manuals for pretty much any car model ou there!

On the other hand, the Mercedes-Benz S550 features the automaker’s signature PRE-SAFE system that prepares the passengers for an impending collision. It uses cleverly positioned sensors to detect abnormal brake pedal application and steering wheel input patterns and readies the sedan to embrace the impact. Measures include tensioning the seatbelts, inflating the side bolsters, and adjusting the seats for better airbag effectiveness.

Of course, being more expensive than the 2007 Volvo XC90, the S550 also packs extra features. For instance, the manufacturer also offers emergency braking assist, tire pressure monitoring, and electronic brakeforce distribution. 

But does having more safety features make it any safer than the Volvo XC90? Let’s see about that in the following section.

What Do the Crash Tests Say?

The 2007 Volvo XC90 is a top performer and has consistently ranked as one of the safest SUV nameplates out there. Indeed, the IIHS gave the 2007 Volvo XC90 the highest “Good” rating for frontal offset and rear-ended collisions. It is also one of the few models to get a Good rating for protection against whiplash injuries.

Furthermore, the XC90 boasts the highest rating in other crucial crash tests results, such as side-impact collision and driver head protection. And this is not surprising — reading my 2007 Volvo XC90 manual, I found that the SUV has two frontal and two side airbags upfront and two air curtains along the side windows, including the third row!

Meanwhile, the Mercedes-Benz S550 keeps up with the XC90 in frontal crash tests. The S550 also gets a “Good” rating for head, neck, and chest injury prevention in frontal crash tests. However, it falls behind in the side crash test ratings, only securing an “Average” rating. 

Moreover, the XC90 is a lot better in preventing injury to an occupant’s head, neck, pelvis, torso, and legs during a side impact, helping it bag an overall “Good” rating. In contrast, the S550 only manages “Medium” and “Average” ratings for the same.

Finally, it’s also important to mention that the 2007 Volvo XC90 is an IIHS Top Safety Pick in the midsize luxury SUVs segment. Mercedes-Benz also had the 2007 M-class SUV alongside the XC90 as the top safety pick of the year; however, its S-Class failed to make the cut. The S550 was beaten by a cheaper 2007 Volvo S80 and the Audi A6 in the large luxury sedan segment.

So despite being the more expensive and tech-laden vehicle, the S550 pales compared to the Volvo XC90 when it comes to safety. The Swedish SUV still holds on to its title and has become a personal favorite of the IIHS. 

Stability and Rollover

Although the XC90 comes with an advanced safety system to prevent rollovers, it’s still an SUV with a high center of gravity. As such, it managed a 4-star rollover rating by the NHTSA with a 17.9% rollover risk. However, the S500, being a sedan with a much lower center of gravity, is much more stable, even without any safety system — simple physics here.

Last Words

So, which of the two is safer? We will have to side with the Volvo XC90 on this one. And even though both vehicles fall into different categories, the 2007 XC90 comes out as superior, boasting better safety ratings. The Mercedes-Benz S550 packs many more features and safety systems, but the XC90 still does a better job with almost half the tech. In addition, the IIHS and NHTSA have given the 2007 XC90 their highest accolades in various crash testing categories, while the S550 falls short in several areas.

These are only some of the reasons why I chose the 2007 XC90 as my daily driver, but keeping your vehicle in check is even more crucial for safety. Notably, you should always take care of the braking system; I changed my brake pads using an XC90 service manual I purchased online, and it saved me quite a bit of money. I even bought an OBD-II scanner to monitor if all safety systems work properly. You can also have this done at your local mechanic shop, but be prepared to pay more. Still, all in the name of safety!